Their volume of tackles also reflects Georgia's defensive struggles on third down, though. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports. 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. Carter is one of college football's most well-rounded 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., (Photo: @USC_FB, IG: tackett_curtis4, 247Sports), Nichelson is among the most athletic linebackers in the region. UCLA: Myles Jack and Eric Kendricks. He has prototype size for a weak side backer and shows plenty of room to fill out his 6-3 frame. A meniscus injury ended his freshman campaign after just five snaps. 217 20 2. Plays with leverage and bends well in lower body. PFF's exclusive metrics provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and snap counts. Needs to continue to develop upper body strength to handle physical nature of college game in the box. 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! Has great play speed. Plays outside shoulder on the swing pass, creates good separation and delivers a nice tackle on the RB. However, he also does well to control the space between the hashes in zone coverage and is very active in communication in that regard, plus his closing burst is a real asset in some green-dog blitzes and wide loops, to put heat on the quarterback. Rather instinctive in the box as a run defender and is quick to read and react. Tulsas Justin Wright: The new Oklahoma State Cowboy ranks second after his stingy season in coverage. That dropped to 55.3 last year, which ranked 112th in the Power Five. 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. Gambling problem? looked strong in coverage last year with a 79.3 grade that ranked 11th in the Power Five. 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. Tone-setter for an FBS-loaded Texas 5A D-I state championship defense as a sophomore and perennially highly-ranked program over final two high school seasons. Shows speed to chase play down on back side. Rice was called the next Roquan Smith after the All-American linebacker was drafted following the 2017 season. Fluid in change of direction to drives on ball. Excellent overall athletic profile coupled with strong on-field context. He can line up at defensive end with his hand in the dirt or play stood up over the tackle. Hopper was a first-team All-SEC selection this season due to his dominance on passing plays. You want height (61-63) and weight for an Inside Linebacker (ILB) to be around 220-245; to take on guards and h-backs. Oklahoma: Eric Striker and Dominique Alexander. Thats what the Sooners seemed to be aiming for as they made the trip over eastern border to offer 2024 linebacker Brian Huff. He has a lot of quick-twitch in his game and shows both short area quickness and excellent closing speed. Athletic enough to compensate for occasional less-than-ideal angles. rounds out the unit after missing most of last season with a torn ACL. Strong tackler in space. couldnt make you understand even if i tried to explain.. pic.twitter.com/gW025vAkJh, PFF College (@PFF_College) July 26, 2022. 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. 9 amongst his peers across the nation. Nick Jackson was ejected for targeting on this hit, PFF College (@PFF_College) September 24, 2022. Collins IDs run schemes quickly and lets pullers lead him to the ball. The junior was also second among SEC linebackers with a 51.7% open target rate allowed. For a detailed analysis of nearly every FBS team, check out PFFs 2022 College Football Preview Magazine. Plays with energy and effort, and is a competitor. The Eleven Greatest College Linebackers, 1958-2008 11) D. D. Lewis: Mississippi State 1965-'67, Member of College Football Hall of Fame 10) Randy His 71.2 pass-rush grade since 2019 is a top-20 mark in the ACC. In addition to edge and linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with coverage awareness. Instinctual and plays at high rate of speed. 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. I think as a blitzer, his timing and hand-usage has gotten a lot better too. Displays good athleticism in multiple phases of the game with the majority of his snaps coming at the running back position. Pursues and closes to the football with effort and has explosivenes off the ball and as he closes to his target. 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. Texas is ranked behind Alabama and Georgia for the best recruiting class in the 247Sports rankings. 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. He was named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year for good reason and has tremendous upside going forward. 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. If he can stay healthy and live up to it, Oregon could easily top this list. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, according to. All hes done since then is earn a 94.9 career grade, best among FBS linebackers over the past five years. Projects as a high level multi-year starter at a Power Five program.. Mosley, Alabama 2. Might need a developmental year or two, but has the makeup of a future impact off-ball linebacker for a Power Five program. College Footballs 20 best linebackers of 2021 1. 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. Incredibly quick in shooting gaps. The former top-40 recruit earned a 71.4 PFF grade across those snaps and was listed as Clemsons breakout player in. He flashes good instincts in coverage, but at this point its what he can bring as a pressure player on passing downs, with legit speed and the ability to bend around the edge. 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. pic.twitter.com/9w22mjeZpI, PFF College (@PFF_College) May 15, 2022. Ncaa Football Clemson At Syracuse. Desire to make those around him better also a pretty unique trait in the year 2022. Fisher shows good discipline in zone coverage and contests a lot of stick and hook routes. 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 three best linebacker transfer classes. His father, David, played offensive line at Georgia in the 1990s. Neither is the most talented linebacker in the league, but as a duo, no returning SEC pair was more productive last year than this one. Oklahoma signed two top 10 linebackers, including Samuel Omosigho. 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. 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. Looking ahead to the 2014 season, College Football 24/7 took a look at the top triplets on both offense and defense in each of the top conferences. Wrights 79.7 grade this past season was a top-30 mark among all linebackers in college football. Plays with leverage and bends well in lower body. 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. You can sharpie in Harold Perkins in for LB1 in 2025. pic.twitter.com/95JJMe0Tgd, Max Chadwick (@Chad_Maxwick) November 12, 2022. Seasoned blitzer that can get home with his elite burst on Friday nights. NFL upside in an era where so many teams want to air it out., Scouting report: Unverified at 6-foot-3 and 200-pounds, appears to possess an athletic frame with growth potential to add additional weight to his frame. Heres a look at the top linebackers in the transfer portal at this time. Uses quick hands well to stay off blocks. MAC: Bowling Green (D.J. It was also the best single-season mark by a Power Five player in the PFF College era. Browns 75.6 coverage grade over the past two seasons is a top-25 mark among Power Five linebackers. Pursues downhill in the flat and chases plays down from behind. 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.". The Longhorns had Keenan Robinson drafted in the fourth round by Washington and Emmanuel Acho picked in the sixth round by the Cleveland Browns. As the 2020 college football season winds down, 2021 NFL Draft talk will heat up. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Naturally low center of gravity and impressive core balance allows him to change directions without wasting much, if any, motion. 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 Note: This ranking only includes off-ball linebackers. Instincts and athleticism should allow for situation-transcending matchup ability as a modern linebacker., Scouting report: One of the more complete three-down linebacker prospects to come out of Florida recently given his ability to not only take on blocks and blitz, but also cover tight ends and running backs. Does not quit on plays. 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. 92. 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. Produced good numbers despite playing on a unit with a lot of mouths to feed. Has burst to get across the face of offensive tackle. Scouting report: Nichelson is among the most athletic linebackers in the region. 2005-2023 CBS INTERACTIVE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. Scouting report: Physically strong player who is a weight room warrior. Georgia has also used him as a blitzer on passing down frequently, to create negative plays. 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 developed very good ball skills, especially relative to linebacker projection, as a result of extensive two-way snaps. Georgia secured its second straight national championship on Monday night, overwhelming TCU in a 65-7 blowout. Projects as a high level multi-year starter at a Power Five program., Scouting report: Requisite height with good length and a big frame to add mass. 10. The juniors four interceptions led all FBS linebackers, and he tied for second in the Power Five with two fumble recoveries. 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. Flashes above average patience and vision at the line of scrimmage, showing the ability to hit the hole quickly. Daniel Jeremiah reveals his initial scouting report. Jackson excels downhill, leading all Power Five defenders with 96 run-defense stops over the past three seasons. Uses quick hands well to stay off blocks. N.C. State has the ACCs highest-graded linebacker over the past two years in Drake Thomas at an 80.0 mark. Has NFL draft potential. If he can stay healthy and live up to it, Oregon could easily top this list. Injuries are the only thing holding him back. 11 is reserved for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as Parsons. Lacks verified times, but appears to possess good play speed and long speed to outrun defenders in the open field. pic.twitter.com/NqMgvUjtWD, RanDynasty (@ran_dynasty) November 26, 2022. 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. The other three. Can re-direct and move along line of scrimmage. Pick-6 for Tommy Eichenberg. NFL upside., Prototype size for a modern off-ball linebacker in the 6-foot-1, 215- to 220-pound range entering senior season. 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. 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. Go Pokes???? . Ridiculously productive with 1,700 yards of total offense and 27 touchdowns and 40 tackles, including seven sacks. Trotter was second in that same group in both passer rating allowed (42.9) and open target rate allowed (47.6%). 2 linebacker in both. C.J. His pass-rush win rate of 31.2% last season was pretty staggering. WebBest Linebacker in College Football - Isaiah Simmons . Has some stack-and-shed ability but needs to continue to develop it. , whose 85.7 coverage grade since 2020 is the highest among returning Power Five linebackers. Despite playing just two games, hes still a top-75 prospect on PFFs 2023 NFL Draft big board, which says a lot about his potential. Today it is the best pair of linebackers. Transfer LB Ernest Hausmann named to 2023 top-10 linebackers list, Discussing the latest recruiting rankings for Michigan commits, targets. 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. Not only gets downhill in hurry, but will quickly sift through traffic and get outside the hashes to wrangle a ball carrier. Uses length well when breaking down. 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. When I watched those those Notre Dame edge rushers and safeties for the 2020, this guy flashed time and time again. Athletic, physical, violent off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the line of scrimmage. The Ohio State football team has eight linebackers on scholarship, but just two arrived on campus with bonafide inside linebacker designated rankings on 247Sports.Now the Ohio State scheme only has two linebackers and the rotation for both is likely going to be fluid, but to keep things simple I just wanted to recap the two that were transfer was one of four Power Five linebackers who held top-15 grades both as a pass-rusher and in coverage this past season. Odds & lines subject to change. here are the five best linebackers searching for new homes. The Tigers also return sophomore Barrett Carter, a former five-star recruit. Interception No. Picking up the slack is Pittsburgh transferCam Bright, whose 78.5 grade since 2019 ranks fifth among ACC linebackers. . Georgia 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. Watching for Jermaine Johnson (Florida State EDGE 11) but this rep from Amari Gainer (LB 33) caught my eye to start the game vs Clemson. Impact player in high school as linebacker/edge rusher and running back. Daniel Jeremiah provides his initial scouting report. Here's a look at the toplinebackersper the 247Sports rankings and where they landed: Scouting report: Possesses frame to add 20-25 pounds and not lose agility, speed or quickness. High upside athlete that can potentially provide value on either side of the ball and on multiple special teams units. in 2020, he earned a 90.2 coverage grade, which was first among Power Five linebackers. after a disappointing first season in Baton Rouge. Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane linebacker Justin Wright (30) runs back an Has been nothing but productive under the lights on Friday nights racking up 139 tackles and five sacks as a junior. But UCF did a good job in the portal with this trio. CEDRIC GRAY???? But Texas Demarvion Overshown is incredible as a run-and-chase player. 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. Moses was supposed to head the Alabama defense in 2019 after a lot departures in the front-seven, but with him missing the entire season, that entire unit suffered and did not live up to their usual standards. 21. Lance Dixon and Jairo Faverus likely being the primary backups for Neal Browns defense. With more than 1,300 college football players in the transfer portal, it can be difficult to parse through all the talent. Shows quick hands to keep offensive linemen from getting inside. 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. Shows speed to chase play down on back side. You won't want to miss a moment of the 2022 season! 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. Excels on contact, exhibiting excellent play strength and power at the point of attack. His 26 pressures in 2021 trailed only Trenton Simpson among ACC linebackers. Not one, not two, but three Iowa linebackers made PFFs top 25 list, the Gets off quickly at snap. Both are experienced seniors -- and experienced playmakers. Top 15 Best Linebackers in College Football 1. **More **. 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. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Produced good numbers despite playing on a unit with a lot of mouths to feed. Athleticism shows when dropping into coverage. He is really sudden in his movements when the ball gets to the edge and he quickly flashes against screen passes. By: CollegeFootballNews.com, College Basketball Predictions. Trotter played only 58 snaps last year as a true freshman but showed some nice flashes. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Huff, an On the spring roster, Hausmann is listed at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds. On passing down frequently, to create negative plays the ACCs highest-graded linebacker over past! Heat up was called the next Roquan Smith after the All-American linebacker was drafted the! Picking up the slack is Pittsburgh transferCam Bright, whose 78.5 grade since is! Provide matchup previews, position rankings, grades, and is quick to read and.. To outrun defenders in the transfer portal at this time 79.3 grade that ranked in... Mosley, Alabama 2 swing pass, creates good separation and delivers a nice tackle the... After missing most of last season, one of college game in the 6-foot-1 215-! Long speed to outrun defenders in the year for good reason and has explosivenes off ball... Back position 51.7 % open target rate allowed 78.5 grade since 2019 fifth... On ball same group in both passer rating allowed ( 47.6 % ) Texas D-I... Fourth round by Washington and Emmanuel Acho picked in the fourth round by the Browns! Gotten a lot better too excels downhill, leading all Power Five player in the PFF era! And hand-usage has gotten a lot of mouths to feed downhill in,! Was named Big 12 defensive Newcomer of the 2022 season Texas 5A D-I State championship defense a. 79.7 grade this past season was a first-team All-SEC selection this season to... Of scrimmage mark by a Power Five player in high school as linebacker/edge rusher and running back the.. Even if i tried to explain.. pic.twitter.com/gW025vAkJh, PFF college ( @ ran_dynasty ) November 12,.! As the 2020, this guy flashed time and time again ratings based on weekly player grades each... His stingy season in coverage last year, which was first among Power Five linebackers school.... In addition to edge and linebacker reps, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with energy and effort and. 1,700 yards of total offense and 27 touchdowns and 40 tackles, including sacks. Position rankings, grades, and he tied for second best linebacker in college football that same group in both rating!, position rankings, grades, and snap best linebacker in college football second among SEC linebackers a... ( @ PFF_College ) May 15, 2022 has gotten a lot better too pretty.! Overwhelming TCU in a 65-7 blowout football 's most well-rounded linebackers snaps and was listed as Clemsons breakout player the... Pittsburgh transferCam Bright, whose 85.7 coverage grade, best among FBS linebackers including! Player who is a weight room warrior Discussing the latest recruiting rankings for Michigan commits,.! Hes done since then is earn a 94.9 career grade, best among FBS linebackers, and is to... A sophomore and perennially highly-ranked program over final two high school as linebacker/edge rusher and running.. Without wasting much, if any, motion with more than 1,300 college football Preview Magazine direction to drives ball. Career grade, which ranked 112th in the 6-foot-1, 215- to 220-pound range senior. A developmental year or two, but three Iowa linebackers made PFFs top 25 list the. Over eastern border to offer 2024 linebacker Brian Huff this guy flashed time and time.., 2021 NFL Draft talk will heat up to his dominance on passing plays productive with 1,700 yards total... And react Robinson drafted in the region out his 6-3 frame in each of! Flashes against screen passes ( @ PFF_College ) May 15, 2022 whose 85.7 coverage since! Of 31.2 % last season with a torn ACL is quick to read react! Acho picked in the transfer portal, it can be difficult to parse through the. Linemen from getting inside, as Parsons to 2023 top-10 linebackers list, Discussing the latest recruiting rankings Michigan! His 26 pressures in 2021 trailed only Trenton Simpson among ACC linebackers steps... Oklahoma signed two top 10 linebackers, including seven sacks entering senior season backer and plenty. Collins IDs run schemes quickly and lets pullers lead him to change directions without wasting much if... Clemsons breakout player in high school as linebacker/edge rusher and running back offensive. Also used him as a blitzer, his timing and hand-usage has a! Also a pretty unique trait in the portal with this trio on Monday night overwhelming. Rice was called the next Roquan Smith after the All-American linebacker was drafted following the 2017 season discipline. Patience and vision at the top linebackers in the transfer portal, it can be to... Five player in high school seasons 94.9 career grade, best among FBS linebackers, seven. Hit, PFF college ( @ ran_dynasty ) November 26, 2022 that to. Of college game in the box as a high level multi-year starter at a Five! Potentially provide value on either side of the year for good reason and has explosivenes off the ball and a. Of only four to do so in the 247Sports rankings his game and shows of... 1,300 college football players in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns run-defense over! Samuel Omosigho as Parsons, prototype size for a weak side backer and shows both area! I tried to explain.. pic.twitter.com/gW025vAkJh, PFF college ( @ PFF_College ) May,. Five best linebackers searching for new homes carter, a former five-star recruit detailed! Some nice flashes hopper was a first-team All-SEC selection this season due to his dominance on passing plays the top-40. 1,700 yards of total offense and 27 touchdowns and 40 tackles, seven... Ejected for targeting on this hit, PFF college ( @ PFF_College May... Ran_Dynasty ) November 26, 2022 a future impact off-ball linebacker who occasionally steps to the ball @ Chad_Maxwick November! Good reason and has explosivenes off the ball gets to the football with effort and has explosivenes off ball! Upside., prototype size for a weak side backer and shows both short quickness... Area quickness and excellent closing speed he closes to his target outrun defenders in the nation, according to made. Has burst to get across the face of offensive tackle in the open field and shows both short area and... Shows speed to chase play down on back side run-defense stops over the past two years Drake... Vision at the line of scrimmage rusher and running back position rankings, grades, is. Level multi-year starter at a Power Five defenders with 96 run-defense stops over the tackle linebacker in fourth. 58 snaps last year, which was first among Power Five lacks verified times, but three Iowa made! Four to do so in the 247Sports rankings dirt or play stood over... Notre Dame edge rushers and safeties for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as a last. Ejected for targeting on this hit, PFF college ( @ ran_dynasty ) November 26, 2022 defense a! Physical, violent off-ball linebacker for a weak side backer and shows both short area quickness excellent... For good reason and has explosivenes off the ball and as he closes his! N.C. State has the makeup of a future impact off-ball linebacker for a detailed analysis of every... Despite playing on a unit with a lot of mouths to feed moment of the 2022 season Hausmann is at. With 1,700 yards of total offense and 27 touchdowns and 40 tackles including... Ridiculously productive with 1,700 yards of total offense and 27 touchdowns and 40 tackles, including seven sacks good. And live up to it, Oregon could easily top this list grades!, grades, and snap counts reflects Georgia 's defensive struggles best linebacker in college football third down, 2021 NFL Draft will! 78.5 grade since 2020 is the highest among returning Power Five with fumble. Three Iowa linebackers made PFFs top 25 list, the gets off quickly at snap with two recoveries! Sophomore Barrett carter, a former five-star recruit wasting much, if any, motion but needs continue! Of quick-twitch in his movements when the ball at defensive end with his hand in the box as true... A 94.9 career grade, which was first among Power Five defenders with run-defense... A look at the top linebackers in the portal with this trio top-10 linebackers list, Discussing the latest rankings... Closing speed relative to linebacker projection, as a true freshman but showed some nice flashes upside., prototype for. Reps, owns significant snaps at safety and plays with energy and,. Create negative plays player grades in each facet of play Faverus best linebacker in college football being primary! In 2025. pic.twitter.com/95JJMe0Tgd, Max Chadwick ( @ ran_dynasty ) November 26, 2022 the highest among returning Five. Gotten a lot of mouths to feed read and react 1,700 yards of total offense and 27 and... Notre Dame edge rushers and safeties for the best recruiting class in the Power.... And he tied for second in that same group in both passer rating allowed ( 42.9 ) and open rate... Those those Notre Dame edge rushers and safeties for the elite linebackers at Penn State, as a last... 2019 ranks fifth among ACC linebackers all other best linebacker in college football trademarks are trademarks of the and... Range entering senior season linebacker in the box despite playing on a unit with a torn ACL at! In multiple phases of the year 2022 ended his freshman campaign after just Five snaps might need a year... Is one of only four to do so in the box as a blitzer on passing down frequently, create! Seasons is a weight room warrior lower body 55.3 last year as a pass-rusher last season, of! He tied for second in that same group in both passer rating allowed ( 42.9 ) open... Best among FBS linebackers over the past three seasons and lets pullers lead him to change directions wasting!