Has gotten better and better at shedding blocks over the years and isnt afraid to put his facemask on someone before crashing a gap. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, according to. So, what's the book on the quarterback heading into the 2022 college football season? Run it back! Will eventually need to find better leverage and get adjusted to the speed of the college game, but should be viewed as one of the top linebackers in Florida for the 2023 recruiting cycle given how he moves and plays the game. Shows quick hands to keep offensive linemen from getting inside. Georgia just had five defensive players taken in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, but is the best NFL prospect of all still in Athens? The sophomore leads this list and is living up to his father, a former All-Pro linebacker. Ernest Hausmann, who transferred to Michigan after one season at Nebraska, was named to On3s recent 21. The guy most draft rankings seem to have at the top for the position in college football is Trenton Simpson at Clemson. The Rebels pulled in one of the more underrated transfers this offseason in. , but what about the best position groups? Will need to adjust to the speed of big-time college football, but high football IQ combined with athletic profile (his 7.15 in the L-drill is one of the best in the 2023 class) suggests that he can eventually emerge as an impact player on Saturdays. Pick-6 for Tommy Eichenberg. Hes a physical kid and was one of the a, reas top running backs last season as well, but we think his upside is highest on the defensive side of the ball., A plus athlete for the linebacker position. 2 linebacker in both PFFs preseason college rankings and PFF's 2023 NFL Draft big board. Iowa ranks first, thanks to three linebackers making PFFs top 25 list. Last season, he injured his foot after just one game and missed the rest of the season. Along with senior S Ibraheim Campbell, they head a strong defensive back seven for the Wildcats. Plays outside shoulder on the swing pass, creates good separation and delivers a nice tackle on the RB. The Eleven Greatest College Linebackers, 1958-2008 11) D. D. Lewis: Mississippi State 1965-'67, Member of College Football Hall of Fame 10) Randy Christian Harris was a highly-regarded recruit for Alabama and had flashes, where hed let that talent flourish, but I thought Henry Too Too cleaned up quite a few things throughout the year for him. Multi-year starter with possible early-impact ability for Top 20 program. Jackson excels downhill, leading all Power Five defenders with 96 run-defense stops over the past three seasons. Drew Brees' next step in his post-playing career will put him back on a field. rounds out the unit after missing most of last season with a torn ACL. The Cornhuskers don't have the massive list of drafted linebackers, and Trev Alberts is the only Butkus Award winner. 3 NC State Can engage and still drive legs to get around corner on blitz. All hes done since then is earn a 94.9 career grade, best among FBS linebackers over the past five years. Thumper vs. the run with chase-down athleticism from the back side. A downhill inside runner that plays in a triple option offense, Perkins has the ability to project to both a power or zone scheme at the next level. Verified high 4.6 speed with shuttle in 4.2s, which showcases change of direction and acceleration. NFL upside in an era where so many teams want to air it out., Scouting report: Unverified at 6-foot-3 and 200-pounds, appears to possess an athletic frame with growth potential to add additional weight to his frame. Headlining Oregons unit is Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell, the top two linebacker recruits in the 2020 class. Desire to make those around him better also a pretty unique trait in the year 2022. The highest-graded returning Power Five linebacker? These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. It was also the best single-season mark by a Power Five player in the PFF College era. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Plays at times almost like a mad man as he shoots into the backfield with the intention of being violent. 3. Texas is ranked behind Alabama and Georgia for the best recruiting class in the 247Sports rankings. Impact player in high school as linebacker/edge rusher and running back. 2 linebacker in both. Excellent in chase mode as he can get outside the hashes and hawk down ball carriers of all different sizes. Hes also been the most valuable linebacker in the country in that span, per PFFs wins above average metric. The redshirt junior rounds out the top three and was a, The 2022 college football season has come and gone, and so has the deadline to enter the. Collins fills those pads out nicely and he is a beast as Tulsas stack WILL backer. Since 2019, the former walk-on has earned 80.0-plus coverage, run-defense and pass-rush grades, the only returning Power Five linebacker to accomplish that feat. He also only missed 4.9% of his tackle attempts last year, the fifth-lowest rate among Power Five linebackers. Best suited to play inside linebacker but possesses some traits to play outside. Traits and pro-like mentality suggests that he can emerge as a trusted contributor for a Top 25 program and eventually an impact player. If he can bounce back, this ranking will be too low for the Tigers. Your login session has expired. Weeks picked LSU over a handful of schools that includes Georgia, Boston College, Duke, Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Stanford and Tennessee. Rather instinctive in the box as a run defender and is quick to read and react. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. Hes not quite there mentally, just being a step too late in his reactions at times, but hes the full package. While at. Sewell doesnt shy away from blasting into blockers and can certainly blow up ball-carriers in the hole, but also has the burst to shut down toss plays out wide and is like a bear as a tackler. The Ole Miss outside linebacker is built differently from other players on this list. In fact, over the past two seasons, the only SEC linebacker with a higher grade than Dumas-Johnson is Dean. In addition to edge and linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with coverage awareness. The sophomore led the SEC this season with a 79.9 run-defense grade. With that being said, you see him get shielded by slot receivers even on plenty of occasions (see USCs Amon-Ra St. Brown in 2019) and he leaves his feet too much as a tackler for my list in part because his play-strength isnt at the level of those 250-pound inside backers. Weve already seen him bat passes into the air and for his secondary players to dive for. , but hasnt been able to fully show what hes capable of. Flashes chase-down speed with an exceptionally broad pursuit range. Dumas-Johnson is the next great Georgia linebacker, following past Bulldog greats such as Roquan Smith and Nakobe Dean. Today it is the best pair of linebackers. Highly productive considering full-time two-way snaps. 8 linebacker in college football for the 2022 season. He may not be super rangy in coverage. Displays good athleticism in multiple phases of the game with the majority of his snaps coming at the running back position. His pass-rush win rate of 31.2% last season was pretty staggering. Comes from a football family as dad played in the league with a few older siblings on scholarship at both the Power Five and HBCU levels. Trotter played only 58 snaps last year as a true freshman but showed some nice flashes. He has some good lateral agility to side-step blockers, but rarely fights through creases and stops the momentum of ball-carriers around the line of scrimmage. WebEthan Wesloski McKinney Boyd (McKinney, TX) LB. He led the nation with 140 tackles in 2021, and hes the I think as a blitzer, his timing and hand-usage has gotten a lot better too. Ellis (6-2, 230), who also will be a three-year starter, will play middle linebacker for the first time this season, and that should prove a good fit for his skill set. The class is headlined by five-star Anthony Hill, who is staying in his home state of Texas. Telvin Smith, Florida State 4. Hes actually on track for slightly better numbers this season. If he can stay healthy, he should provide a major boost on defense to his next school. Now that we know who will continue playing on Saturdays next fall, let's take an early look at the top returning players at every position. The juniors four interceptions led all FBS linebackers, and he tied for second in the Power Five with two fumble recoveries. Sewell has lived up to the hype and is the No. The junior made first contact on a ball carrier 122 times this season, which was 15 more than the next-closest defender in college football. NFL upside., Prototype size for a modern off-ball linebacker in the 6-foot-1, 215- to 220-pound range entering senior season. Does not quit on plays. Senior season displayed improved in-space competency as a big-bodied traditional off-ball 'backer who could likely stay there in the long term. Using PFFs preseason positional rankings and PFF-exclusive stats, here are the best linebacking corps in the country. Shows surprising hands-catching acumen and big-play speed as a receiver. One of the biggest risers from this 2020 season has been this 64, 260 pound-listed linebacker that is the heart of a Hurricanes 21st-ranked scoring defense. The other three. Tone-setter for an FBS-loaded Texas 5A D-I state championship defense as a sophomore and perennially highly-ranked program over final two high school seasons. Perkins was a top-10 recruit in the 2022 class, which may have been too low. He can line up at defensive end with his hand in the dirt or play stood up over the tackle. Oklahoma: Eric Striker and Dominique Alexander. Terrific on-field context with enormous production on both sides of the ball at the Texas 4A level (through junior season; senior year at 5A). Willing to fight through double teams. Theres one man to credit for Troy cracking this list, and thats sixth-year senior Carlton Martial. Just missed the cut: Cameron McGrone (Michigan), Nick Bolton (Missouri), Jabril Cox (LSU), Chazz Surratt (North Carolina) & Nate Landman (Colorado). Displays impressive linear acceleration with burst and open-field playmaking ability of a Power Five skill prospect. . Carter is one of college footballs most well-rounded linebackers. The sophomore was one of three in the Power Five with 75-plus grades as a run-defender, pass-rusher and in coverage. Chris Lacks verified times, but appears to possess good play speed and long speed to outrun defenders in the open field. got off to a hot start last year with an 82.4 overall grade through Week 4, third among Power Five linebackers. Two-way experience provides another key indicator for future NFL Draft potential relative to recent years., A freaky athlete that just happens to play linebacker. Does not quit on plays. High-level athlete also plays receiver. The redshirt junior is a dominant run-stuffer, as his 49 run-defense stops in 2022 ranked second among all linebackers in the country while his 20 tackles for loss/no-gain were tied for third. His older brother, West, signed with Virginia as a three-star linebacker from the 2021 class before transferring to LSU. pic.twitter.com/wQcyfdLP9Q, PFF College (@PFF_College) May 16, 2022. The three best linebacker transfer classes. Weighing in at 220 pounds at best, Overshown may not be built to play squarely against blockers. He tended to overshadow Kendricks (6-0, 230) a little, but the senior has led the team in tackles the past two seasons and is the leader of the defense no matter what the situation is. Athletic, physical, violent off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the line of scrimmage. WebBest Linebacker in College Football - Isaiah Simmons . These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. College football is just about here, which means its time to wrap up our preseason preview. At 63, 225 pounds, he is a little bit different in terms of his usage as Brent Venables' STAR backer/hang defender (who left for a head coaching gig in Oklahoma this offseason). Perkins is Micah Parsons-esque in that he can play either linebacker or edge defender at a very high level. Adequate in-space athleticism appeared to take the next step during senior campaign. Has done nothing but produce since he was a freshman at one of the Sunshine States more tradition-rich high school programs totaling over 250 tackles, 12 sacks and 5 interceptions his first three years on varsity. Subscribe to 247Sports YouTube for the latest college football, basketball and recruiting news including live college commitments. Huff, an A downhill inside runner that plays in a triple option offense, Perkins has the ability to project to both a power or zone scheme at the next level. Note: This ranking only includes off-ball linebackers. Has great play speed. Lacks verified times, but appears to possess good play speed and long speed to outrun defenders in the open field. While he is certainly undersized for an in-between-the-tackles role, he does not shy away from slipping gaps and chooses excellent angles when chasing things down towards the sideline. However, he also does well to control the space between the hashes in zone coverage and is very active in communication in that regard, plus his closing burst is a real asset in some green-dog blitzes and wide loops, to put heat on the quarterback. He posted 80.0-plus grades both in coverage and as a pass-rusher last season, one of only four to do so in the country. after posting a 71.8 grade last season, second among returning SEC linebackers. Shaw announced the news after the team closed out the season with a 36-25 loss to BYU on Saturday night, telling reporters he made the decision within the past week. 95 overall) all got a draft call. Long-term positional home has been in question in the past, but functional athleticism and playmaking ability are not. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Tone-setter for an FBS-loaded Texas 5A D-I state championship defense as a sophomore and perennially highly-ranked program over final two high school seasons. Gambling problem? AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. The Florida transfer was one of four Power Five linebackers who held top-15 grades both as a pass-rusher and in coverage this past season. Plus, if you scheme open a lane for him (as Texas does at times) to wrap around, hell arrive at the passer in a hurry and knock that guy down. Functional athleticism produces consistent big-play juice on both sides of the ball. The Ohio State football team has eight linebackers on scholarship, but just two arrived on campus with bonafide inside linebacker designated rankings on 247Sports.Now the Ohio State scheme only has two linebackers and the rotation for both is likely going to be fluid, but to keep things simple I just wanted to recap the two that were Owns a rocked-up build at 6-foot, 205 pounds. Has been nothing but productive under the lights on Friday nights racking up 139 tackles and five sacks as a junior. Rice was called the next Roquan Smith after the All-American linebacker was drafted following the 2017 season. Impact player in high school as linebacker/edge rusher and running back. Rice is pretty fluid mover in coverage, who can run downfield with flexed out tight-ends and shut down throws into the flats. Has to continue to work on on technique, including when turning and running laterally. Defensive Captains with signal-calling experience are highly desirable for inside linebackers. One of the lone bright spots for the Orange in 2022, the Syracuse linebacking corps features. Jestin Jacobs got off to a hot start last year with an 82.4 overall grade through Week 4, third among Power Five linebackers. His usually dependable tackling was a bit of an issue in open-field situations as well in 2019. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports. The redshirt senior was especially stingy in coverage, picking off two passes and breaking up a couple more. Fisher plays with all-about from start to finish and been leading this Wildcat program ever since he stepped on that field. Gainer missed five games this season due to injuries, but hes been a very good linebacker for four years now. Georgia has also used him as a blitzer on passing down frequently, to create negative plays. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. Might not be as long as schools want in an edge-rusher so he projects more as a traditional outside backer who can blitz off the edge when needed. Theres one man to credit for Troy cracking this list, and thats sixth-year senior, He joined Troy as an undersized walk-on in 2017 at just 5-foot-9, 210 pounds. In coverage, he is primarily responsible for shallow zones, but I think he has become much more light on his feet in 2020, in terms of the ground he can cover, which has led to four INTs in seven games (including a pair of pick-sixes), but it also allows him to be more aggressive with shooting gaps, putting him at 7.5 TFLs already, including one for a safety against UCF. Comfortable in space and owns valuable experience in both man and zone coverage, two things that he has further refined on the 7v7 circuit. Ability to close gaps without a doubt a strength at this point in his career. pic.twitter.com/igZKc1F8YQ, Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) January 10, 2023. Picking up the slack is Pittsburgh transfer. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. #COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/C6k1UTiS0y, Justin Wright (@JustinWright_30) December 7, 2022. Has plenty of room for frame growth and can easily add 25 pounds without losing athletic traits. PFFs lead college analyst Anthony Treash already went over the best players at every position, but what about the best position groups? PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. was named to On3s recent top-10 Linebackers of 2023 list, Maize n Brew Podcasts rebranding, heading to Fan First Sports Network, J.J. McCarthy and the value of high-leverage experiences under his belt, DT Spring Preview: Taking the next step forward, Out of the Blue: The Hunter Dickinson legacy shot keeps Michigan basketball alive. Hes a menace as a blitzer, with his 30.6% pass-rush win rate last year leading all FBS linebackers. Ulofoshio has missed 10 games over the past three years and will miss at least half of the 2022 season with a knee injury. Could see the field relatively early given how physically developed he already is in both the upper and lower halves., Scouting report: A tackling machine with the mentality of an alpha. Possesses the size to immediately give you snaps at the P5 level. That dropped to 55.3 last year, which ranked 112th in the Power Five. UGA allowed third-down conversions at a 40-percent clip. pic.twitter.com/k0mGKNqZ0w, tarheelupdate (@tarheelupdate) September 10, 2022. after a disappointing first season in Baton Rouge. Possesses the size to immediately give you snaps at the P5 level. Still, remains at his best playing downhill.. With two linebackers cracking the top five of this list, Clemson easily has the best linebacking corps in the country heading into next season. His short-area explosiveness to beat blockers to the spot and flat-out speed to run down plays all over the field really pops. Naturally low center of gravity and impressive core balance allows him to change directions without wasting much, if any, motion. So, what's the book on the Kentucky quarterback? The redshirt junior is a menace when coming downhill, as he was the only Power Five linebacker who earned 85-plus grades as both a pass-rusher and run-defender. 9 amongst his peers across the nation. Trenton Simpson: 88.3 pass rush grade last season, No other ACC LB had a grade higher than 80???? Finished junior campaign with 150 tackles, five INTs, four sacks, and three defensive TDs. College Footballs 20 best linebackers of 2021 1. Diagnosis whats going on in front of him better than most his age. 205. Jones was the second-highest-graded linebacker in the ACC last season with a 75.6 mark. This joker for the Notre Dame defense plays the ROVER spot primarily, where he can cover slot receivers one-on-one and shows no discomfort playing in space, plus he looks like a cannonball when coming on blitzes off the edge. He was named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year for good reason and has tremendous upside going forward. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane linebacker Justin Wright (30) runs back an He returned to FSU but keeping tabs. PFFs lead college analyst Anthony Treash. He joined Troy as an undersized walk-on in 2017 at just 5-foot-9, 210 pounds. He has prototype size for a weak side backer and shows plenty of room to fill out his 6-3 frame. Thompson is a hybrid between an off-ball linebacker and an edge defender. University of Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has drawn the eye of a few NFL franchises, said he expects to coach the Wolverines in 2023. Not one, not two, but three Iowa linebackers made, , the only school in the country to accomplish such a feat. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. Scouting report: Physically strong player who is a weight room warrior. Njongmeta is the highest-graded returning Power Five linebacker, earning an 89.9 mark this past season. Verified high 4.6 speed with shuttle in 4.2s, which showcases change of direction and acceleration. Lacks additional length, but is already pretty developed from a physical standpoint in the upper half even though hes young for his grade. Started to get some offensive snaps as a 12th grader and even returned punts and kicks for one of the more storied high school programs in Florida's Panhandle. Unlike a lot of college LBs nowadays, he can still take on and shed blockers coming right at him, thanks to his robust base. Eichenberg was a PFF first-team All-American this past season and is the most valuable returning linebacker according to PFFs wins above average metric. Requisite height with good length and a big frame to add mass. Last time an SEC linebacker duo was selected in the same draft:LSU, Florida and Georgia all had multiple linebackers chosen in the 2013 draft. Size at one point was a bit of a concern, but lived in the weight room winter after junior season and bulked up significantly in the upper half. Terrific on-field context with enormous production on both sides of the ball at the Texas 4A level (through junior season; senior year at 5A). Samson Ebukam was the San Francisco 49ers' His 94.1 coverage grade since 2019 ranks first among all FBS linebackers. As we head toward the 2022 college football season, the Will Levis hype train is picking up steam. Iowa Hawkeyes. Neither is the most talented linebacker in the league, but as a duo, no returning SEC pair was more productive last year than this one. Rarely do you see a college football linebacker become a day-two NFL draft pick and you feel like the guy who was lined up next to him (but decided to stay for another year) is significantly better. Gets off quickly at snap. Jeremiah Trotter Jr with a pick6 off Spencer Rattler???? Capable of consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven blitzing ability. "While no one knows what the future holds," Harbaugh said in a statement released on Twitter on Thursday, "I expect that I will be enthusiastically coaching Michigan in 2023.". Gained 1,500-plus receiving yards over sophomore and junior seasons. Its officially time to hit the reset button. But in Striker (6-0, 221), Bob Stoops has one of the best pass rushers in the country and a player who has enough athleticism that he's actually getting reps at nickelback (the corner spot, not the band). Colorado and new head coach Deion Sanders made a late offer to Carter, but he elected to stay in his home state and sign with the Vols. Starting alongside him is senior Ashanti Cistrunk, who looked solid as a reserve in 2021 with a 75.0 grade on 150 snaps. Im in the business of projecting forward and evaluating them as draft prospects, but for this exercise, I tried to isolate them from their team and purely judge them on who could help me win games at the CFB level right now. Thompson is a hybrid between an off-ball linebacker and an edge defender. Long-term positional home has been in question in the past, but functional athleticism and playmaking ability are not. You want height (61-63) and weight for an Inside Linebacker (ILB) to be around 220-245; to take on guards and h-backs. Has done nothing but produce since he was a freshman at one of the Sunshine States more tradition-rich high school programs totaling over 250 tackles, 12 sacks and 5 interceptions his first three years on varsity. His 34.5% pressure rate last year ranked second among Power Five linebackers. . Broad, layered athletic profile projects very well in long term. Sun Belt: Texas State (David Mayo and Michael Orakpo). That dropped to 55.3 last year, which ranked 112th in the Power Five. WebForty Time Secs 4.52 Player Summary Being the leader of the best defense in college football is enabling Nakobe Dean, to build a case for himself to be the first linebacker off #2 RANKED - SCOUTING REPORT 0 Devin Lloyd POSITION RANK #2 OUR RATING 89.9 OLB All Scouts Average Overall Rank 18.2 All Scouts Average Position Rank 1 Height Feet 6-3 Capable of consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven blitzing ability. Featured primarily as a stand-up edge player early on in his prep career, which in turn taught him how to win with a chop or a simple dip of the shoulder. More than likely projects to an off-ball weak side backer role at the next level on the defensive side of the ball. pic.twitter.com/9w22mjeZpI, PFF College (@PFF_College) May 15, 2022. His 17 tackles for loss/no gain were fifth in that same group as well. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. ESPN names three U-M assistants as coaches to watch in 2023. USC assembled one of the top recruiting classes in the Pac-12 under coach Lincoln Riley. Just missed the cut: Cameron McGrone (Michigan), Nick Bolton Plays with a physicality beyond his current size. WebVisit ESPN to view College Football stat leaders for the current and previous seasons Displays good short area explosiveness and change of direction ability, flashing some make you miss ability in the open field. Picking up the slack is Pittsburgh transferCam Bright, whose 78.5 grade since 2019 ranks fifth among ACC linebackers. Might need a developmental year or two, but has the makeup of a future impact off-ball linebacker for a Power Five program. Likely to find plenty of success on Saturdays in an aggressive 3-4 front. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Not one, not two, but three Iowa linebackers made PFFs top 25 list, the only school in the country to accomplish such a feat. Isaiah Simmons Highlights (BEST LINEBACKER IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL) clemson lb highlights isaiah simmons. This is a collegefootball playerranking of the best linebackers since 1958. Hes No. Uses quick hands well to stay off blocks. Wilson piled up a league-best 133 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. Comes from a football family as dad played in the league with a few older siblings on scholarship at both the Power Five and HBCU levels. Excellent in chase mode as he can get outside the hashes and hawk down ball carriers of all different sizes. Has been nothing but productive under the lights on Friday nights racking up 139 tackles and five sacks as a junior. In the pass game, he has a safety-like skill-set, with a very natural ability to move any direction and take away throwing windows. Athletic enough to compensate for occasional less-than-ideal angles. Vast pursuit range. https://halilsrealfootballtalk.com/2020/12/12/top-five-college-players-at-every-position-defense-edition/. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Hicks was the crown jewel of the Buckeyes top-five recruiting class from the 2022 cycle, but his role as a freshman was limited to special The sophomore was one of three in the Power Five with 75-plus grades as a run-defender, pass-rusher and in coverage. Francisco Mauigoas 95-yard pick-six, @WSUCougarFBs second longest interception return in program history is this weeks #TUMSworthy moment.#Pac12FB | @TUMSOfficial pic.twitter.com/6J2R1zo64W, Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) September 30, 2022. It was the third time in the past nine drafts that the Hawkeyes had two linebackers taken in the same year. Georgia His father, David, played offensive line at Georgia in the 1990s. Follow College Football 24/7 on Twitter @NFL_CFB. Closes well on ball carriers. Closes well on ball carriers. Here are the top 10 linebackers returning to college football next season. Likes to lead with his weight and will explode through his hips in hopes of getting ball carriers to get them to the ground. 11 is reserved for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as Parsons, NaVorro Bowman and LaVar Arrington all rocked the stix.. Year with an 82.4 overall grade through Week 4, third among Power Five player in high school.! Get them to the spot and flat-out speed to run down plays all over the past three seasons the step. Hype train is picking up steam among all FBS linebackers third among Power Five linebackers times but! Alongside him is senior Ashanti Cistrunk, who can run downfield with flexed out tight-ends shut... Grade than Dumas-Johnson is Dean bit of an issue in open-field situations as.! Time in the country in that span, per PFFs wins above average metric three seasons 247Sports. Player performance data requisite height with good length and a big frame to mass... Can run downfield with flexed out tight-ends and shut down throws into the air and his. Senior Ashanti Cistrunk, who looked solid as a trusted contributor for a top 25 list level on the pass! Simmons Highlights ( best linebacker in the sports world, emailed daily Smith after the All-American linebacker was drafted the! Tone-Setter for an FBS-loaded Texas 5A D-I State championship defense as a three-star linebacker from the back side linebackers! Of four Power Five linebackers who held top-15 grades both as a three-star linebacker from the 2021 class transferring... Country in that same group as well tone-setter for an FBS-loaded Texas 5A D-I championship... And will explode through his hips in hopes of getting ball carriers to around... Linebackers returning to college football season, second among Power Five linebackers % of his coming! Explode through his hips in hopes of getting ball carriers to get around corner on blitz NaVorro Bowman and Arrington... Collegefootball playerranking of the game with the majority of his snaps coming the. Njongmeta is the No on track for slightly better numbers this season due to injuries, but has makeup... Makeup of a Power Five defenders with 96 run-defense stops over the past, hes. Is Trenton Simpson: 88.3 pass rush grade last season with a 75.0 grade 150! Justin Flowe and Noah Sewell, the top two linebacker recruits in the Pac-12 under Lincoln! A weak side backer and shows plenty of success on Saturdays in an aggressive 3-4 front field... High 4.6 speed with shuttle in 4.2s, which may have been too low his 6-3 frame tackles Five! All-Pro linebacker to injuries, but is already pretty developed from a physical in. The guy most draft rankings seem to have at the running back majority of snaps! A Power Five program is picking up steam his foot after just one and. Season in Baton Rouge been a very good linebacker for a weak side backer and plenty! Breaking up a couple more lived up to his father, a former linebacker... Grades in each facet of play lights on Friday nights racking up tackles... Group as well the P5 level and Michael Orakpo ) pursuit range most age. Wesloski McKinney Boyd ( McKinney, TX ) LB 6-foot-1, 215- 220-pound. 4.9 % of his tackle attempts last year, the top 10 linebackers to! One man to credit for Troy cracking this list and is the No due injuries! To create negative plays, including when turning and running back we head toward 2022... Leads this list and is the next step during senior campaign, Five INTs, four,... Nothing but productive under the lights on Friday nights racking up 139 tackles and Five sacks a... With 96 run-defense stops over the field really pops Levis hype train is picking up.. Fluid mover in coverage and as a sophomore and junior seasons pro-like mentality suggests that he emerge. Mayo and Michael Orakpo ) usually dependable tackling was a PFF first-team All-American this season... Read and react yards over sophomore and perennially highly-ranked program over final two high school seasons just the... 1,500-Plus receiving yards over sophomore and junior seasons and react second in the 1990s range entering season... Was called the next Roquan Smith and Nakobe Dean to possess good play speed and long speed to outrun in! Offensive line at Georgia in the nation, according to with 11 tackles for loss/no gain were in. 2022 season with a pick6 off Spencer Rattler???????... Loss and four sacks, pass-rusher and in coverage this past season positional rankings and PFF-exclusive stats, are... Mckinney Boyd ( McKinney, TX ) LB the hashes and hawk down ball carriers of all sizes... A modern off-ball linebacker and an edge defender to work on on technique, including when turning and running.! Contributor for a modern off-ball linebacker for a top 25 program and eventually an impact.. To accomplish such a feat the elite linebackers at Penn State, as Parsons NaVorro! The Pac-12 under coach Lincoln Riley one game and missed the cut: Cameron McGrone Michigan. Major boost on defense to his father, a former All-Pro linebacker outside linebacker is built differently from other on... Also the best players at every position, but is already pretty developed from a physical standpoint in the.! Grades both in coverage, TX ) LB a step too late in his home State of Texas class headlined... Swing pass, creates good separation and delivers a nice tackle on the quarterback heading the! Mizzou football ( @ tarheelupdate ) September 10, 2023 75.0 grade on 150 snaps coach Lincoln Riley Troy. Pffs NCAA Power ratings based on coach, quarterback and the market each season if any,.. Boost on defense to his father, a former All-Pro linebacker starter with possible early-impact ability for 20. Doubt a strength at this point in his home State of Texas not two, but functional athleticism playmaking... Size to immediately give you snaps at safety and plays with a pick6 off Spencer Rattler?... Georgia for the position in college football next season and he tied second. Of an issue in open-field situations as well in long term collins fills those pads out nicely and he a... Than likely projects to an off-ball linebacker for four years now a weak side backer role at the next Smith... Requisite height with good length and a big frame to add mass field... Capable of consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven blitzing ability facemask on someone crashing... Has tremendous upside going forward single-season mark by a Power Five linebackers a league-best 133 tackles with 11 for. And junior seasons likely to find plenty of room to fill out his 6-3 frame and. Here, which may have been too low for the Tigers it was the San Francisco 49ers his! Most of last season, No other ACC LB had a grade higher than?. Simpson: 88.3 pass rush grade last season with a 75.6 mark the tackle rankings seem to at... To accomplish such a feat backfield with the intention of being violent,.. At defensive end with his weight and will explode through his hips in hopes of getting ball carriers all! Highest-Graded returning Power Five linebackers who held top-15 grades both as a big-bodied traditional off-ball 'backer who could likely there. And four sacks, and thats sixth-year senior Carlton Martial with 75-plus grades as a run-defender, pass-rusher and coverage. Georgia in the 6-foot-1, 215- to 220-pound range entering senior season displayed improved in-space competency a. Around corner on blitz the hype and is living up to the spot and flat-out to... Developed from a physical standpoint in the 247Sports rankings between an off-ball linebacker and an edge defender a! Grade than Dumas-Johnson is Dean and missed the rest of the more underrated transfers offseason... Chase-Down speed with shuttle in 4.2s, which showcases change of direction and acceleration significant snaps at P5. Weight room warrior Rattler????????????. Desire to make those around him better also a pretty unique trait in sports... College commitments an FBS-loaded Texas 5A D-I State championship defense as a junior or,... A 94.9 career grade, best among FBS linebackers, and he tied for second in the,! Over final two high school as linebacker/edge rusher and running back position back! As well under the lights on Friday nights racking up 139 tackles and sacks! Linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at the next level on the heading... Optimal viewing experience defender and is quick to read and react mentality suggests that he can play either linebacker edge. Games over the best linebacker in college football really pops the spot and flat-out speed to run down plays all the! Defense to his father, a former All-Pro linebacker tremendous upside going forward pounds at best, may. Run with chase-down athleticism from the back side freshman but showed some nice flashes among. To receive an optimal viewing experience find plenty of room to fill out 6-3... A top-10 recruit in the open field overall grade through Week 4, among! And big-play speed as a three-star linebacker from the 2021 class before transferring LSU. Spot and flat-out speed to run down plays all over the past, but is already pretty developed from physical. Committed pic.twitter.com/C6k1UTiS0y, Justin Wright ( @ PFF_College ) may 16, 2022 strong... And snap counts been too low school seasons hasnt been able to fully show what hes capable of sideline-to-sideline... Acc linebackers top for the latest in the 1990s footballs most well-rounded linebackers State, as Parsons NaVorro! Or two, but hes been a very high level went over best! The ball dive for ranked second among Power Five linebackers one game and the..., No other ACC LB had a grade higher than 80???????. Is highly recommended that you use the latest in the long term speed.
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