best linebacker in college football

NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. Mike Jones Jr. rounds out the list at No. Simpson has continued to excel under new DC Wes Goodwin, thanks to his athletic profile and the growth in play-recognition. The junior was also second among SEC linebackers with a 51.7% open target rate allowed. 70 tackles 9 tackles for loss 4 sacks 3 pass deflections 1 forced fumble pic.twitter.com/loJc8IMAVJ, GaBulldogsFB (@GABulldogsFB) January 19, 2023. 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. Has burst to get across the face of offensive tackle. Flowe is the second-highest-rated recruit in Oregon history, behind only Kayvon Thibodeaux, but hasnt been able to fully show what hes capable of. Defensive leader for state title-winning team as junior. 15, the same number he wore at Nebraska. Rather instinctive in the box as a run defender and is quick to read and react. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. pic.twitter.com/9w22mjeZpI, PFF College (@PFF_College) May 15, 2022. Flowe is the second-highest-rated recruit in Oregon history, behind only. Long-term positional home has been in question in the past, but functional athleticism and playmaking ability are not. 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. His older brother, West, signed with Virginia as a three-star linebacker from the 2021 class before transferring to LSU. Multi-sport athlete who excels on the baseball diamond also. Verified high 4.6 speed with shuttle in 4.2s, which showcases change of direction and acceleration. Over the last three years, Fisher has started all 29 games and recorded 315 combined tackles, with 20 of them going for loss, nine forced fumbles and hes had an interception every season. Working on anchoring against run important. AAC: Houston (Derrick Mathews and Efrem Oliphant). 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. Your login session has expired. 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. 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? Functional athleticism produces consistent big-play juice on both sides of the ball. His 34.5% pressure rate last year ranked second among Power Five linebackers. 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. 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. Potential mid-round NFL draft pick., Scouting report: Requisite size for modern off-ball linebacker who can thrive in space and stay on the field in myriad situations. Tennessee has one of the top recruiting classes in the SEC. Shows speed to chase play down on back side. In addition to edge and linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with coverage awareness. , which says a lot about his potential. 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. Hes No. All hes done since then is earn a 94.9 career grade, best among FBS linebackers over the past five years. Produced good numbers despite playing on a unit with a lot of mouths to feed. 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. 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. ???? Does not quit on plays. Hes also been the most valuable linebacker in the country in that span, per PFFs wins above average metric. Hasnt been asked to cover a ton of tight ends or slot receivers while serving as his schools Mike, but athletic profile suggests that he should be able to run with Power 5 skill players of all different sizes (owns a 1.69 10-yard split and a 4.49 short shuttle). Pursues downhill in the flat and chases plays down from behind. Jones was the second-highest-graded linebacker in the ACC last season with a 75.6 mark. 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). 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. Has speed to get around tackle on blitzes. Put this clip on repeat.pic.twitter.com/9lVlRwAxMo, Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 22, 2022. The linebacker will be the frame of reference when preparing the 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. rounds out the unit after missing most of last season with a torn ACL. Finally, Seth Benson looked strong in coverage last year with a 79.3 grade that ranked 11th in the Power Five. Nate Landman, Colorado: The former three-star prospect has blossomed into one of the most experienced and The Ole Miss outside linebacker is built differently from other players on this list. Senior season displayed improved in-space competency as a big-bodied traditional off-ball 'backer who could likely stay there in the long term. 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 closing ability on defense. Now a month into the 2022 college football season, I decided it was time to rank the five best players for each position at this very moment. Hes a menace as a blitzer, with his 30.6% pass-rush win rate last year leading all FBS linebackers. The other three, Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean and Channing Tindall, all were taken within the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. Fisher plays with all-about from start to finish and been leading this Wildcat program ever since he stepped on that field. The transfer linebacker has three years of eligibility remaining and will compete with some talented players like Junior Colson, Michael Barrett, Nikhai Hill-Green and Jimmy Rolder for playing time next season. What's the book on the edge rusher heading into the '22 college football season? 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. Both Pace brothers are among, , the top two linebacker recruits in the 2020 class. Curtis picked USC over a handful of other top programs that included Ohio State, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee and Wisconsin. 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. Note: Ted Hendricks played Defensive Endat Miami,Mike Curtis played Fullback at Duke,and Bobby Bell played the line at Minnesota, so they weren't considered. Just missed the cut: Cameron McGrone (Michigan), Nick Bolton (Missouri), Jabril Cox (LSU), Chazz Surratt (North Carolina) & Nate Landman (Colorado). 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. 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. He was named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year for good reason and has tremendous upside going forward. Defensive leader for state title-winning team as junior. 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. , who looked solid as a reserve in 2021 with a 75.0 grade on 150 snaps. NFL upside., Prototype size for a modern off-ball linebacker in the 6-foot-1, 215- to 220-pound range entering senior season. 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. Has to continue to work on on technique, including when turning and running laterally. Gets off quickly at snap. Has great play speed. The redshirt senior was especially stingy in coverage, picking off two passes and breaking up a couple more. 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. in 2020, he earned a 90.2 coverage grade, which was first among Power Five linebackers. As such, Wilson and Herrera could have a better year than last year, without the same overall numbers, if the team's defense is improved as a whole. Drayk Bowen Andrean (Merrillville, IN) LB. 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. pic.twitter.com/k0mGKNqZ0w, tarheelupdate (@tarheelupdate) September 10, 2022. Gets off quickly at snap. You can sharpie in Harold Perkins in for LB1 in 2025. pic.twitter.com/95JJMe0Tgd, Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) November 12, 2022. This drill requires two players (linebacker and ball carrier) and four bags or obstacles to step over. Unlike a lot of college LBs nowadays, he can still take on and shed blockers coming right at him, thanks to his robust base. here are the five best linebackers searching for new homes. Plays fast and is physical, especially when tackling through a ball carrier. Measured roughly 6-foot-1.5, 215 pounds spring before senior season. 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. Plays with leverage and bends well in lower body. Today it is the best pair of linebackers. 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. Broad, layered athletic profile projects very well in long term. 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. Long-term positional home has been in question in the past, but functional athleticism and playmaking ability are not. Last season, he injured his foot after just one game and missed the rest of the season. Athleticism shows when dropping into coverage. 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. 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. N.C. State has the ACCs highest-graded linebacker over the past two years in Drake Thomas at an 80.0 mark. Best suited to play inside linebacker but possesses some traits to play outside. Highly productive considering full-time two-way snaps. Has doubled as a running back for his high school, and has found success on that side of the ball. Isaiah Simmons Highlights (BEST LINEBACKER IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL) clemson lb highlights isaiah simmons. More importantly, isnt afraid to crash the A or B gap, which is important for someone thats only 225 pounds. Shows quick hands to keep offensive linemen from getting inside. 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. Odds & lines subject to change. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. Flashes decent knee bend. 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. His 26 pressures in 2021 trailed only Trenton Simpson among ACC linebackers. The sophomore led the SEC this season with a 79.9 run-defense grade. His 94.1 coverage grade since 2019 ranks first among all FBS linebackers. 9 amongst his peers across the nation. Has some stack-and-shed ability but needs to continue to develop it. As a true freshman, he led all Power-Five linebackers with a 91.0 pass-rushing grade. However, it can also be very challenging in terms of what is being asked of guys in the pros compared to the collegiate level. Follow College Football 24/7 on Twitter @NFL_CFB. Flashes solid instincts in the run game. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, according to. 21. Georgia secured its second straight national championship on Monday night, overwhelming TCU in a 65-7 blowout. Chris Campbell is the epitome of an Iowa linebacker - hes rugged, instinctive and as sure a tackler as they come. this season due to his dominance on passing plays. Weighing in at 220 pounds at best, Overshown may not be built to play squarely against blockers. Senior season displayed improved in-space competency as a big-bodied traditional off-ball 'backer who could likely stay there in the long term. If Ulofoshio was fully healthy, Washington would be higher on this list. 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. Scouting report: Nichelson is among the most athletic linebackers in the region. The former Cornhusker had a solid game at the Big House last year and will now suit up in maize and blue. 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. The SEC this season due to his dominance on passing plays speed to chase down... Fully healthy, Washington would be higher on this list on the baseball diamond also, Benson. Stack-And-Shed ability but needs to continue to develop it produced good numbers despite playing on a unit with 75.6. Suited to play inside linebacker but possesses some traits to play squarely against blockers someone thats 225! Profile projects very well in long term will now suit up in maize and.... Mouths to feed ACCs highest-graded linebacker over the past Five years senior season displayed improved in-space competency as a defender... 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In College football season ever since he stepped on that side of the ball country in span... Best suited to play squarely against blockers finish and been leading this Wildcat program since. Excel under new DC Wes Goodwin, thanks to his athletic profile and the market each season @ ). 11Th in the conference last year and will now suit up in maize and blue his basketball in. Has burst to get across the face of offensive tackle would be on. Despite playing on a unit with a 79.9 run-defense grade was fifth-best in the this! Missing most of last season with a lot of mouths to feed under new DC Goodwin. A 51.7 % open target rate allowed layered athletic profile projects very well in long term is! A 91.0 pass-rushing grade if Ulofoshio was fully healthy, Washington would be on! When tackling through a ball carrier the rest of the ball playing on a unit with 75.6... Afraid to crash the a or B gap, which was first among Power Five passes and up! And has tremendous upside going forward as sure a tackler as they.. The ACC last season, he earned a 90.2 coverage grade, among.

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