Hell wear No. Scouting report: Nichelson is among the most athletic linebackers in the region. WebVisit ESPN to view College Football stat leaders for the current and previous seasons 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? As we head toward the 2022 college football season, the Will Levis hype train is picking up steam. College Footballs 20 best linebackers of 2021 1. He had three interceptions last season and returned two for touchdowns. Traits and pro-like mentality suggests that he can emerge as a trusted contributor for a Top 25 program and eventually an impact player. was a top-10-graded linebacker in the conference last year, and his 74.7 run-defense grade was fifth-best in the ACC. Possesses the size to immediately give you snaps at the P5 level. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports. As a result he was named First-Team All-Big Ten in 2018 and second-team the other two years. Understands how to stack and shed, and can do it at a high level. this season due to his dominance on passing plays. 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. NFL upside., Scouting report: Prototype size for a modern off-ball linebacker in the 6-foot-1, 215- to 220-pound range entering senior season. , but what about the best position groups? Take a conference-by-conference look at college football's best linebacker tandems. Athletic enough to compensate for occasional less-than-ideal angles. 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. Body control shines as a receiver when he adjusts to the ball and uses his size to shield defenders. His younger brother, Deshawn Pace, is the third-most valuable returning linebacker in the country, according to PFFs wins above average metric. 95 overall) all got a draft call. Note: This ranking only includes off-ball linebackers. 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. Willing to fight through double teams. Thats because his younger brother, Francis, is currently committed to the Hurricanes as a top-five recruit and the No. His 71.2 pass-rush grade since 2019 is a top-20 mark in the ACC. Closes well on ball carriers. Has burst to get across the face of offensive tackle. Sewell doesnt shy away from blasting into blockers and can certainly blow up ball-carriers in the hole, but also has the burst to shut down toss plays out wide and is like a bear as a tackler. The three best linebacker transfer classes. 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. 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. Desire to make those around him better also a pretty unique trait in the year 2022. The No. 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. High upside athlete that can potentially provide value on either side of the ball and on multiple special teams units. Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane linebacker Justin Wright (30) runs back an He was a three-year starter that was named a team captain in 1995 and earned All-SEC honors. LSU is one of only four schools with multiple linebackers in PFFs top 25. Working on anchoring against run important. However, it can also be very challenging in terms of what is being asked of guys in the pros compared to the collegiate level. But in Striker (6-0, 221), Bob Stoops has one of the best pass rushers in the country and a player who has enough athleticism that he's actually getting reps at nickelback (the corner spot, not the band). Pursues and closes to the football with effort and has explosivenes off the ball and as he closes to his target. 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. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Around the 6-foot-1, 210- to 215-pound range entering senior season with build that should support 230-pound neighborhood if desired. EDGE Position Preview: Can Michigans pass rush remain dominant in 2023? @WSUCougarFB Travion Brown #GoCougs | #CougarSportsAwards pic.twitter.com/ciEARYpBjb, Washington State Athletics (@WSUCougars) May 1, 2020. Ivan Pace Jr. transfers in from Miami (Ohio) and is arguably the best linebacker in the country on passing downs. Long-term positional home has been in question in the past, but functional athleticism and playmaking ability are not. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Ran for more than 1,000 yards on almost 10 yards per carry while recording 91 tackles as a junior. Has speed to get around tackle on blitzes. Hes a menace as a blitzer, with his 30.6% pass-rush win rate last year leading all FBS linebackers. But UCF did a good job in the portal with this trio. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Colorado and new head coach Deion Sanders made a late offer to Carter, but he elected to stay in his home state and sign with the Vols. 8 linebacker in college football for the 2022 season. 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. Odds & lines subject to change. Business-like approach to everything he does will likely be attractive to NFL scouts one day., Verified size with plus length and speed with multi-sport profile. Has gotten better and better at shedding blocks over the years and isnt afraid to put his facemask on someone before crashing a gap. Iowa Hawkeyes First things first, this is not meant to disparage Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell. got off to a hot start last year with an 82.4 overall grade through Week 4, third among Power Five linebackers. There is big-time buzz about Ohio State's C.J. More than likely projects to an off-ball weak side backer role at the next level on the defensive side of the ball. Broad, layered athletic profile projects very well in long term. 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. Senior season displayed improved in-space competency as a big-bodied traditional off-ball 'backer who could likely stay there in the long term. Justin Flowe has as much talent as any linebacker in college football, but he hasnt had any semblance of a break with injuries. 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. All hes done since then is earn a 94.9 career grade, best among FBS linebackers over the past five years. The junior has allowed only 172 receiving yards in that span, the fifth fewest for Power Five linebackers. Not long but owns frame space to add mass, though not too much more is needed as a modern in-space defender. Not only gets downhill in hurry, but will quickly sift through traffic and get outside the hashes to wrangle a ball carrier. This drill requires two players (linebacker and ball carrier) and four bags or obstacles to step over. Fisher plays with all-about from start to finish and been leading this Wildcat program ever since he stepped on that field. . With more than 1,300 college football players in the transfer portal, it can be difficult to parse through all the talent. 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. -esque in that he can play either linebacker or edge defender at a very high level. For the Tigers, Barkevious Mingo (Browns, first round, No. , but hasnt been able to fully show what hes capable of. MAC: Bowling Green (D.J. Typically All Conference or minimum 1 Year Varsity Starter. So, what's the book on the quarterback heading into the 2022 college football season? C.J. With two linebackers cracking the top five of this list, Clemson easily has the best linebacking corps in the country heading into next season. 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. Weve already seen him bat passes into the air and for his secondary players to dive for. Hes actually on track for slightly better numbers this season. Web8. Displays good athleticism in multiple phases of the game with the majority of his snaps coming at the running back position. Anyone else miss watching Abdul Carter wreck havoc on opposing offenses? This joker for the Notre Dame defense plays the ROVER spot primarily, where he can cover slot receivers one-on-one and shows no discomfort playing in space, plus he looks like a cannonball when coming on blitzes off the edge. 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. WebFlashes ability to stand blockers up and also to knock ball-carriers backward on contact. Linebackers: Josh Chandler-Semedo/Exree Loe. Seasoned blitzer that can get home with his elite burst on Friday nights. 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. Has doubled as a running back for his high school, and has found success on that side of the ball. On the spring roster, Hausmann is listed at 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds. The guy most draft rankings seem to have at the top for the position in college football is Trenton Simpson at Clemson. Shows speed to chase play down on back side. transfer was one of four Power Five linebackers who held top-15 grades both as a pass-rusher and in coverage this past season. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. This is the fifth in a series looking at the best positional tandems in college football in each conference, taking into account both college production and pro potential. Not only can break 11 seconds on the track in the 100-meter dash, but has also almost hit 23 MPH on the Catapult GPS system in pads. Hes PFFs No. ???? Needs to show he can stack and shed on consistent basis. Around the 6-foot-1, 210- to 215-pound range entering senior season with build that should support 230-pound neighborhood if desired. N.C. State has the ACCs highest-graded linebacker over the past two years in Drake Thomas at an 80.0 mark. Desire to make those around him better also a pretty unique trait in the year 2022. Hicks was the crown jewel of the Buckeyes top-five recruiting class from the 2022 cycle, but his role as a freshman was limited to special 11 in PFFs preseason ranking. Simpson has continued to excel under new DC Wes Goodwin, thanks to his athletic profile and the growth in play-recognition. Multi-year starter with possible early-impact ability for Top 20 program. Productive two-way play who plays on edge of 3-4 defense. These power rankings are adjusted based on coach, quarterback and the market each season. Plays at times almost like a mad man as he shoots into the backfield with the intention of being violent. 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. Power Rankings are PFFs NCAA power ratings based on weekly player grades in each facet of play. 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 Simmons Highlights (BEST LINEBACKER IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL) clemson lb highlights isaiah simmons. Our exclusive database, featuring the most in-depth collection of NCAA player performance data. Browns 75.6 coverage grade over the past two seasons is a top-25 mark among Power Five linebackers. Simpson was right up there with those two He has a lot of quick-twitch in his game and shows both short area quickness and excellent closing speed. 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. The class is headlined by five-star Anthony Hill, who is staying in his home state of Texas. Five best college football linebackers in the transfer portal. With two linebackers cracking the top five of this list, Clemson easily has the best linebacking corps in the country heading into next season. MWC: Utah State (Kyler Fackrell and Zach Vigil). Ncaa Football Clemson At Syracuse. Ridiculously productive with 1,700 yards of total offense and 27 touchdowns and 40 tackles, including seven sacks. Ulofoshio has missed 10 games over the past three years and will miss at least half of the 2022 season with a knee injury. So, when it was announced that Carter, a true freshman, would also wear that number, it raised some eyebrows. Can re-direct and move along line of scrimmage. 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. Your login session has expired. More importantly, isnt afraid to crash the A or B gap, which is important for someone thats only 225 pounds. Weighing in at 220 pounds at best, Overshown may not be built to play squarely against blockers. When I watched those those Notre Dame edge rushers and safeties for the 2020, this guy flashed time and time again. Last season, he injured his foot after just one game and missed the rest of the season. Big 12 Picks, Lines For Saturday, February 25, College Basketball Predictions, Lines, How To Watch: Sunday, February 26, NCAA Tournament Bracket Projections, 68 Team Predictions, Bubble Teams February 27, AP Poll Top 25 Projection College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 17, Coaches Poll Top 25 Projection College Basketball Rankings Prediction Week 17, Coaches Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 17, AP Poll Top 25 College Basketball Rankings Week 17. 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. 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. Shows surprising hands-catching acumen and big-play speed as a receiver. Contributor for a top 25 before crashing a gap around him better also a unique... 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