Linebackers
The were 24 LBs selected in the 2021 draft, as follows:
Round 1 - 2
Round 2 - 1
Round 3 - 7
Round 4 - 1
Round 5 - 2
Round 6 - 6
Round 7 - 5
The 2022 LB draft class had a very strong offering of talent. It's seldom that we see starter-level falling to Round 5, but we did. While Rounds 6 and 7 were mostly made up of some project players, I see some potential starters in that mix as well.
The 2023 LB draft class may not be as strong as the 2022 fold, but it runs very deep with talent. The middle rounds should have scatters of prospects taken, many of which will be able to contribute early.
1) Noah Sewell | 6'3 | 250 | LB | Oregon
2021 - 114 tackles, 53 solo, 4 sacks
9/1 - Georgia - Sewell had a solid, but not great game. His tackle count of 3 is underwhelming, given how many times the ball was in his range. When dialed in, he played with very good speed, closed in on plays fast. However, he was too slow to react at times, getting hemmed up by the TE.
9/17 - BYU - Sewell had a quiet game, posted just 2 tackles. BYU opted to attack through the air and with outside runs, taking the LB out of contention most snaps.
2) Trenton Simpson | 6'2 | 225 | LB | Clemson
2021 - 65 tackles, 41 solo, 6 sacks
3) Henry To'oto'o | 6'2 | 225 | LB | Alabama
2021 - 111 tackles, 52 solo, 4 sacks
9/10 - Texas - To'oto'o had a very nice game. He was quick on his reads against the run, held down his run lane assignments well. He was also solid in space drawing coverage duties. He finished with 6 tackles.
4) Justin Flowe | 6'2 | 246 | LB | Oregon
2021 - 14 tackles, 5 solo, 0 sacks
9/1 - Georgia - Flowe was very active with 10 tackles. He played with great speed and intensity. he showed his ability to blitz, cover in space with range, and throw his shoulder into oncoming blocks. While his diagnosing of plays was off a few times, he showed far more good than not.
9/17 - BYU - DNP
5) Ivan Pace | 6'0 | 242 | LB | Cincinnati
2021 - 125 tackles, 60 solo, 4 sacks
9/3 - Arkansas - Pace was very polarizing in this contest. His stat sheet was insane, posting 12 tackles, 3.5 TFLs. What stood out the most was just how good of a blitzer he is, leveraging his amazing play speed. He played aggressive ball, was always in the mix.
6) Jack Campbell | 6'5 | 246 | LB | Iowa
2021 - 140 tackles, 57 solo, 1 sack
9/3 - South Dakota State - Campbell had a great game, paced his squad with 11 tackles. Outside of a couple misreads, he diagnosed plays very well. He was a hammer against the run, also showed very well when dropping into space to cover his zone.
7) Tommy Eichenberg | 6'2 | 235 | LB | Ohio State
2021 - 64 tackles, 33 solo, 0 sacks
9/3 - Notre Dame - Eichenberg had a very good game. He posted 9 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 sacks. He diagnosed plays very well, showed physicality in taking on blocks and closing down on the run. He was good whether blitzing or playing in space.
9/24 - Wisconsin - Eichenberg had a fantastic game. While pacing his team with 14 tackles is amazing (also 2 TFLs), his play is what stood out. He diagnosed plays very well and wasted no time shooting gaps and making plays on the ball. He played with what was almost surprising range, able to cover half the field with consistency throughout the game.
8) Ventrell Miller | 6'0 | 222 | LB | Florida
2021 - 8 tackles, 3 solo, 0 sacks
9/3 - Utah - Miller had a great game. He was in on 9 stops, constantly swarmed the ball. He showed off very good play speed, and dropped the hammer as a tackler. he played strong, was great taking on blocks at the 2nd level.
9/10 - Kentucky - Miller had another very good outing. While he had a couple mishaps on his reads and positioning, he was otherwise impressive. He finished with 6 tackles, 1 TFL.
9/24 - Tennessee - Miller had a good game. While he was off on one read that I took not of, he was solid otherwise. He played with great speed, overall range. He posted 6 tackles.
9) Owen Pappoe | 6'1 | 226 | LB | Auburn
2021 - 23 tackles, 14 solo, 0 sacks
9/17 - Penn State - Pappoe had a solid game. He showed off very good sideline to sideline range, coupled with the ability to strike hard as a run defender. He was a bit inconsistent in diagnosing plays, however, as there were a few runs where he was caught looking inside and the play went too wide for him to make a play on the ball.
9/24 - Missouri - Pappoe had a good game. There were several points during this game where Missouri struggled to run the ball, and this heady LB was one reason why that was. He read plays well and showed range in space. He posted 8 tackles on the day.
10) DeMarvion Overshown | 6'3 | 221 | LB | Texas
2021 - 74 tackles, 38 solo, 2 sacks
9/10 - Alabama - Overshgown had a decent game, posted 5 tackles. He looked to be more stout against the run compared to last season, and was typically good in space with rangy play.
11) Cam Jones | 6'3 | 222 | ILB | Indiana
2021 - 63 tackles, 42 solo, 1 sack
9/3 - Illinois - Jones had a great game. He paced his squad with 12 tackles, also had 1 sack. He was excellent as a blitzer, showing great timing and closing speed. When playing off ball, he read plays very well and wasted no time shooting gaps.
12) Drake Thomas | 6'0 | 238 | LB | NC State
2021 - 99 tackles, 48 solo, 6 sacks
9/3 - East Carolina - Thomas had a solid game, turning in 7 tackles. While he wasn't dynamic in any one regard, he held down his assignments well.
13) Adam Bock | 6'1 | 215 | LB | South Dakota State
2021 - 8 tackles, 7 solo, 2 INTs
9/3 - Iowa - Bock had a terrific game. Despite him not being a big guy, he played like he was. He was quick to read run plays and wasted no time shooting gaps, and/or taking on blocks. He paced his team with 13 tackles. he also looked very adept dropping into space and covering his zone in pass defense.
14) SirVocea Dennis | 6'1 | 220 | LB | Pittsburgh
2021 - 82 tackles, 38 solo, 4 sacks
9/1 - West Virginia - Dennis finished the game with 7 tackles, 1 sack. He was solid overall, mostly showing his work as a middle-blitzer. While he did a make a couple tackles in the open field, he didn't show much sand in his pants when taking on 2nd level O-linemen.
9/10 - Tennessee - Dennis was a good field general, posted 5 tackles on the game. While solid, he never really wowed in any one regard.
15) Drew Sanders | 6'5 | 232 | LB | Arkansas
2021 - 15 tackles, 12 solo, 1 sack
9/3 - Cincinnati - Sanders had a solid game, pitching in with 5 tackles and 1 sack. He moved quite well for a big guy, played with good intensity.
9/10 - South Carolina - Sanders had an excellent game. He constantly swarmed the LOS, made his impact felt in the opposing backfield often. He posted 11 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 sacks
16) Tatum Bethune | 6'1 | 230 | LB | Florida State
2021 - 108 tackles, 60 solo, 2 sacks
9/4 - LSU - Bethune put together a very good game, notching 7 tackles, 2 TFLs. He read plays well and really swarmed the ball.
9/16 - Florida State - Bethune had a solid game, despite shoddy play for his D-line. He got knocked out of the game for a series, but was able to come back in and make an impact. He paced his team with 10 tackles, did a good job of reading the run and closing in on the ball.
9/24 - Boston College - This was a quiet game for Bethune. While he was in on 4 tackles, he wasn't given an opportunity to do much. BC had little success at the LOS.
17) Payton Wilson | 6'4 | 240 | LB | NC State
2021 - 5 tackles, 2 solo, 1 sack
9/3 - East Carolina - Wilson had just one tackle. He suffered an upper body injury early on, only logged 17 snaps. When in, he was adequate as a pass-rusher, but nothing great.
18) Jacoby Windmon | 6'2 | 230 | LB | Michigan State
2021 - 118 tackles, 72 solo, 6.5 sacks
19) Steele Chambers | 6'1 | 232 | LB | Ohio State
2021 - 47 tackles, 27 solo, 1 sack
9/3 - Notre Dame - Chambers was very solid, notching 5 tackles. he asserted himself well against the run game, played with good physicality.
9/24 - Wisconsin - Chambers had a solid game. Chipping in with 6 tackles, he showed off very good range, was able to close on the ball carrier quite well.
20) Jeremy Banks | 6'1 | 224 | LB | Tennessee
2021 - 128 tackles, 59 solo, 5.5 sacks
9/10 - Pittsburgh - Despite only posting 3 tackles, Banks held down his assignments well, showing off good instincts and play speed.
9/24 - Florida - Banks had a very respectable game, paced his team with 7 tackles. He read plays well, wasted no time shooting through gaps and closing.
21) Jestin Jacobs | 6'4 | 236 | LB | Iowa
2021 - 53 tackles, 33 solo, 0 sacks
9/3 - South Dakota State - Jacobs had a solid game. He ended the contest with 5 tackles, and was very solid when drawing TE coverage duties. His range across the field was noticeable.
22) Mohamoud Diabate | 6'4 | 220 | LB | Utah
2021 - 89 tackles, 34 solo, 0 sacks
9/3 - Florida - Diabate had a solid game. While not real stout in going head up to take on blockers or make 1:1 tackles, he was in on 9 stops. He moved well in space, showing plus coverage skills.
23) Troy Brown | 6'1 | 220 | LB | Ole Miss
2021 - 65 tackles, 42 solo, 1 sack
24) Yasir Abdullah | 6'0 | 235 | LB | Louisville
2021 - 61 tackles, 43 solo, 10 sacks
9/3 - Syracuse - Abdullah had a very solid game. While credited with just 2 tackles, 1 TFL, he was around the ball often. He read plays well when in an off-ball capacity, and showed off his ability to blitz whether it was inside or outside schemed. He played with good range and speed, was tough.
9/16 - Florida State - Abdullah had a good game. He paced his squad with 8 tackles, also had 2 TFLs. He played with very good quickness and range in space. He got the better of FSU blockers a few times of note.
25) Max Tooley | 6'2 | 215 | LB | BYU
2021 - 68 tackles, 37 solo, 1 sack
9/10 - Baylor - Tooley had a great game, was seemingly everywhere in this one. He posted 13 tackles, showing off good read and react skills, coupled with sure tackling.
9/17 - Oregon - Tooley had a good game. He paced his team with 8 tackles, swarmed the ball often. While not big, he tackled with aggression and pop.
26) Jalen Graham | 6'3 | 220 | ILB | Purdue
2021 - 64 tackles, 45 solo, 1 sack
9/1 - Penn State - Graham had a solid night, coming in with 6 tackles. While he wasn't demonstrative in his play, he held tight to his assignments, generally covered his gap responsibilities.
27) Kam Arnold | 6'1 | 228 | ILB | Boston College
2021 - 61 tackles, 35 solo, 1 sack
9/24 - Florida State - Arnold chipped in with 5 tackles, but he was a non-factor in this game. FSU moved the ball at will, and it was hard to see Arnold nor anyone else doing anything against the vaunted attack.
28) Mike Jones | 6'2 | 234 | LB | LSU
2021 - 34 tackles, 14 solo, 1 sacks
9/4 - Florida State - Jones saw limited snaps, but still posted 2 tackles, 1 sack. He operated well in a blitzing capacity.
9/17 - Mississippi State - Jones chipped in with 3 tackles, looked solid but didn't stand out.
29) Merlin Robertson | 6'2 | 235 | ILB | Arizona State
2021 - 64 tackles, 30 solo, 0 sacks
9/10 - Oklahoma State - Robertson had a solid game. There wasn't one trait that stood out, but he was active around the LOS, moved pretty well with range. He posted 6 tackles on the night.
30) Bumper Pool | 6'2 | 232 | LB | Arkansas
2021 - 125 tackles, 45 solo, 0 sacks
9/3 - Cincinnati - Pool paced his team with 13 tackles, 4 of which were solo. He didn't flash much, but was around the ball often.
9/10 - South Carolina - Pool had a solid game. He read plays well and was active as a tackler. He posted 7 stops, 1 sack.
31) Keenan Pili | 6'3 | 233 | LB | BYU
2021 - 31 tackles, 14 solo, 1.5 sacks
9/10 - Baylor - Pili played with good intensity and swarmed the ball often. He posted 6 tackles, 1.5 TFLs. He read plays pretty well and showed off good range at the second level.
9/17 - Oregon - Pili got banged up early, posted just 1 tackle.
32) Caleb Johnson | 6'1 | 230 | LB | Miami
2021 - 45 tackles, 28 solo, 0 sacks
9/17 - Texas A&M - Johnson doesn't look like the same player he was when with UCLA, but he still contributed with 4 tackles, looked fairly average doing so.
33) Luke Reimer | 6'0 | 225 | LB | Nebraska
2021 - 90 tackles, 51 solo, 1 sack
9/17 - Oklahoma - Reimer played gritty ball today, paced his team with 8 tackles. He generally read plays well and was good closing in on the run.
34) Tyler Grubbs | 6'1 | 225 | LB | LA Tech
2021 - 97 tackles, 44 solo, 2 sacks
9/1 - Missouri - Grubbs had a a bit of an up and down night. On the plus side, he showed toughness and good play recognition, amassing 6 tackles. He played bigger than his frame would indicate, did well taking on 2nd-level blocks. On the flip side, he wasn't always rangy enough to close on the ball when it was ran to the perimeter.
35) Darius Muasau | 6'1 | 230 | LB | UCLA
2021 - 108 tackles, 65 solo, 7 sacks