1. Carter, Barrett*
Clemson 5117 233
Three year starter, Suwanee, GA. Consensus first team All-ACC in 2022 and 2023. Was one of our pre-season top five linebackers in 2023. Did not have as good a year as hoped and is back for his senior year. Instinctive, with extreme quickness in read and react. Plays with a non-stop motor. He’s sudden to change directions and shows sideline to sideline range in pursuit. Consistently out runs or rips through block attempts chasing to the perimeter. Disciplined read and react on run fits he can explode downhill. Quick at the snap as a blitzer he’s adept at avoiding blocks and chasing in the backfield. Normally gathers and squares up tackles and is excellent in space. Outstanding in coverage with vision to see and balance multiple threats. Sudden to break with the ball in the air he closes throwing lanes creating issues for quarterback reads. Has the ability to mirror a back and the speed to take an inside receiver up the field. Has some trouble with straight up blocks inline but has improved in 2024. He will take a bad angle at times and miss a tackle. Should be an every down linebacker in the NFL.
2. Barton, Lander
Utah 6031 233
Two year starter, Cottonwood Heights, UT. Was the PAC-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. Had his 2023 season cut short after seven games with a season ending injury. Flashed outstanding skill and has picked up where he left off in 2024. Outstanding athletic ability to go with ideal size for an off-the ball linebacker. Excellent read and react he has a feel for inside gaps and is quick reacting to a key. Quick change of direction reacting to cutbacks and mis-direction. Attacks downhill and shows powerful hands along with knee bend to stack and shed. Quick with punch he can lock out straight up blocks and find the ball. On the move his lateral agility shows avoiding or slipping blocks to gain ball side leverage. Solid chase linebacker he normally takes the right angle and tackles well in space. Adept at zone coverage he gets depth in his drop and reacts to threats to close the throwing lane. Reads the delivery key well and is quick reacting with the ball in the air. Can match and run the seam. Will take an occasional bad angle but shows few weaknesses leaving his feet and going too low. Elite prospect.
3. Kiser, Jack
Notre Dame 6011 230
Has been a rotational player for the Irish the past three seasons and now takes over the Will position. Physical player with the frame NFL teams look for. Has been outstanding on special teams and in most phases of linebacker play. Quick reactor he consistently is in position to make plays. Can take on blocks with a violent punch and is consistent with stack and shed. On the move his striking ability quickly gains ball side leverage and he’s rarely out of position. Solid chase player with range to pursue to the perimeter. Changes direction well in a short space and is adept at finding the shortest path to the ball. Physical tackler he can gather and drive through ball carriers. Rarely misses. Has blitz skill working off the edge or inside. Early in his career he had limited coverage reps but more recently he’s a three down linebacker showing improvement in coverage. He shows solid zone skill with vision to see the quarterback and route combinations. Has been productive with four interceptions. Can be too shallow in drop at times and has had some trouble with shifty receivers. Ascending prospect.
4. Stutsman, Danny
Oklahoma 6040 240
Three year starter, Windermere, FL. First team All-Big 12 and third team AP All-America in 2023. Athletic high motor player with ideal frame for an NFL off-the ball linebacker. Plays the Mike position in the Sooners’ defense. Patient with initial read but when he sees it is quick to react. Gets downhill and generally can take an open window. Quick to re-direct along with solid range in pursuit. Has a large tackle radius and makes plays in space. When he’s right can square up a tackle with gather and drive. Excellent in coverage with range and a feel for pattern pressure. Can find and pass crossers and expand the zone when necessary. Solid man cover skill he can mirror a back or carry a receiver up the seam. Quick to break with the ball in the air. Has been used to blitz but shows hesitation at times and lacks technique. Can slip blocks on the move but tends to play high on blocks inline and is too easily moved out. Lacks power and a strong punch. Will overrun tackles at times. Miss percentage has been higher than desired.
5. Higgins, Jay
Iowa 6003 227
Two year starter, Indianapolis, IN. First team All-Big Ten in 2023. High motor player with a solid football IQ and an instinctive nose for the ball. Has been an outstanding special team player his whole career along with starting at two linebacker spots in the Iowa defense starting in 2023. Is a team leader and quarterback of an outstanding Iowa defense. Excellent read and react with precise inside run fits. Gets downhill in a hurry and makes quick adjustments in traffic. Powerful taking on blocks with a quick strong punch to stack and shed. He’s quick to gain ball side leverage and is always around the ball. Hot motor gives him sideline to sideline pursuit ability. Has above average lateral movement but is more effective coming downhill. Excellent fundamental tackling skill he takes good angles and squares up tackles with gather, drive and finish. Solid zone defender with depth of drop and a feel for route combinations. Gets a good read on the delivery key and is consistent stressing throwing lanes. Can be too aggressive at times getting out of position. He may not test well but is way too productive to ignore.
6. Campbell, JiHaad*
Alabama 6030 244
7. Perkins Jr., Harold (INJ)
LSU 6001 215
8. Dumas-Johnson, Jamon
Kentucky 6001 250
9. Lawson, Deontae
Alabama 6020 230
10 Barham, Jaishawn
Michigan 6030 248
11. Mondon Jr., Smael
Georgia 6026 225
13. Reid, Karene
Utah 6000 227
14. Martin, Nick
Oklahoma State 6000 220
15. Bruener, Carson
Washington 6013 224
16. Buchanan, Teddye
California 6000 237
17. Lundy, DJ
Florida State 6000 237
18. Bassa, Jeffrey
Oregon 6011 227
19. Mauigoa, Francisco
Miami 6012 244
20. Jacobs, Jestin
Oregon 6035 232
21. Mascarenas-Arnold, Easton
USC 5112 232
22. Arnold, Kam
Boston College 6003 233
23. Powell, Tyreem
Rutgers 6052 240
24. Combs, Branson
Wake Forest 6023 221
25. Medrano, Kain
UCLA 6030 223
26. Echols, Power
North Carolina 5113 231
27. Ossai, KC
Louisiana 6011 244
28. Jackson, D’Eryk
Kentucky 6013 240
29. Coleman, Khari
Mississippi 6012 214
30. Brumfield, Sam
Virgina Tech 5101 224
31. Lawson, Keli
Virginia Tech 6040 220
32. Killen, JT
Eastern Michigan 6020 223
33. Toure, Mohamed (INJ)
Rutgers 6010 233
34. Oliver, Collin (INJ)
Oklahoma State 6020 235
*Denotes Underclassman