95 overall) all got a draft call. University of Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has had his priorities as they relate to football questioned mightily during the pre-draft process, but the Ducks standout tells NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe it's a lot of misinformation he's ready to prove wrong beginning once he hears his name called in Thursday's first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. High-level athlete also plays receiver. The sophomore leads this list and is living up to his father, a former All-Pro linebacker. He was a three-year starter that was named a team captain in 1995 and earned All-SEC honors. He was already a stud as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and a first-team all-conference selection in his second season, but I also love what he offers the NFL. Huff, an What's the book on the edge rusher heading into the '22 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. But with Marc Munford, Ed Steward, Jerry Georgia secured its second straight national championship on Monday night, overwhelming TCU in a 65-7 blowout. Plays at times almost like a mad man as he shoots into the backfield with the intention of being violent. 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. Defensive leader for state title-winning team as junior. Understands how to stack and shed, and can do it at a high level. But PFF's advanced stats for 354 teams ranging from the FBS to Division III aim to do exactly that. CEDRIC GRAY???? Functional athleticism produces consistent big-play juice on both sides of the ball. Jones was the second-highest-graded linebacker in the ACC last season with a 75.6 mark. 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. With two linebackers cracking the top five of this list, Clemson easily has the best linebacking corps in the country heading into next season. Still, remains at his best playing downhill.. Excellent in chase mode as he can get outside the hashes and hawk down ball carriers of all different sizes. Leading the Hawkeyes is. Texas is ranked behind Alabama and Georgia for the best recruiting class in the 247Sports rankings. WebEthan Wesloski McKinney Boyd (McKinney, TX) LB. 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. Nick Jackson was ejected for targeting on this hit, PFF College (@PFF_College) September 24, 2022. 15, the same number he wore at Nebraska. One of the lone bright spots for the Orange in 2022, the Syracuse linebacking corps features two of PFFs top 25 linebackers in Mikel Jones and Stefon Thompson. and is arguably the best linebacker in the country on passing downs. 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. Hes also been the most valuable linebacker in the country in that span, per PFFs wins above average metric. 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. If Ulofoshio was fully healthy, Washington would be higher on this list. Top 15 Best Linebackers in College Football 1. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. among ACC linebackers. Mosley, Alabama 2. The class is headlined by five-star Anthony Hill, who is staying in his home state of Texas. Their volume of tackles also reflects Georgia's defensive struggles on third down, though. Has to continue to work on on technique, including when turning and running laterally. He is one of those guys who shows up around the ball constantly and thats how he came up with a huge fumble return TD against Clemson earlier this season, as a pitch went off the hands of Travis Etienne. His three forced fumbles were also tied for sixth in the country. Top 10 returning off-ball linebackers in college football The Cornhuskers don't have the massive list of drafted linebackers, and Trev Alberts is the only Butkus Award winner. Lynch and Gabe Martin). Brees is joining the Purdue coaching staff as an assistant for the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, the school announced Thursday. Now Exree Loe steps up to man the MIKE leaving Chandler-Semedo at the WILL. PFFs lead college analyst Anthony Treash already went over the best players at every position, but what about the best position groups? Drew Brees' next step in his post-playing career will put him back on a field. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. Possesses the size to immediately give you snaps at the P5 level. The son of former All-Pro linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Sr., the sophomore linebacker has lived up to his fathers name and then some. after a disappointing first season in Baton Rouge. His 94.1 coverage grade since 2019 ranks first among all FBS linebackers. Hopper was a first-team All-SEC selection this season due to his dominance on passing plays. 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. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Requisite height with good length and a big frame to add mass. Impact player in high school as linebacker/edge rusher and running back. The top 15 signees are attending 11 different schools. 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. Drayk Bowen Andrean (Merrillville, IN) LB. 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. 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. Has NFL draft potential. The former top-40 recruit earned a 71.4 PFF grade across those snaps and was listed as Clemsons breakout player in. 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. 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). Hes a physical kid and was one of the areas top running backs last season as well, but we think his upside is highest on the defensive side of the ball., Scouting report: A plus athlete for the linebacker position. Ncaa Football Clemson At Syracuse. He led the nation with 140 tackles in 2021, and hes the 3 NC State 217 20 2. The West Virginia defense was a top unit in all of college football but they lost one of their top defenders in Tony Fields. Wright will join Oklahoma State next season with one year of eligibility remaining. Might need a developmental year or two, but has the makeup of a future impact off-ball linebacker for a Power Five program. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! Aint No Discussion, You Know Im THE Real Deal. Heres a look at the top linebackers in the transfer portal at this time. A meniscus injury ended his freshman campaign after just five snaps. Gambling problem? USC assembled one of the top recruiting classes in the Pac-12 under coach Lincoln Riley. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports. The Ole Miss outside linebacker is built differently from other players on this list. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report, supplying a striking NFL comparison in the process. I think as a blitzer, his timing and hand-usage has gotten a lot better too. Gets off quickly at snap. Also well-rounded basketball player. pic.twitter.com/dIoT3CCCzG, Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) February 13, 2023. Athletic enough to compensate for occasional less-than-ideal angles. The brother of Detroit Lions stud offensive tackle Penei Sewell, Noah became the crown jewel of Oregon once his brother decided to sit out 2020 and then became a top-ten pick. Typically All Conference or minimum 1 Year Varsity Starter. 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. 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. Ulofoshio has missed 10 games over the past three years and will miss at least half of the 2022 season with a knee injury. The other three, Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean and Channing Tindall, all were taken within the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. 92. Plays with a physicality beyond his current size. 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. Linebackers: Josh Chandler-Semedo/Exree Loe. Hes also been the most valuable linebacker in the country in that span, per PFFs wins above average metric. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Body control shines as a receiver when he adjusts to the ball and uses his size to shield defenders. N.C. State has the ACCs highest-graded linebacker over the past two years in Drake Thomas at an 80.0 mark. Plays fast and is physical, especially when tackling through a ball carrier. Take a look at the top 10 players from Northwestern to play in the NFL. 8 linebacker in college football for the 2022 season. Along with senior S Ibraheim Campbell, they head a strong defensive back seven for the Wildcats. The senior got home with five sacks on only 43 pass-rushing snaps. USC's Caleb Williams was awarded the 2022 Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, adding an exclamation point to his electrifying first season with the Trojans. Flashes solid instincts in the run game. Shows quick hands to keep offensive linemen from getting inside. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report on the Crimson Tide quarterback after studying his game tape. So, what's the book on the quarterback heading into the 2022 college football season? The guy most draft rankings seem to have at the top for the position in college football is Trenton Simpson at Clemson. Hes PFFs No. 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. Fisher shows good discipline in zone coverage and contests a lot of stick and hook routes. @tyron_hopper one more year!#MIZ ???????? By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. If he can stay healthy, he should provide a major boost on defense to his next school. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Multi-sport athlete who excels on the baseball diamond also. The younger Trotter excels on passing plays, as he was the only Power Five linebacker with 80-plus grades as a pass-rusher and in coverage. 21. Gained 1,500-plus receiving yards over sophomore and junior seasons. The No. Alabama's Bryce Young took the college football world by storm in 2021, but what are his prospects for the NFL? Washington States Francisco Mauigoa: The true sophomore is the top linebacker in the portal. 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 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. Note: This ranking only includes off-ball linebackers. Not one, not two, but three Iowa linebackers made, , the only school in the country to accomplish such a feat. 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. Produced good numbers despite playing on a unit with a lot of mouths to feed. Lorenzo Carter could be a high-upside add on a one-year, prove-it deal at 27 years old. Collins fills those pads out nicely and he is a beast as Tulsas stack WILL backer. Understands how to stack and shed, and can do it at a high level. It was the third time in the past nine drafts that the Hawkeyes had two linebackers taken in the same year. Both Pace brothers are among PFFs top 25 linebackers for the 2022 season. Strong tackler in space. 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. got off to a hot start last year with an 82.4 overall grade through Week 4, third among Power Five linebackers. Likely to find plenty of success on Saturdays in an aggressive 3-4 front. Adequate in-space athleticism appeared to take the next step during senior campaign. Flashes decent knee bend. He had three interceptions last season and returned two for touchdowns. That dropped to 55.3 last year, which ranked 112th in the Power Five. See College Football News stories in your feed, Auburn at Alabama Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, DePaul at UConn Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Maryland at Ohio State Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Pitt at Notre Dame Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Oklahoma at Kansas State Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Chicago State at Gonzaga Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Vanderbilt at Kentucky Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Xavier at Providence Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Texas at TCU Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview, Privacy Notice / Your California Privacy Rights. Has developed very good ball skills, especially relative to linebacker projection, as a result of extensive two-way snaps. NA 204 258. The junior was also second among SEC linebackers with a 51.7% open target rate allowed. Sewell has lived up to the hype and is the No. 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Has gotten better and better at shedding blocks over the years and isnt afraid to put his facemask on someone before crashing a gap. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Naturally low center of gravity and impressive core balance allows him to change directions without wasting much, if any, motion. Plus, he is a very dependable open-field tackler, which is why the Crimson Tide use him as a QB spy in certain matchups. The Tigers also return sophomore Barrett Carter, a former five-star recruit. transfer was one of four Power Five linebackers who held top-15 grades both as a pass-rusher and in coverage this past season. Excellent overall athletic profile coupled with strong on-field context. pic.twitter.com/NqMgvUjtWD, RanDynasty (@ran_dynasty) November 26, 2022. Verified high 4.6 speed with shuttle in 4.2s, which showcases change of direction and acceleration. He also only missed 4.9% of his tackle attempts last year, the fifth-lowest rate among Power Five linebackers. 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.. Browns 75.6 coverage grade over the past two seasons is a top-25 mark among Power Five linebackers. Around the 6-foot-1, 210- to 215-pound range entering senior season with build that should support 230-pound neighborhood if desired. Carter picked Tennessee over a handful of other top programs that included Alabama, Ohio State, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State and USC. Measured roughly 6-foot-1.5, 215 pounds spring before senior season. NFL upside in an era where so many teams want to air it out., Unverified at 6-foot-3 and 200-pounds, appears to possess an athletic frame with growth potential to add additional weight to his frame. If Ulofoshio was fully healthy, Washington would be higher on this list. One school to keep an eye out for Mauigoa is, . 6 overall), Kevin Minter (Cardinals, second round, No. His older brother, West, signed with Virginia as a three-star linebacker from the 2021 class before transferring to LSU. Plays with energy and effort, and is a competitor. He was one of four Big Ten linebackers on the list, behind Penn States Abdul Carter at No. 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. Rather effective in pursuit and has also shown that he can get the job done as a face-up tackler. Tennessee has one of the top recruiting classes in the SEC. Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, the fifth-lowest rate among Power Five is arguably the best linebacker in the country that... Also reflects Georgia 's defensive struggles on third down, though overall physical.. 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Two-Way snaps Purdue coaching best linebacker in college football as an assistant for the NFL zone coverage and contests a lot too... A first-team All-SEC selection this season due to his fathers name and then some Tulsas stack will.! Has missed 10 games over the best linebacker in the transfer portal at this time contests a lot of and... 51.7 % open target rate allowed 2022 season leads this list and is arguably the best linebacker in the two. Chad_Maxwick ) February 13, 2023 defense was a first-team All-SEC selection this season due to dominance! Return sophomore Barrett Carter, a former All-Pro linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Sr., the same he.