Injuries are the only thing holding him back. Odds & lines subject to change. 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. Finished junior campaign with 150 tackles, five INTs, four sacks, and three defensive TDs. Scouting report: Nichelson is among the most athletic linebackers in the region. 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. The Cornhuskers don't have the massive list of drafted linebackers, and Trev Alberts is the only Butkus Award winner. Picking up the slack is Pittsburgh transferCam Bright, whose 78.5 grade since 2019 ranks fifth among ACC linebackers. Requisite height with good length and a big frame to add mass. C.J. Excellent in chase mode as he can get outside the hashes and hawk down ball carriers of all different sizes. 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. Excels on contact, exhibiting excellent play strength and power at the point of attack. Interception No. Displays good short area explosiveness and change of direction ability, flashing some make you miss ability in the open field. 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. No returning SEC pair was more productive last year than Georgia's Ramik transfer was one of four Power Five linebackers who held top-15 grades both as a pass-rusher and in coverage this past season. Carter is one of college football's most well-rounded linebackers. -esque in that he can play either linebacker or edge defender at a very high level. 2023 NFL Enterprises LLC. 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. 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. If he can bounce back, this ranking will be too low for the Tigers. More importantly, isnt afraid to crash the A or B gap, which is important for someone thats only 225 pounds. Could see the field relatively early given how physically developed he already is in both the upper and lower halves., (Photo: Clayton Freeman/Florida Times Union, USA TODAY Sports), A tackling machine with the mentality of an alpha. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Traits and pro-like mentality suggests that he can emerge as a trusted contributor for a Top 25 program and eventually an impact player. Max Bullough, Michigan State 3. 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. Flashes decent knee bend. 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. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Excellent overall athletic profile coupled with strong on-field context. 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. Athleticism shows when dropping into coverage. The Rebels pulled in one of the more underrated transfers this offseason in Central Michigans Troy Brown, the sixth-best linebacker in the country according to PFFs preseason rankings. linebackers heading into next season. Georgia signed three of the top five linebackers in the class, including four-star recruit Raylen Wilson. 6-2 / 232. There is big-time buzz about Ohio State's C.J. 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. Will need to develop in weight room before being a factor on college field but has ability to play for Top 10 program. 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. UCF, with Branden Jenning s (from Kansas State), Jason Johnson (Eastern Illinois) and Terrence Lewis (Maryland). Diagnosis whats going on in front of him better than most his age. The other three, Devin Lloyd, Nakobe Dean and Channing Tindall, all were taken within the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. 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. 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. That dropped to 55.3 last year, which ranked 112th in the Power Five. 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. High upside athlete that can potentially provide value on either side of the ball and on multiple special teams units. Its officially time to hit the reset button. Plays at times almost like a mad man as he shoots into the backfield with the intention of being violent. Trotter was second in that same group in both passer rating allowed (42.9) and open target rate allowed (47.6%). 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. 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. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Verified high 4.6 speed with shuttle in 4.2s, which showcases change of direction and acceleration. Incredibly quick in shooting gaps. A face-up tackler with good leg drive that doesnt let many slip ball carriers out of his hands. On the spring roster, Hausmann is listed at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds. 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. Multi-year starter with possible early-impact ability for Top 20 program. Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane linebacker Justin Wright (30) runs back an Flowe is the second-highest-rated recruit in Oregon history, behind only. Stroud after his sensational first season as the Buckeyes' starter. 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. Simpson was right up there with those two linebackers for Oregon in Sewell and Justin Flowe as LB3 in the 2020 recruiting class. 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 has a lot of quick-twitch in his game and shows both short area quickness and excellent closing speed. Samson Ebukam was the San Francisco 49ers' , the sophomore linebacker has lived up to his fathers name and then some. One of his best games of the season was at the Big House, as in a loss to Wolverines, Hausmann had 10 tackles and a tackle for loss. Not only gets downhill in hurry, but will quickly sift through traffic and get outside the hashes to wrangle a ball carrier. This is not a rating of who played well in pro leagues, who was drafted, or who had a toy or game named after them. With more than 1,300 college football players in the transfer portal, it can be difficult to parse through all the talent. What's the book on the edge rusher heading into the '22 college football season? AAC: Houston (Derrick Mathews and Efrem Oliphant). He is really sudden in his movements when the ball gets to the edge and he quickly flashes against screen passes. The sophomore leads this list and is living up to his father, a former All-Pro linebacker. Using his rankings and PFF-exclusive stats, here are the 10 best linebacking corps in the country. Oklahoma: Eric Striker and Dominique Alexander. Has burst to get across the face of offensive tackle. Naturally low center of gravity and impressive core balance allows him to change directions without wasting much, if any, motion. Excellent closing ability on defense. Needs to show he can stack and shed on consistent basis. If you cant make it to the game in person, the game will be broadcast on Big Ten Network. While at. Browns 75.6 coverage grade over the past two seasons is a top-25 mark among Power Five linebackers. Tennessee has one of the top recruiting classes in the SEC. Ford was an honorable mention All-American for PFF this season and a turnover machine for the Longhorns. Isaiah Simmons Highlights (BEST LINEBACKER IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL) clemson lb highlights isaiah simmons. The redshirt senior was especially stingy in coverage, picking off two passes and breaking up a couple more. However, it can also be very challenging in terms of what is being asked of guys in the pros compared to the collegiate level. Has NFL draft potential. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. In addition to edge and linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with coverage awareness. Excels on contact, exhibiting excellent play strength and power at the point of attack. UGA allowed third-down conversions at a 40-percent clip. 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. 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! 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. The Tigers lost two of their three starting linebackers from 2021 in, but have two exciting pieces returning in, Simpson is the established superstar of the unit, standing as. In addition to edge and linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with coverage awareness. Along with senior S Ibraheim Campbell, they head a strong defensive back seven for the Wildcats. As just a true sophomore, Francisco Mauigoa was the Pac-12s second-highest-graded linebacker, earning a 75.8 mark. The Ohio State football team has eight linebackers on scholarship, but just two arrived on campus with bonafide inside linebacker designated rankings on The former Cornhusker had a solid game at the Big House last year and will now suit up in maize and blue. His father, David, played offensive line at Georgia in the 1990s. Owusu-Koramoah came in as a three-star safety recruit and he stills has that slim buld at 61, 215 pounds, as well as that kind of skill-set with freakish athletic ability. Working on anchoring against run important. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. 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. 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. 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. Ncaa Football Clemson At Syracuse. Defensive Captains with signal-calling experience are highly desirable for inside linebackers. Plays with a physicality beyond his current size. And he is on that same track again this season. A meniscus injury ended his freshman campaign after just five snaps. Washington States Travion Brown: Arizona States new linebacker has dominated in coverage over the past two seasons. Gray flew around North Carolinas defense this year on his way to becoming a PFF second-team All-American. 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. Gained 1,500-plus receiving yards over sophomore and junior seasons. Weighing in at 220 pounds at best, Overshown may not be built to play squarely against blockers. Sewell has lived up to the hype and is the No. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. pic.twitter.com/NqMgvUjtWD, RanDynasty (@ran_dynasty) November 26, 2022. The excitement about Alabama's Will Anderson Jr. is sky-high coming off his sensational 2021 campaign. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). WebForty Time Secs 4.52 Player Summary Being the leader of the best defense in college football is enabling Nakobe Dean, to build a case for himself to be the first linebacker off #2 RANKED - SCOUTING REPORT 0 Devin Lloyd POSITION RANK #2 OUR RATING 89.9 OLB All Scouts Average Overall Rank 18.2 All Scouts Average Position Rank 1 Height Feet 6-3 1 offensive tackle in the nation, according to. Must continue to improve play strength, which should happen once lifting and eating in college. 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. Rather effective in pursuit and has also shown that he can get the job done as a face-up tackler. Linebackers: Josh Chandler-Semedo/Exree Loe. AND THE WINNER IS ???? 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. Highly productive considering full-time two-way snaps. Rice quickly attacks downhill against the run, while not being afraid to stick his nose in the face when it comes to countering blockers and working to get their hands off himself. Ernest Hausmann, who transferred to Michigan after one season at Nebraska, was named to On3s recent 11 is reserved for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as Parsons. 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. The sophomore was one of three in the Power Five with 75-plus grades as a run-defender, pass-rusher and in coverage. Does not quit on plays. His 94.1 coverage grade since 2019 ranks first among all FBS linebackers. The top 15 signees are attending 11 different schools. 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. NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. WebVisit ESPN to view College Football stat leaders for the current and previous seasons Around the 6-foot-1, 210- to 215-pound range entering senior season with build that should support 230-pound neighborhood if desired. The Ole Miss outside linebacker is built differently from other players on this list. Uses length well when breaking down. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. A meniscus injury ended his freshman campaign after just five snaps. 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. College Footballs 20 best linebackers of 2021 1. 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Well-Rounded linebackers the most athletic linebackers in the class, including four-star recruit Raylen Wilson coming his... The Cornhuskers do n't have the massive list of drafted linebackers, and Trev Alberts is the only Butkus winner... Directions without wasting much, if any, motion being violent INTs, four sacks and... Was an honorable mention All-American for PFF this season and a turnover for... Four-Star recruit Raylen Wilson Travion Brown: Arizona States new linebacker has lived up to hype!, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with coverage awareness Big Ten Network addition to edge linebacker! Sky-High coming off his sensational 2021 campaign, 2022 States new linebacker has dominated in coverage, picking off passes! Direction and acceleration Mathews and Efrem Oliphant ), whose 78.5 grade since 2019 first!