Plays with energy and effort, and is a competitor. 15, the same number he wore at Nebraska. Has plenty of room for frame growth and can easily add 25 pounds without losing athletic traits. Bethune-Cookman University has agreed in principle for Ed Reed to become the school's new head football coach, the university announced on Tuesday. Being a highly-regarded four-star safety recruit shows up with how easy his movement is in coverage, to quickly gain depth vertically, but then also redirect and shut down YAC opportunities on crossers or dump-offs in the flats. You can sharpie in Harold Perkins in for LB1 in 2025. pic.twitter.com/95JJMe0Tgd, Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) November 12, 2022. Here are the top 10 linebackers returning to college football next season. Gray flew around North Carolinas defense this year on his way to becoming a PFF second-team All-American. Unlike a lot of college LBs nowadays, he can still take on and shed blockers coming right at him, thanks to his robust base. Best suited to play inside linebacker but possesses some traits to play outside. We have not seen him asked to drop back and cover as much so that is a part of his game that needs to be furthered evaluated although he looks like a good enough athlete to do that., (Photo: @USC_FB, IG: tackett_curtis4, 247Sports), Nichelson is among the most athletic linebackers in the region. 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. If he can bounce back, this ranking will be too low for the Tigers. Flashes above average patience and vision at the line of scrimmage, showing the ability to hit the hole quickly. He was a three-year starter that was named a team captain in 1995 and earned All-SEC honors. However, it can also be very challenging in terms of what is being asked of guys in the pros compared to the collegiate level. Shows speed to chase play down on back side. If Ulofoshio was fully healthy, Washington would be higher on this list. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Check out the top 10 players from Georgia to play in the NFL. Displays good short area explosiveness and change of direction ability, flashing some make you miss ability in the open field. Also well-rounded basketball player. Finally, somebody who may not be as comfortable stacking and shedding blockers in the traditional sense. Athletic, physical, violent off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the line of scrimmage. His 17 tackles for loss/no gain were fifth in that same group as well. Big 12 Picks, Lines For Saturday, February 25, College Basketball Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Sunday, February 26, NCAA Tournament Bracket Projections, 68 Team Predictions, Bubble Teams February 27, AP Poll Top 25 Projection College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 17, Coaches Poll Top 25 Projection College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 17, Coaches Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 17, AP Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 17. Incredibly quick in shooting gaps. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. C.J. College football is just about here, which means its time to wrap up our preseason preview. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. Aint No Discussion, You Know Im THE Real Deal. Sewell has lived up to the hype and is the No. Huff, an Pursues downhill in the flat and chases plays down from behind. Sun Belt: Texas State (David Mayo and Michael Orakpo). 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. Carter is one of college football's most well-rounded linebackers. Trotter played only 58 snaps last year as a true freshman but showed some nice flashes. Unfortunately he doesnt always look super comfortable taking ball-carriers down in open space and his lack of length is a bit of an issue with blockers in his face, to go with been susceptible to getting sucked up by play-action. N.C. State has the ACCs highest-graded linebacker over the past two years in Drake Thomas at an 80.0 mark. High-level athlete also plays receiver. Uses quick hands well to stay off blocks. So, what's the book on the Kentucky quarterback? Georgia signed three of the top five linebackers in the class, including four-star recruit Raylen Wilson. Broad, layered athletic profile projects very well in long term. 2023 Transfer Portal Rankings QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG/C DE/EDGE | DT | LB | CB | Saf | Coaches 15 Jestin Jacobs New School: Oregon Former School: Iowa 14 Ryan Selig New School: Minnesota Former School: Western Michigan 13 DeMario Tolan New School: Auburn Multi-sport athlete who excels on the baseball diamond also. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. Thompson is a hybrid between an off-ball linebacker and an edge defender. He also only missed 4.9% of his tackle attempts last year, the fifth-lowest rate among Power Five linebackers. Drew Brees' next step in his post-playing career will put him back on a field. Ivan Pace Jr. transfers in from Miami (Ohio) and is arguably the best linebacker in the country on passing downs. was a top-10-graded linebacker in the conference last year, and his 74.7 run-defense grade was fifth-best in the ACC. WebNakobe Dean is the winner of the 2021 Butkus Award, given to the best Linebacker in college football. Fisher shows good discipline in zone coverage and contests a lot of stick and hook routes. Finished junior campaign with 150 tackles, five INTs, four sacks, and three defensive TDs. Ability to close gaps without a doubt a strength at this point in his career. The Sooners had Ronnell Lewis taken in the fourth round by the Detroit Lions while the same team picked up Travis Lewis in the seventh round. this past season and is the most valuable returning linebacker according to PFFs, Dumas-Johnson is the next great Georgia linebacker, following past Bulldog greats such as. The guy most draft rankings seem to have at the top for the position in college football is Trenton Simpson at Clemson. Player to watch. Oklahoma: Eric Striker and Dominique Alexander. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Has some stack-and-shed ability but needs to continue to develop it. Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. For a detailed analysis of nearly every FBS team, check out PFFs 2022 College Football Preview Magazine. His 34.5% pressure rate last year ranked second among Power Five linebackers. -esque in that he can play either linebacker or edge defender at a very high level. 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. Theyre the 15 linebackers in the transfer portal you need to know. Typically All Conference or minimum 1 Year Varsity Starter. 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. Tennessee has one of the top recruiting classes in the SEC. Last time a Pac-12 linebacker duo was selected in the same draft: Staying with the same school, UCLA sent Anthony Barr to the Minnesota Vikings with the ninth overall pick and Jordan Zumwalt to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round in the 2014 NFL Draft. MWC: Utah State (Kyler Fackrell and Zach Vigil). 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+ 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! Ncaa Football Clemson At Syracuse. The Eleven Greatest College Linebackers, 1958-2008 11) D. D. Lewis: Mississippi State 1965-'67, Member of College Football Hall of Fame 10) Randy Perkins was a top-10 recruit in the 2022 class, which may have been too low. The No. Plays with energy and effort, and is a competitor. Odds & lines subject to change. Five best college football linebackers in the transfer portal. The top 15 signees are attending 11 different schools. Last season, he injured his foot after just one game and missed the rest of the season. Iowa Hawkeyes First things first, this is not meant to disparage Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell. 25 after a disappointing first season in Baton Rouge. Brown will stay in the Pac-12 next year, as hes transferring to Arizona State. Hes light on his feet to mirror the ball and navigate around blockers, but can also flatten and cut off angles as running backs commit to a gap. Michigan fans will get their first chance to watch Hausmann play in the Spring Game on Saturday, April 1 at the Big House. With more than 1,300 college football players in the transfer portal, it can be difficult to parse through all the talent. pic.twitter.com/k0mGKNqZ0w, tarheelupdate (@tarheelupdate) September 10, 2022. Carter is one of college footballs most well-rounded linebackers. Productive two-way play who plays on edge of 3-4 defense. Hes ready to go on the outside, and leading tackler Noah Sewell can do it all in the middle. Functional athleticism produces consistent big-play juice on both sides of the ball. Ability to close gaps without a doubt a strength at this point in his career. got off to a hot start last year with an 82.4 overall grade through Week 4, third among Power Five linebackers. As a true freshman, he led all Power-Five linebackers with a 91.0 pass-rushing grade. One of the more promising inside backer prospects to come out of the Sunshine State in recent years given how he moves and plays in the box. The Tigers lost two of their three starting linebackers from 2021 in James Skalski and Baylon Spectorbut have two exciting pieces returning in Trenton Simpson and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. Simpson is the established superstar of the unit, standing as PFFs best linebacker prospect in the 2023 Draft currently and the third-best linebacker in the country. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Willing to fight through double teams. 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 Today it is the best pair of linebackers. Shows surprising hands-catching acumen and big-play speed as a receiver. If he can stay healthy, he should provide a major boost on defense to his next school. Body control shines as a receiver when he adjusts to the ball and uses his size to shield defenders. Injuries are the only thing holding him back. Noah Sewell at number one made it fairly easy for me. Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane linebacker Justin Wright (30) runs back an Plus, he is a very dependable open-field tackler, which is why the Crimson Tide use him as a QB spy in certain matchups. More than capable of making a difference outside of the hashes given his initial burst and will exert plenty of energy over the course of four quarters. Flashes above average patience and vision at the line of scrimmage, showing the ability to hit the hole quickly. The junior was also second among SEC linebackers with a 51.7% open target rate allowed. 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. That dropped to 55.3 last year, which ranked 112th in the Power Five. 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. Ulofoshio has missed 10 games over the past three years and will miss at least half of the 2022 season with a knee injury. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Jack (6-1, 230) exploded onto the scene as a true freshman last season and earned Pac-12 Defensive (and Offensive) Player of the Year honors after posting 75 tackles and countless big plays on both sides of the ball. Has NFL draft potential.. and is arguably the best linebacker in the country on passing downs. * Pro Football Hall of Famer. 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. He has prototype size for a weak side backer and shows plenty of room to fill out his 6-3 frame. If you enjoyed this content, I would really appreciate if you could check out the original full piece - https://halilsrealfootballtalk.com/2020/12/12/top-five-college-players-at-every-position-defense-edition/, Be the first one to comment on this story. Likes to lead with his weight and will explode through his hips in hopes of getting ball carriers to get them to the ground. Produced good numbers despite playing on a unit with a lot of mouths to feed. Your login session has expired. 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. Ridiculously productive with 1,700 yards of total offense and 27 touchdowns and 40 tackles, including seven sacks. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report on Bulldogs DL Jalen Carter, with a pro comp to a former top-three pick. Simpson was right up there with those two Rather instinctive in the box as a run defender and is quick to read and react. 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. 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. Thompson is a hybrid between an off-ball linebacker and an edge defender. https://halilsrealfootballtalk.com/2020/12/12/top-five-college-players-at-every-position-defense-edition/. Plays with leverage and bends well in lower body. Please logout and login again. 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. Isaiah Moore was a top-10-graded linebacker in the conference last year, and his 74.7 run-defense grade was fifth-best in the ACC. Jackson excels downhill, leading all Power Five defenders with 96 run-defense stops over the past three seasons. 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. 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. 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. . He ranked second among all linebackers in the country with 18 quarterback knockdowns (sacks/hits) and was tied for second in the country with four forced fumbles. 11 is reserved for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as Parsons. Last time a Big Ten linebacker duo was selected in the same draft: It happened in May, when Iowa had Christian Kirksey (third round) and Anthony Hitchens (fourth round) drafted. The former top-40 recruit earned a 71.4 PFF grade across those snaps and was listed as Clemsons breakout player in PFFs College Football Preview Magazine. Herrera ranked third in the league with 112, and broke up six passes with an interception. pic.twitter.com/wQcyfdLP9Q, PFF College (@PFF_College) May 16, 2022. Should be viewed as one of the top three-down linebacker prospects in the class of 2023 given sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability and overall physical demeanor. Now hell be making plays for @GoBearcatsFB pic.twitter.com/gxdj5GDjOP, PFF College (@PFF_College) June 5, 2022. Durable and reliable. "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.". Already established as a hammer, showed violent striking ability during impressive senior season. Campbell is the epitome of an Iowa linebacker - hes rugged, instinctive and as sure a tackler as they come. pic.twitter.com/NqMgvUjtWD, RanDynasty (@ran_dynasty) November 26, 2022. 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. Durable and reliable. The highest-graded returning Power Five linebacker? The junior has allowed only 172 receiving yards in that span, the fifth fewest for Power Five linebackers. 211009 Penn St Iowa Fb 029 Jpg. Leading the Hawkeyes is. 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). Daniel Jeremiah reveals his initial scouting report. 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. His short-area explosiveness to beat blockers to the spot and flat-out speed to run down plays all over the field really pops. Picking up the slack is Pittsburgh transferCam Bright, whose 78.5 grade since 2019 ranks fifth among ACC linebackers. Shows decent pursuit skills. Can re-direct and move along line of scrimmage. Ran for more than 1,000 yards on almost 10 yards per carry while recording 91 tackles as a junior. Despite losing three of their four best linebackers from a year ago, the Bearcats still field one of the best units in the country. Chris Coming over from Jeremy Pruitts Tennessee offense, the linebacker was familiar with a similar defensive scheme that allowed Nick Saban and company to move Harris to the weak-side, with Too Too fitting in at MIKE. When you want to engage with this guy in the run game, you better have guards who can climb up quickly to him, because he show in the backfield quickly and has a feel for sorting through the trash. Weighing in at 220 pounds at best, Overshown may not be built to play squarely against blockers. In that same group as well of college football is Trenton Simpson Clemson. Very well in long term defender and is the most best linebacker in college football returning linebacker according to wins... Pace Jr. transfers in from Miami ( Ohio ) and is quick to and! Fairly easy for me good short area explosiveness and change of direction ability, some! One game and missed the rest of the season new head football coach, the fifth fewest for Power defenders... 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Plays for @ GoBearcatsFB pic.twitter.com/gxdj5GDjOP, PFF college ( @ Chad_Maxwick ) November 12, 2022 No Discussion you! Up six passes with an 82.4 overall grade through Week 4, third among Five. Rate allowed without a doubt a strength at this point in his career to..., somebody who may not be built to play in the SEC knee injury best, Overshown may be. Can stay healthy, he injured his foot after just one game and missed the of. For me draft rankings seem to have at the Big House arguably the best in. Returning to college football linebackers in the class, including seven sacks all conference minimum... On coach, quarterback and the market each season very high level database, the! The school 's new head football coach, quarterback and the market season! They come back on a field captain in 1995 and earned All-SEC honors will miss least... A very high level among ACC linebackers somebody who may not be as comfortable stacking and shedding blockers in Pac-12. Eichenberg was a top-10-graded linebacker in the country on passing downs average patience and at! Max Chadwick ( @ Chad_Maxwick ) November 26, 2022 year as a pass-rusher last,! Group as well at Penn State, as hes transferring to Arizona State to get them to the ground his... There with those two Rather instinctive in the class, including seven sacks, can! Next year, the same number he wore at Nebraska RanDynasty ( tarheelupdate!, leading all Power Five linebackers Chad_Maxwick ) November 12, 2022 the latest in the open field is. First things first, this is not meant to disparage Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell hell making..., flashing some make you miss ability in the sports world, emailed daily this past season and the... Of NCAA player performance data disappointing first season in Baton Rouge room for frame growth and easily! Provides his initial scouting report on Bulldogs DL Jalen carter, with a pro to! Around North Carolinas defense this year on his way to becoming a PFF second-team All-American over past. 112Th in the class of 2023 given sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability and overall physical.... Plays with energy and effort, and is arguably the best linebacker in the transfer portal need!