Welcome to draft season! This is the eighth of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL draft (April 27-29). Here are my top 10 linebackers:
— 1. Jack Campbell (Sr., Iowa, 6-foot-4, 249 pounds)
Campbell is a big, highly-productive inside linebacker from one of college football's top programs. He's a two-time captain who led the FBS in tackles (143) in 2021 and won the Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker) in 2022. He also became the first Iowa player to win the William V. Campbell Trophy (Academic Heisman) last season. All of this, and he produced one of the best combines of any prospect in attendance. Campbell put up elite explosive numbers for his size and position — a 1.58-second 10-yard split, 37.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-8 broad. Projected: Round 2
— 2. Drew Sanders (Jr., Arkansas, 6-4, 235)
This Alabama transfer (and former five-star recruit) has hybrid potential with the closing speed to get to the quarterback, the intensity to roam the middle of the field and athleticism to develop in coverage. He was just the second FBS player since 2000 (Khalil Mack in 2013) with at least 95 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception in the same season. Projected: Rounds 1-2
— 3. Trenton Simpson (Jr., Clemson, 6-2, 235)
Simpson is everything you are looking for in a modern coverage linebacker — super athletic and a varied skill set, plus he's capable of playing inside or outside. Still, there's still a bit of refinement needed to help him reach his full potential. Simpson was the No. 1 outside linebacker in the 2020 recruiting class and a five-star recruit. Projected: Rounds 1-2
— 4. Daiyan Henley (Sr., Washington State, 6-0, 225)
Henley was a high school quarterback who originally played wide receiver at Nevada before flipping to the defensive side of the ball and eventually leading all FBS linebackers with four interceptions in 2021. He transferred to Pullman last season and was highly productive (first-team All-Pac 12). Henley is a downhill player who is capable in coverage and features sideline-to-sideline tackling ability. An absolute worst-case scenario in the pros: Pro Bowl potential as a core special-teamer. Projected: Rounds 2-3
— 5. Owen Pappoe (Sr., Auburn, 6-0, 225)
Pappoe was the top outside linebacker in the 2019 recruiting class (top-25 overall). He's an elite athlete. His 4.39 40-yard dash, 1.50 10-yard split and 29 bench press reps were tops among linebackers in Indy. Pappoe was a two-time captain and one of only three SEC defenders to intercept Bryce Young in 2022. He's slightly undersized by NFL standards and has dealt with multiple shoulder injuries since 2017. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— 6. Henry To'oto'o (Sr., Alabama, 6-1, 227)
To'oto'o originally committed to Tennessee as a top-50 overall recruit and led the Volunteers in tackles in 2020 before transferring to Tuscaloosa. There, he led the Crimson Tide in tackles the following season. He features the diagnostic skills of Dr. Gregory House. His elite instincts allow him to play decisively and expand his range. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— 7. Noah Sewell (Jr., Oregon, 6-1, 246)
The younger brother of Penei — the No. 7 pick overall in 2021 — and a former five-star recruit himself, Sewell has a knack for finding the ball, and the ability to punish a ball-carrier at the point of attack while possessing a throwback demeanor, but average athleticism leaves him little room for error. His elite size and strength allows him to do his best work between the tackles. Projected: Rounds 3-5
— 8. Nick Herbig (Jr., Wisconsin, 6-2, 240)
Herbig's size says he would be better suited as a hybrid defender in the pros than solely focusing on being an edge rusher, but he's produced there — 30 tackles for loss and 20 sacks the last two seasons. His instincts and athleticism back that up as well. Over a quarter of his career tackles were for a loss. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— 9. DeMarvion Overshown (Sr., Texas, 6-2, 229)
Overshown was the No. 6 ranked safety in the 2018 recruiting class before moving to linebacker in 2020. The awareness in coverage is still underdeveloped, but he's dynamic in pursuit, whether he's chasing down a ball-carrier or blitzing the quarterback. He features special teams upside as well, where he had five tackles his senior season and blocked a punt in 2021. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— 10. Yasir Abdullah (Sr., Louisville, 6-0, 237)
Abdullah is an explosive athlete who produced 32 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks over his final 26 games and led the ACC in QB pressures (59) in 2022. He'll likely begin his NFL journey as a pass rush specialist and core special-teamer while he continues to develop his coverage skills. Projected: Rounds 3-4
— BONUS: Dorian Williams (Sr., Tulane, 6-1, 228)
Williams wins with speed and athleticism, but bigger running backs can take him for a ride. He was first-team AAC in 2022 while leading the Green Wave in tackles (131) and sacks (five). Projected: Rounds 2-4
— BONUS: Ivan Pace Jr. (Sr., Cincinnati, 5-10, 231)
Pace has been a heat-seeking missile the last two seasons despite his stature — 262 tackles with 34.5 for a loss and 14 sacks. The unanimous All-American and former wrestling champion in high school may need to be protected by his defensive line in the pros in order to produce, but he could prove to be one of the better playmakers in this draft class. Projected: Rounds 4-6
— BONUS: Ventrell Miller (Sr., Florida, 5-11, 232)
Miller is an old-school thumper in the run game and "field general" who was voted team captain as a senior, but has dealt with injuries the last two seasons. Projected: Rounds 4-7
— BONUS: Anfernee Orji (Sr., Vanderbilt, 6-1, 230)
Orji was a three-star recruit at safety in the 2019 recruiting class before moving to linebacker in 2020. He was one of three SEC players with at least 90 tackles and 13 tackles for loss in 2021. He's led the Commodores in tackles in each of the last three seasons, but his batting average on open-field tackles is lower than expected. There are limitations in coverage, but he's a team captain who was also a regular on punt coverages all four seasons. Projected: Rounds 5-6
— BONUS: Cam Jones (Sr., Indiana, 6-1, 226)
Jones was recruited as a wide receiver and safety but moved to linebacker in 2019, having never played the position before. His instincts, vision and determination against the run are second-to-none in this draft class. He's a three-time team captain who led the Big Ten with 10.8 tackles per game through five games before missing the final seven games of his senior season due to a foot injury. Projected: Rounds 5-6
— BONUS: Mohamoud Diabate (Sr., Utah, 6-3, 225)
Florida recruited him as a pass rusher, but the situation wasn't quite right, so after three seasons, he transferred to Utah, where he took over Devin Lloyd's role in the Utes' defense in 2022, leading the team in tackles for loss (13.5). He's an explosive athlete who is aggressive in everything he does on the field. This sometimes backfires in coverage. Projected: Rounds 6-7
— BONUS: Aubrey Miller Jr. (Sr., Jackson State, 5-11, 229)
Miller originally committed to Missouri as a three-star recruit in 2017. He fell behind on the depth chart and battled several injuries over his first three seasons in Columbia before deciding to transfer after a coaching change. Miller produced 226 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and nine passes defensed in two full seasons with Deion Sanders' Tigers. He's a physical run defender who plays faster than his forty time. Projected: Round 7-PFA
