The college football season is approaching. There is always debate over ranking the best players in the sport. Here are the top 25 college football linebackers heading into the 2023 season.
Note: While projection of what a player can be is taken into account, most rankings are from what has been seen on the field so far. These are not NFL Draft rankings, but rather focus on the best players in college football.
Top College Football Linebackers
25-21
25. Bubba Arslanian, Akron Zips
After a 125 tackle season in 2019, Arslanian finally was able to play a full season again in 2022. He had 132 total tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss. He is a player to watch when checking out MACtion this year.
24. JaQues Evans, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Evans does a little bit of everything for Western Kentucky. Last season, He had 106 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
23. Easton Gibbs, Wyoming Cowboys
Gibbs has improved every season he has been at Wyoming. He finished the 2022 season with 121 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks.
22. Power Echols, North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina has a good linebacker room in 2023 and Echols is a big part of that. He had 103 total tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks last season.
21. Jett Johnson, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mississippi State is one of a few schools with two players on this list. Johnson had 115 total tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss in 2022.
20-16
20. Dallas Gant, Toledo Rockets
Gant started his career at Ohio State, where he played sparingly. He has shown his talent at Toledo, finishing the 2022 season with 116 total tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss.
19. Cal Haladay, Michigan State Spartans
After totaling 120 tackles and 11 tackles for loss last year, Haladay will be tasked with improving the Michigan State defense this year.
18. Mason Cobb, USC Trojans
In 2022, Cobb had 96 total tackles and 13 tackles for loss at Oklahoma State. He is now transferring to USC, where improving the defense might just land the team in the CFP.
17. Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma Sooners
Stutsman benefitted from Brent Venables showing up at Oklahoma last year. He really improved with 125 total tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss in 2022.
16. Payton Wilson, NC State Wolfpack
Wilson had 108 total tackles in 2020, then was injured in 2021. He returned to form in 2022 with 82 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
15-11
15. Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Watson is the other half of the good linebacker duo at Mississippi State. He had 113 total tackles and 12 tackles for loss and can help Zach Arnett in his first year as head coach.
14. Jaylan Ford, Texas Longhorns
While DeMarvion Overshown was getting a lot of hype because he was draft eligible, the 2022 season was great for Ford too. He had 119 total tackles and 10 tackles for loss with a lot to build on for this season.
13. Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri Tigers
Hopper is a speedy linebacker who transferred from Florida to Missouri before the 2022 season. He had 77 total tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss showing sideline-to-sideline speed.
12. Maema Njongmeta, Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin found a new star linebacker in Njongmeta, who broke out in 2022. He had 95 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
11. Abdul Carter, Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State has a long history of linebackers and Carter looks like he’s next in line after a good freshman season. He totaled 56 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, showing his versatility.
10-6
10. Junior Colson, Michigan Wolverines
Colson had 106 total tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks in 2022, as he helped Michigan make their second straight CFP. Having another good season will help Michigan and Colson’s draft stock.
9. Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
There is one person who has more tackles in a college football season than Henderson: Luke Kuechly. He had 186 total tackles last season, showing his nose for the ball.
8. Omar Speights, LSU Tigers
Speights had 304 total tackles in four seasons at Oregon State. Now, he is transferring to LSU to prove himself in the SEC.
7. Smael Mondon, Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia just reloads on defense. Mondon had 76 total tackles and eight tackles for loss in his first season as a starter. Now, more will be expected of him.
6. Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia Bulldogs
Dumas-Johnson also had a good first season as a starter at Georgia. With 70 total tackles, nine tackles for loss and four sacks en route to a National Championship.
5-1
5. Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State Buckeyes
Eichenberg uses his instincts well to get in position to make plays. He had 120 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last season.
4. Barrett Carter, Clemson Tigers
The best linebacker room in the country is at Clemson. Carter has plenty of athleticism, which helps his production. He had 76 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 2022 with big expectations coming in 2023.
3. Cedric Gray, North Carolina Tar Heels
Gray racked up the tackles last season with 145. This follows up a season with 99 total tackles. If North Carolina is going to take a step forward this season, the defense needs to play better.
2. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson Tigers
Trotter Jr. understands the position better than most other given that his father played the position in the NFL. That knowledge of the game shows up on the field, as he had 89 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
1. Harold Perkins, LSU Tigers
Perkins burst onto the scene last season as a true freshman. He was all over the field with 76 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.
Other Notable Linebackers Not in the Top 25
Johnny Hodges, TCU Horned Frogs
Justin Flowe, Arizona Wildcats
Eric Gentry, USC Trojans
Shane Lee, USC Trojans
DaSan McCullough, Oklahoma Sooners
Karene Reid, Utah Utes
Jackson Sirmon, Cal Golden Bears
Edefuan Ulofoshio, Washington Huskies
Marolowe Wax, Syracuse Orange
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