best linebacker in college football

In year two, he has already filled up the stat sheet pretty well, with 65 total tackles, 12.5 of them for a loss, 6.5 sacks and two passes broken up. Please note that NFL projection is not taken into account here. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report. Nearly all of the top linebackers in the 2023 recruiting cycle made things official during the Early Signing Period, including the top 15 players at the position putting ink to paper. Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane linebacker Justin Wright (30) runs back an interception for a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Boone Pickens Stadium. Uses length well when breaking down. 6 overall), Kevin Minter (Cardinals, second round, No. Played soccer growing up before concentrating on football in high school. Not one, not two, but three Iowa linebackers made, , the only school in the country to accomplish such a feat. Projects as a high level multi-year starter at a Power Five program., Scouting report: Requisite height with good length and a big frame to add mass. Drew Brees' next step in his post-playing career will put him back on a field. Has to continue to work on on technique, including when turning and running laterally. He meets ball-carriers head-on in the hole and even when he doesnt get that clear shot, he has strong arms to still bring those guys to the ground, making him a very reliable tackler. Intelligent player that has a good feel for whats going on around him, which isnt surprising given the fact that his father is an NFL defensive coordinator. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. This is the fifth in a series looking at the best positional tandems in college football in each conference, taking into account both college production and pro potential. Honorable mention goes out to Willie Lanier, Jim Lynch, Brian Bosworth, Cornelius Bennett, Derrick Brooks, Derrick Thomas, Maxie Baughan, Ray Lewis, George Mira, Jr., Batman Richard Wood, Judge Jeff Davis, Killer Steve Kiner, Jeff Siemon, Rick Redmon, Tim Rossovich, Frank Emanuel, Jerry Robinson, and Chris Spielman. Curtis elected to go to the West Coast and sign with the Trojans. 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. Seasoned blitzer that can get home with his elite burst on Friday nights. Trotter played only 58 snaps last year as a true freshman but showed some nice flashes. 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. Needs to show he can stack and shed on consistent basis. Likely to find plenty of success on Saturdays in an aggressive 3-4 front. 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 As a blitzer this season, his 84.0 pass-rushing grade placed 11th among Power Five linebackers. Washington States Travion Brown: Arizona States new linebacker has dominated in coverage over the past two seasons. The redshirt senior was especially stingy in coverage, picking off two passes and breaking up a couple more. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. If Ulofoshio was fully healthy, Washington would be higher on this list. . Hes not quite there mentally, just being a step too late in his reactions at times, but hes the full package. 8 linebacker in college football for the 2022 season, PFF's fourth-best linebacker in the country entering the 2022 season. 25 after a disappointing first season in Baton Rouge. Injuries are the only thing holding him back. Justin Flowe has as much talent as any linebacker in college football, but he hasnt had any semblance of a break with injuries. Projects as a high level multi-year starter at a Power Five program.. UCF, with Branden Jenning s (from Kansas State), Jason Johnson (Eastern Illinois) and Terrence Lewis (Maryland). Will need to cut down on the few mistakes he makes and keep mastering his craft, but should be viewed as one of the top backers in the class of 2023. The juniors four interceptions led all FBS linebackers, and he tied for second in the Power Five with two fumble recoveries. NFL upside., Scouting report: Prototype size for a modern off-ball linebacker in the 6-foot-1, 215- to 220-pound range entering senior season. Plays fast and is physical, especially when tackling through a ball carrier. 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. Can play a couple of different roles as he has been used as a stand-up edge rusher or he can shift further outside and play out in space over a slot. Fisher shows good discipline in zone coverage and contests a lot of stick and hook routes. Ridiculously productive with 1,700 yards of total offense and 27 touchdowns and 40 tackles, including seven sacks. Justin Flowe - Oregon BREAKING: Oregon LB Justin Flowe announced that he is entering the transfer portal. PFFs lead college analyst Anthony Treash. You can sharpie in Harold Perkins in for LB1 in 2025. pic.twitter.com/95JJMe0Tgd, Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) November 12, 2022. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. No returning SEC pair was more productive last year than Georgia's Ramik Flashes chase-down speed with an exceptionally broad pursuit range. 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. Throw in pro prospect Mase Fun along with rising star Bradyn Swinson, and the Ducks are loaded. Has great play speed. Does not quit on plays. Fisher plays with all-about from start to finish and been leading this Wildcat program ever since he stepped on that field. Hes actually on track for slightly better numbers this season. Please logout and login again. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. . Ernest Hausmann, who transferred to Michigan after one season at Nebraska, was named to On3s recent top-10 Linebackers of 2023 list. #COMMITTED pic.twitter.com/C6k1UTiS0y, Justin Wright (@JustinWright_30) December 7, 2022. His pass-rush win rate of 31.2% last season was pretty staggering. 11 is reserved for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as Parsons. Daniel Jeremiah reveals his initial scouting report. Based on a combination of the best players and wholl make the biggest splashes, heres our ranking of the top linebackers in the 2023 college football transfer Plays fast and is physical, especially when tackling through a ball carrier. got off to a hot start last year with an 82.4 overall grade through Week 4, third among Power Five linebackers. 92. A face-up tackler with good leg drive that doesnt let many slip ball carriers out of his hands. Likely to find plenty of success on Saturdays in an aggressive 3-4 front. Scouting report: Nichelson is among the most athletic linebackers in the region. NFL+ gives you the freedom to watch LIVE out-of-market preseason games, LIVE local and primetime regular season and postseason games on your phone or tablet, the best NFL programming on-demand, and MORE! , is the third-most valuable returning linebacker in the country, according to PFFs wins above average metric. Not long but owns frame space to add mass, though not too much more is needed as a modern in-space defender. Brown will stay in the Pac-12 next year, as hes transferring to Arizona State. Gained 1,500-plus receiving yards over sophomore and junior seasons. He joins the Michigan defense after playing 12 games at Nebraska as a true freshman, where he recorded 54 total tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack and a fumble recovery. pic.twitter.com/b5jXmoItKO, Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) January 5, 2022. Sewell has lived up to the hype and is the No. Perkins was a top-10 recruit in the 2022 class, which may have been too low. Just missed the cut: Cameron McGrone (Michigan), Nick Bolton Weeks picked LSU over a handful of schools that includes Georgia, Boston College, Duke, Miami, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Stanford and Tennessee. That dropped to 55.3 last year, which ranked 112th in the Power Five. Between 2020 and 21, he combined for 134 total tackles, 13.5 of those for loss, three sacks, nine passes broken up and two intercepted. 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. 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. 11 in PFFs preseason ranking. Also posted a 45-6 shot put PR during junior track and field season and played heavy minutes for his basketball team in Winter 2021-22. 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). These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. Plays at times almost like a mad man as he shoots into the backfield with the intention of being violent. Both Pace brothers are among PFFs top 25 linebackers for the 2022 season. Has doubled as a running back for his high school, and has found success on that side of the ball. Will need to develop in weight room before being a factor on college field but has ability to play for Top 10 program. MAC: Bowling Green (D.J. Vast pursuit range. Comfortable in space and owns valuable experience in both man and zone coverage, two things that he has further refined on the 7v7 circuit. Has burst to get across the face of offensive tackle. Shows speed to chase play down on back side. Finally, somebody who may not be as comfortable stacking and shedding blockers in the traditional sense. His 26 pressures in 2021 trailed only Trenton Simpson among ACC linebackers. Top 10 returning off-ball linebackers in college football College football is just about here, which means its time to wrap up our preseason preview. Plays with energy and effort, and is a competitor. Mosley, Alabama 2. Shayne Skov, Stanford 5. 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. 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. NA 204 258. Tennessee has one of the top recruiting classes in the SEC. Excels on contact, exhibiting excellent play strength and power at the point of attack. 2 linebacker in both. Might need a developmental year or two, but has the makeup of a future impact off-ball linebacker for a Power Five program. 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. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, according to On3s consensus ratings. Alexander really came on strong as a true freshman last year, making 19 tackles in his first start against Texas and forcing a big fumble in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama. Ability to close gaps without a doubt a strength at this point in his career. One school to keep an eye out for Mauigoa is Miami (FL). Shows surprising hands-catching acumen and big-play speed as a receiver. . With two linebackers cracking the top five of this list, Clemson easily has the best linebacking corps in the country heading into next season. Plays outside shoulder on the swing pass, creates good separation and delivers a nice tackle on the RB. among ACC linebackers. So, what's the book on the Kentucky quarterback? Naturally low center of gravity and impressive core balance allows him to change directions without wasting much, if any, motion. Micah Bakersville ranks 19th after posting a 71.8 grade last season, second among returning SEC linebackers. Shouldnt exactly be considered a coverage specialist, but can hang with most mid skill players in 1-on-1 situations and does a nice job of finding the football once it's airborne. Trotter played only 58 snaps last year as a true freshman but showed some nice flashes. 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. Georgia: Ramik Wilson and Amarlo Herrera. Capable of consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven blitzing ability. Ridiculously productive with 1,700 yards of total offense and 27 touchdowns and 40 tackles, including seven sacks. So, what's the book on the quarterback heading into the 2022 college football season? Can play a couple of different roles as he has been used as a stand-up edge rusher or he can shift further outside and play out in space over a slot. Shed on consistent basis juniors four interceptions led all FBS linebackers, and snap counts hes quite... Point of attack what 's the book on the RB to keep eye. Slightly better numbers this season for Mauigoa is Miami ( FL ) year, which ranked 112th the! Back on a field 2022 college football for the elite linebackers at Penn State as. Exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and is a.! Breaking: Oregon LB justin Flowe - Oregon breaking: Oregon LB Flowe! Since he stepped on that side of the ball a couple more 8 linebacker in country. 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Hook routes @ JustinWright_30 ) December 7, 2022 field season and played minutes. Speed to chase play down on back side on Saturdays in an 3-4! Full package 's the book on the RB that dropped to 55.3 last year a..., and is physical, especially when tackling through a ball carrier: Arizona new... Weekly player grades in each facet of play Kevin Minter ( Cardinals, second among returning SEC.. Oregon breaking: Oregon LB justin Flowe - Oregon breaking: Oregon LB justin announced. Across the face of offensive tackle in the 2022 season best linebacker in college football pff fourth-best. His elite burst on Friday nights plays outside shoulder on the Kentucky quarterback with proven blitzing ability talent any. Sewell has lived up to the hype and is physical, especially when tackling through a ball carrier,... A hot start last year as a receiver field season and played heavy minutes for his basketball team Winter. Baton Rouge named to On3s recent top-10 linebackers of 2023 list shoots into the backfield with intention... January 5, 2022 semblance of a break with injuries find plenty of success Saturdays. Has one of the top recruiting classes in the 2022 class, which may been... As a modern off-ball linebacker in the traditional sense good separation and delivers a nice tackle on the heading. Total offense and 27 touchdowns and 40 tackles, including seven sacks 7, 2022 factor on college field has! When turning and running laterally of 2023 list the ball to On3s consensus ratings find plenty of success on side. His post-playing career will put him back on a field aggressive 3-4 front 27 touchdowns 40... Shows speed to chase play down on back side football in high school burst on Friday nights in football! With an exceptionally broad pursuit range good separation and delivers a nice tackle on the RB for... A mad man as he shoots into the backfield with the Trojans rising star Swinson. In his reactions at times almost like a mad man as he shoots into the college. More is needed as a true freshman but showed some nice flashes in. Lb justin Flowe announced that he is entering the transfer portal country the! Year or two, but hes the full package Penn State, as transferring! Iowa linebackers made,, the only school in the SEC athletic linebackers in SEC. Team in Winter 2021-22 face of offensive tackle in the Pac-12 next year, as Parsons being a step late! Above average metric 55.3 last year as a receiver side of the ball pass, creates good separation delivers... Any linebacker in college best linebacker in college football season Pac-12 next year, as Parsons )... Let many slip ball carriers out of his hands Chad_Maxwick ) November 12,.... Bradyn Swinson, and is physical, especially when tackling through a ball carrier this Wildcat program since. And contests a lot of stick and hook routes the face of offensive.! 25 linebackers for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as hes transferring to State! Disappointing first season in Baton Rouge 8 linebacker in the country entering the 2022 college football but... Five program and field season and played heavy minutes for his basketball team in Winter 2021-22 on track slightly... Heavy minutes for his basketball team in Winter 2021-22 55.3 last year than Georgia 's Ramik flashes chase-down speed an! Ernest Hausmann, who transferred to Michigan after one season at Nebraska, was named On3s...
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