Rather instinctive in the box as a run defender and is quick to read and react. 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. Highly productive considering full-time two-way snaps. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The excitement about Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. is sky-high coming off his sensational 2021 campaign. Thumper vs. the run with chase-down athleticism from the back side. The junior was also second among SEC linebackers with a 51.7% open target rate allowed. 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. Pursues downhill in the flat and chases plays down from behind. Will need to develop in weight room before being a factor on college field but has ability to play for Top 10 program. 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. Shows quick hands to keep offensive linemen from getting inside. Ariguzo (6-3, 235), who will be starting for the third consecutive season, had 106 tackles last season and has a legit shot to lead the Big Ten in tackles this season; he has some pass-rush ability and also had four interceptions last season. In fact, over the past two seasons, the only SEC linebacker with a higher grade than Dumas-Johnson is Dean. Isaiah Simmons Highlights (BEST LINEBACKER IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL) clemson lb highlights isaiah simmons. However, hes more than willing to shoot through one half of the blockers and funnel the ball back inside on perimeter-oriented runs, or just hit a crease and create negative plays when the opportunity arises. It was the third time in the past nine drafts that the Hawkeyes had two linebackers taken in the same year. Willing to fight through double teams. Has to continue to work on on technique, including when turning and running laterally. Has athleticism and speed to drop into coverage in flat or take running back one-on-one. Desire to make those around him better also a pretty unique trait in the year 2022. Take a look at the top 10 players from Northwestern to play in the NFL. this season due to his dominance on passing plays. Excels on contact, exhibiting excellent play strength and power at the point of attack. 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. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Vast pursuit range. here are the five best linebackers searching for new homes. Collins fills those pads out nicely and he is a beast as Tulsas stack WILL backer. Your login session has expired. pic.twitter.com/b5jXmoItKO, Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) January 5, 2022. His 34.5% pressure rate last year ranked second among Power Five linebackers. Wrights 79.7 grade this past season was a top-30 mark among all linebackers in college football. , which says a lot about his potential. Stanford head coach David Shaw is stepping down after 12 seasons at the helm of the Cardinal program. Typically All Conference or minimum 1 Year Varsity Starter. Picking up the slack is Pittsburgh transfer. Has to develop strength throughout frame, and particularly in upper body. 11 in PFFs preseason ranking. The other three. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. Athletic enough to compensate for occasional less-than-ideal angles. Huff, an Chris Will need to develop in weight room before being a factor on college field but has ability to play for Top 10 program. Capable of consistent sideline-to-sideline pursuit with proven blitzing ability. Max Bullough, Michigan State 3. Gets off quickly at snap. And he is on that same track again this season. Two-way experience provides another key indicator for future NFL Draft potential relative to recent years., Scouting report: A freaky athlete that just happens to play linebacker. Comfortable in zone coverage and is quick to anticipate throws. Flashes above average patience and vision at the line of scrimmage, showing the ability to hit the hole quickly. Player to watch. Multi-sport athlete who excels on the baseball diamond also. Impact player in high school as linebacker/edge rusher and running back. Likes to lead with his weight and will explode through his hips in hopes of getting ball carriers to get them to the ground. He has a lot of quick-twitch in his game and shows both short area quickness and excellent closing speed. Athletic, physical, violent off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the line of scrimmage. 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. Uses length well when breaking down. He also only missed 4.9% of his tackle attempts last year, the fifth-lowest rate among Power Five linebackers. C.J. 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. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. This is a collegefootball playerranking of the best linebackers since 1958. Played soccer growing up before concentrating on football in high school. His 26 pressures in 2021 trailed only Trenton Simpson among ACC linebackers. pic.twitter.com/k0mGKNqZ0w, tarheelupdate (@tarheelupdate) September 10, 2022. 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. Physical back that has the ability to play either side of the ball at the next level, depending on where programs see his most natural fit. The Eleven Greatest College Linebackers, 1958-2008 11) D. D. Lewis: Mississippi State 1965-'67, Member of College Football Hall of Fame 10) Randy NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Gained 1,500-plus receiving yards over sophomore and junior seasons. Excellent overall athletic profile coupled with strong on-field context. Campbell is the epitome of an Iowa linebacker - hes rugged, instinctive and as sure a tackler as they come. Around the 6-foot-1, 210- to 215-pound range entering senior season with build that should support 230-pound neighborhood if desired. Daniel Jeremiah reveals his initial scouting report. 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. Athleticism shows when dropping into coverage. LSU is one of only four schools with multiple linebackers in PFFs top 25. A meniscus injury ended his freshman campaign after just five snaps. N.C. State has the ACCs highest-graded linebacker over the past two years in. Hes No. Shows quick hands to keep offensive linemen from getting inside. Owner of a 4.62 40 and 100-meter times of 11.16 and 11.18. Michigan fans will get their first chance to watch Hausmann play in the Spring Game on Saturday, April 1 at the Big House. Defensive Captains with signal-calling experience are highly desirable for inside linebackers. 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). 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. Simpson was right up there with those two linebackers for Oregon in Sewell and Justin Flowe as LB3 in the 2020 recruiting class. Lacks verified times, but appears to possess good play speed and long speed to outrun defenders in the open field. His 94.1 coverage grade since 2019 ranks first among all FBS linebackers. Senior season displayed improved in-space competency as a big-bodied traditional off-ball 'backer who could likely stay there in the long term. On the spring roster, Hausmann is listed at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds. 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. 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. He joined Troy as an undersized walk-on in 2017 at just 5-foot-9, 210 pounds. Projects as a high level multi-year starter at a Power Five program.. Fisher shows good discipline in zone coverage and contests a lot of stick and hook routes. Lynch and Gabe Martin). 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. However, while I like the patience he displays in reading run schemes, he is a little too conversative for my taste and when big linemen work up to him, he struggles to disengage. Highly productive considering full-time two-way snaps. I know Im probably a lot higher on Fisher than most people, but I have been following his young mans career ever since his freshman season. Athleticism shows when dropping into coverage. Broad, layered athletic profile projects very well in long term. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! Both Pace brothers are among, , the top two linebacker recruits in the 2020 class. The class is headlined by five-star Anthony Hill, who is staying in his home state of Texas. What's the book on the edge rusher heading into the '22 college football season? N.C. State has the ACCs highest-graded linebacker over the past two years in Drake Thomas at an 80.0 mark. Plays with energy and effort, and is a competitor. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Carter is one of college football's most well-rounded linebackers. 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. 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 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. Last time a Big 12 linebacker duo was selected in the same draft: Not surprisingly, league powerhouses Texas and Oklahoma were the last to do it and managed to send a pair of linebackers to the NFL in the same 2012 draft. So, when it was announced that Carter, a true freshman, would also wear that number, it raised some eyebrows. The top 15 signees are attending 11 different schools. He is really sudden in his movements when the ball gets to the edge and he quickly flashes against screen passes. Displays impressive linear acceleration with burst and open-field playmaking ability of a Power Five skill prospect. Thats because his younger brother, Francis, is currently committed to the Hurricanes as a top-five recruit and the No. 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. One of my Top-???? Has been nothing but productive under the lights on Friday nights racking up 139 tackles and five sacks as a junior. All hes done since then is earn a 94.9 career grade, best among FBS linebackers over the past five years. Understands how to stack and shed, and can do it at a high level. Ivan Pace Jr. didnt allow a TD in coverage last season ???? EDGE Position Preview: Can Michigans pass rush remain dominant in 2023? WebFlashes ability to stand blockers up and also to knock ball-carriers backward on contact. While at Clemson in 2020, he earned a 90.2 coverage grade, which was first among Power Five linebackers. Productive two-way play who plays on edge of 3-4 defense. Noah Sewell at number one made it fairly easy for me. Ability to close gaps without a doubt a strength at this point in his career. The redshirt senior was especially stingy in coverage, picking off two passes and breaking up a couple more. Shows decent pursuit skills. Please note that NFL projection is not taken into account here. Comfortable in zone coverage and is quick to anticipate throws. Here are the top five linebackers in college football, a group of future NFL Draft prospects. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. The other three, Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean and Channing Tindall, all were taken within the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. Martial is listed as PFF's fourth-best linebacker in the country entering the 2022 season. LSU is one of only four schools with multiple linebackers in. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Washington States Travion Brown: Arizona States new linebacker has dominated in coverage over the past two seasons. For perspective on the 245 stops they combined for, consider that only six defenders league-wide posted 100-plus tackles, and three of those don't return. 21. The top 10 linebacker corps in college football ahead of the 2022 season 1. 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. Iowa Hawkeyes. Picking up the slack is Pittsburgh transferCam Bright, whose 78.5 grade since 2019 ranks fifth among ACC linebackers. Around the 6-foot-1, 210- to 215-pound range entering senior season with build that should support 230-pound neighborhood if desired. PFFs lead college analyst Anthony Treash already went over the best players at every position, but what about the best position groups? Lorenzo Carter could be a high-upside add on a one-year, prove-it deal at 27 years old. Lacks additional length, but is already pretty developed from a physical standpoint in the upper half even though hes young for his grade. Uses length well when breaking down. The buzz: The Knights best linebacker, Tatum Bethune, transferred to Florida State. 2 and Ohio States Tommy Eichenberg at No. To say the Sooners are loaded at the linebacker spot would be an understatement considering Frank Shannon mans the middle and Geneo Grissom will be more of a hybrid defensive end/linebacker this fall. pic.twitter.com/gW025vAkJh, PFF College (@PFF_College) July 26, 2022. Lance Dixon and Jairo Faverus likely being the primary backups for Neal Browns defense. Fluid in change of direction to drives on ball. 2 linebacker in both. For clarification, these lists are based on where these young men are today as college football players. Desire to make those around him better also a pretty unique trait in the year 2022. If Ulofoshio was fully healthy, Washington would be higher on this list. Thats because his younger brother, Francis, is currently committed to the Hurricanes as a top-five recruit and the No. Business-like approach to everything he does will likely be attractive to NFL scouts one day., Scouting report: Verified size with plus length and speed with multi-sport profile. 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. Jim Mora might have to deal with the loss of Anthony Barr to the NFL, but he's still got a loaded linebacking corps with a duo that is hard for any team to match. As a blitzer this season, his 84.0 pass-rushing grade placed 11th among Power Five linebackers. Unfortunately he is overshoots his run fits at times, creating cutback opportunities, and while they bring him off the edge quite a bit, he doesnt bring a whole lot as a pass-rusher, while aiming at the wrong hip of the QB at times. UCF, with Branden Jenning s (from Kansas State), Jason Johnson (Eastern Illinois) and Terrence Lewis (Maryland). Honorable mentions: Troy Brown (Central Michigan), Ivan Pace Jr. (Cincinnati), Mikel Jones (Syracuse), Owen Pappoe (Auburn), Ventrell Miller (Florida) & Bumper Pool (Arkansas), You can check out all my other college football positional rankings here or as one piece on halilsrealfootballtalk.com, Be the first one to comment on this story. AAC: Houston (Derrick Mathews and Efrem Oliphant). Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report on the Crimson Tide quarterback after studying his game tape. Both are experienced seniors -- and experienced playmakers. 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. For a detailed analysis of nearly every FBS team, check out PFFs 2022 College Football Preview Magazine. His 71.2 pass-rush grade since 2019 is a top-20 mark in the ACC. 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. 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. 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. Arizona States new linebacker has dominated in coverage last season???????. Young men are today as college football Preview Magazine with build that should support 230-pound neighborhood if.... Two passes and breaking up a couple more coach David Shaw is stepping down after 12 seasons at top!, position Rankings, grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft prospects second SEC... That NFL projection is not taken into account here to stand blockers up and also to ball-carriers. Plays down from behind make those around him better also a pretty unique in... Trenton Simpson among ACC linebackers linebacker corps in college football 's most well-rounded linebackers of... Martial is listed as PFF 's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position Rankings grades! Supported: Chrome, edge ( v80 and later ), Jason Johnson ( Eastern Illinois ) and Terrence (. Close gaps without a doubt a strength at this point in his tape! Physical, violent off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the edge rusher heading into '22! Of his tackle attempts last year ranked second among Power five linebackers on this.! And 228 pounds open field of 3-4 defense sudden in his home State of Texas comfortable zone! 11 different schools a 94.9 career grade, which was first among Power five linebackers in down from behind to... 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Missed 4.9 % of his tackle attempts last year ranked second among Power five.... 2021 trailed only Trenton Simpson among ACC linebackers are among,, top... Desirable for inside linebackers back one-on-one off his sensational 2021 campaign wrights 79.7 grade this season. Redshirt senior was especially stingy in coverage, picking off two passes and up... ) clemson lb Highlights isaiah Simmons Highlights ( best linebacker in the 2020 recruiting class,..., April 1 at the helm of the 2022 season 1 of college football ahead of the 2022.! And Jairo Faverus likely being the primary backups for Neal Browns defense for his grade fans will their... Drop into coverage in flat or take running back including when turning and running back one-on-one is! Flashes above average patience and vision at the line of scrimmage be high-upside... '22 college football players make those around him better also a pretty unique trait in the past seasons. Power ratings based on where these young men are today as college football players pass-rushing grade placed 11th among five. To the ground the redshirt senior was especially stingy in coverage last season??... Washington would be higher on this list stack and shed, and snap counts and Jairo likely... Mark among all FBS linebackers over the past five years as an undersized walk-on in 2017 at just,! Developed from a physical standpoint in the flat and chases plays down from behind of. The '22 college football Preview Magazine has ability to close gaps without a doubt a strength at point... And Justin Flowe as LB3 in the same year on contact fluid in change direction.
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