NCAAF · 3 months ago

Ranking the Top 35 College Football Linebackers for 2025

Grant White

Host · Writer

35. Kam Robinson, Virginia Cavaliers
Kam Robinson is one of the most prolific outside linebackers in the country. In two seasons with the Virginia Cavaliers, Robinson has totaled 135 tackles, 6.0 sacks, three interceptions, and a forced fumble. Entering his upper-classman years, we should see Robinson flourish as an anchor on the Cavaliers' defense.
1. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
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The former freshman All-American followed up with a monster sophomore season for the Longhorns. Anthony Hill Jr. started in all 15 games for Texas, making 113 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. He forced four fumbles and intercepted a pass. Hill is the country's top linebacker and is just a junior.

Texas 2025 Win Total: 9.5 (Over -210/Under +162)
2. Whit Weeks, LSU
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Whit Weeks earned first-team All-SEC in 2024 as he was the key cog for the Tigers on defense. Weeks made 125 tackles, including 10 for a loss and 3.5 sacks. He started 11 of LSU’s 13 games, should be near the top of every preseason all-conference list, and may even be an All-American.

LSU 2025 Win Total: 8.5 (Over -125/Under -102)
3. Xavian Sorey, Arkansas
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Xavian Sorey had a big year for the Razorbacks after transferring in from fellow SEC member Georgia. Sorey started all 13 games for Arkansas in 2024, posting 99 total tackles and 9.5 for a loss. He was also named the defensive MVP of the Liberty Bowl.
4. Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
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The First Team All-American linebacker is back after a tremendous sophomore season. Pitt’s Kyle Louis made 101 total tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Not only did he cause havoc in the backfield, Louis made four interceptions, forced a fumble and blocked a kick. He can do it all.
5. Aiden Fisher, Indiana
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Aiden Fisher was the heart and soul of the Indiana defense which ranked second in the Big Ten in scoring. Fisher earned First Team All-Big Ten honors after posting 118 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks while helping lead IU to an 11-2 record and a College Football Playoff Berth.

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Indiana 2025 Win Total: 8.5 (Over -102/Under -125)
6. Red Murdock, Buffalo
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Buffalo’s Red Murdock was a tackling machine in 2024. He earned All-MAC honors with 156 tackles and 16.5 tackles for loss. He finished second in the nation in tackles as a redshirt sophomore and maybe the best player to come out of Buffalo since Khalil Mack.
7. Keaton Thomas, Baylor
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Keaton Thomas had a banner year for the Baylor Bears, earning First Team All-Big XII honors. In one of the most dominant defensive seasons in Baylor history, Thomas made 114 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and two sacks. He also scored a defensive touchdown. Thomas will be a redshirt junior in the fall and at the top of everyone’s All-Big XII linebacker lists.

Baylor’s 2025 Big XII Title Odds: +700
8. Austin Romaine, Kansas State
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Austin Romaine earned Second Team All-Big XII honors after a standout season at Kansas State. He started 12 games and played in 13 in 2024, posting 96 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks. 2025 will be just his junior season, and Romaine will look to make it as a First Team All-Big XII selection this fall.

Kansas State’s 2025 Big XII Title Odds: +550
9. Sonny Styles, Ohio State
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The defending national champions will return one of the top linebackers in the sport, Sonny Styles. The converted safety had a monster first season at linebacker and should only improve with more time at the position. Last season, he helped the Ohio State Buckeyes to a title by making 100 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks.

Ohio State 2025 Win Total: 10.5 (Over -105/Under -115)
10. Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State
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Keyshaun Elliott helped lead the Arizona State Sun Devils to the Big XII title and a spot in the College Football Playoff. He made 65 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. He will spearhead the Sun Devil defense in 2025 that will again be a favorite for the Big XII title.

Arizona State’s 2025 Big XII Title Odds: +550
11. Sammy Brown, Clemson
Sammy Brown earned Freshman All-American honors in 2024 when he made 80 tackles and 11.5 tackles for loss for Clemson. He also added five sacks and three pass deflections to his stat line. Brown can potentially grow into the next great linebacker for the Tigers.

Clemson’s 2025 Win Total: 8.5 (Over -210/Under +160)
12. Jack Kelly, BYU
BYU’s Jack Kelly was the Big XII’s defensive newcomer of the year in 2024 and earned First Team All-Big XII honors. In his first FBS season, Kelly made 51 tackles, including ten tackles for loss and five sacks.

BYU’s 2025 Win Total: 7.5 (Over -165/Under +130)
13. Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss
Suntarine Perkins was a Third-Team All-SEC and Third-Team All-American selection for his performance in 2024. The Ole Miss linebacker made 60 tackles, including 14 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. In 2025, Perkins should be on many preseason All-American lists.

Ole Miss’s 2025 Win Total: 8.5 (Over -200/Under +150)
14. Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
After an All-American campaign in 2023 that saw Jason Henderson make 170 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks for the Monarchs, he missed all but one game in 2024 due to injury. If healthy, Henderson is one of the best linebackers in the country.
15. Dariel Djabome, Rutgers
Dariel Djabome is the leader of the Rutgers defense. He had an All-Big Ten season in 2024 with 105 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and a couple of forced fumbles. He is back in 2025 to help lead a defense that can help Rutgers get to the postseason again.

Rutgers’ 2025 Win Total: 5.5 (Over -115/Under -115)
16. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech
Undoubtedly, Jacob Rodriguez had one of the best junior campaigns of anyone last year. In 2024, the Texas native recorded 127 tackles, 5.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four passes defensed for the Texas Tech Red Raiders. While he surely would have drawn interest from several NFL clubs, Rodriguez elected to return to Texas Tech for his senior season.
17. Jordan Pollard, San Jose State
The San Jose State Spartans' identity in the MWC is akin to Jordan Pollard's profile as a linebacker in the FBS. Both are underappreciated and are due for some additional recognition in 2025. Pollard is coming off a 115-tackle campaign as a junior, with 14 coming for a loss. Combined with his 2.0 sacks, three passes defensed, and an interception, Pollard is poised to become one of the most productive linebackers in the country.
18. Travion Barnes, Baylor
Travion Barnes has taken the long way to the Power Four but will be ready to make his presence felt in 2025. The linebacker was heavily recruited out of high school, signing on with the Georgia Military College for his underclassman years. Subsequently, he transferred to the FIU Panthers for his junior campaign. Now a senior, Barnes will look to improve on his 129 tackles, 3.0 sacks, and two interceptions with the Baylor Bears.
19. Bryan McCoy, Oklahoma State
After three years of progressive experience, Bryan McCoy is making a big jump ahead of next season. McCoy spent the last three seasons with the Akron Zips, going from 24 to 95 to 120 tackles. That forced the Oklahoma State Cowboys to take notice, which is where McCoy will spend his senior season.
20. Marques Watson-Trent, Nebraska
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are trying to return their program to their former glory, and they have found a key cog on defense. Marques Watson-Trent plays downhill and makes exceptional reads pre-snap. He recorded 120 tackles with Georgia Southern last year, but should see an even heavier total in the Big Ten.
21. Deontae Lawson, Alabama
Deontae Lawson anchors the Alabama Crimson Tide's defense. As a junior, the linebacker hauled in 76 tackles, 2.0 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception. The bar will be ratcheted even higher when Lawson is through with the competition in 2025.
22. Zayden Walker, Georgia
One of the most highly touted recruits of the 2025 class is about to make the Georgia Bulldogs' defense even stronger. Zayden Walker is the top-ranked linebacker prospect in the country. We don't want to assume he will make an immediate impact. Still, all signs point toward Walker being a defensive catalyst for the Bulldogs.
23. Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
Harold Perkins Jr.'s 2024 campaign was cut short by injury. Nevertheless, the LSU Tigers stalwart should be back with a vengeance this season. Perkins recorded at least 72 tackles and 5.5 sacks in each of his first two seasons, setting the bar for what to expect in 2025.
24. Gabe Jacas, Illinois
A two-time All-Big Ten linebacker, Gabe Jacas could see his profile explode in 2025. The soon-to-be senior is coming off 74 tackles last season, including 13 for a loss. Additionally, he added 8.0 sacks and three forced fumbles, ranking in the top 25 in each category. Jacas could be the most underappreciated linebacker this season.
25. Riley Pettijohn, Ohio State
Keep an eye on another linebacker recruit heading into the 2025 campaign. The Ohio State Buckeyes earned a commitment from standout Riley Pettijohn. As a senior in high school, Pettijohn totaled 115 tackles in 11 games. Not surprisingly, he was included in the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl. He should earn a healthy amount of playing time and should make his presence felt throughout.
26. Taurean York, Texas A&M
The Texas A&M Aggies need their defense to stand up in 2025. Thankfully, they can count on Taurean York to solidify their linebackers' corps. The soon-to-be junior has been a one-man wrecking crew, totaling 156 tackles through his first two seasons with the program. Now entering his upper-classman years, York could emerge as a game-changing linebacker for the Aggies.
27. Drayk Bowen, Notre Dame
Drayk Bowen's profile grew throughout last year's College Football Playoff. The underclassman recorded eight tackles in each of the semifinal and National Championship Game, bumping his year-long total to 78. His downhill ferocity makes him one of the more intriguing prospects heading into the season, and we expect him to live up to the hype again in 2025.
28. Amare Campbell, Penn State
The Penn State Nittany Lions are a program that prides itself on recruiting and developing talent from high school. Still, the Nittany Lions couldn't help themselves when Amare Campbell was available via the transfer portal. The former UNC standout is coming off a 76-tackle sophomore season, adding 6.5 sacks and a forced fumble. Now surrounded by some of the top stalwarts in the nation, Campbell could rocket to the top of most linebackers' rankings.
29. Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
The Oregon Ducks have never been known for their stout defensive play, but Bryce Boettcher could change that in 2025. The Eugene native burst onto the scene with 94 tackles last season, a benchmark that should inflate higher this season. Boettcher excels in pass-coverage looks, without compromising his downhill speed.
30. Samuel Omosigho, Oklahoma
Samuel Omosigho has yet to truly make his impact felt, but 2025 could be the year it all comes together for the Oklahoma Sooners linebacker. As a sophomore, Omosigho recorded 40 tackles and a forced fumble, but seemingly got better as the season progressed. Now heading into his junior campaign, Omosigho is expected to be a catalyst on the Sooners' defense.
31. Dion Crawford - Buffalo Bulls
After missing the entire 2023 campaign, Dion Crawford was back with a vengeance last season. The Buffalo Bulls linebacker recorded a staggering 8.5 sacks to add to his 58 tackles. Factoring in his pass coverage skills and downhill tenacity, an even better campaign is anticipated in 2025.
32. Joseph Sipp Jr. - Kansas Jayhawks
Joseph Sipp Jr. is making the move to a Power 4 conference. Formerly of the Bowling Green Falcons, Sipp Jr. entered the transfer portal this offseason and signed on with the Kansas Jayhawks. The linebacker will be looking to eclipse 73 tackles for the third straight year and build off his career-best 7.0 sacks from last season.
33. Rasheem Biles - Pittsburgh Panthers
The Pittsburgh Panthers' defense was tragically underappreciated last season. Count Rasheem Biles among the players hoping to remedy that in 2025. As a sophomore, Biles totaled 81 tackles, 6.0 sacks, and nine passes defensed, highlighting his well-rounded skillset as a linebacker.
34. Cameron Whitfield - Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns
Cameron Whitfield is another Group of 5 linebacker to watch closely this season. Last year, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns' product recorded 36 tackles, 6.0 sacks, and two forced fumbles while starting only eight contests. Now an anticipated full-time starter, Whitfield should see a substantive increase in production.
35. Kam Robinson, Virginia Cavaliers
Kam Robinson is one of the most prolific outside linebackers in the country. In two seasons with the Virginia Cavaliers, Robinson has totaled 135 tackles, 6.0 sacks, three interceptions, and a forced fumble. Entering his upper-classman years, we should see Robinson flourish as an anchor on the Cavaliers' defense.
1. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas
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The former freshman All-American followed up with a monster sophomore season for the Longhorns. Anthony Hill Jr. started in all 15 games for Texas, making 113 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. He forced four fumbles and intercepted a pass. Hill is the country's top linebacker and is just a junior.

Texas 2025 Win Total: 9.5 (Over -210/Under +162)

Ranking the Top 35 College Football Linebackers for 2025

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