CFB Recruiting 200: Top 13 Outside Linebackers
After thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report recruiting analysts Sanjay Kirpalani and Tyler Donohue have graded the top 200 players in the 247Sports Composite Rankings and provided in-depth analysis. As national signing day draws near, Bleacher Report provides a position-by-position breakdown of the best college football recruits. Today, we present the Top Offensive Tackles.
Other Positions
The latest chapter of Bleacher Report’s CFB 200 series will focus on a position that has transformed markedly in recent years: outside linebacker.
Players at that position now have to be physical enough to be stout against the run and athletic enough to bring heat off the edge as pass-rushers or even drop into coverage against receivers and tight ends.
Admittedly, that package of skills is difficult to find.
However, the 2015 class of linebackers—headlined by 5-star Texas commitment Malik Jefferson—is filled with deep and athletic talent who can be effective against the run and the pass.
Bleacher Report broke down the 2015 outside-linebacker class, grading them on their abilities in key metrics such as tackling (25 points), strength (20 points), run defense (15 points), pass coverage (15 points) and football IQ (25 points). The cumulative figures from those traits resulted in our overall grade of each prospect.
How does the 2015 group of outside linebackers stack up to one another?
*All analysis from Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Sanjay Kirpalani. All rankings courtesy of 247Sports Composite Rankings.
13. 4-Star Richard McBryde
1 of 13Height/Weight: 6’2”, 210 pounds
High School: Charles Henderson High, Troy, Alabama
247 Ranking: No. 13 OLB/No. 192 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Committed to: Auburn on July 26
Richard McBryde committed to Auburn in July over offers from Alabama, Florida and Kentucky among others.
He’s been a solid commitment, but the firing of defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson opened the door for schools such as LSU and Florida to secure visits from him in January, per Sonny Shipp of Geaux247 (subscription required).
Still, it would be a monumental upset if McBryde landed anywhere other than the Plains when his decision is set in stone.
Bleacher Report Analysis
McBryde is an explosive linebacker, especially when he’s coming downhill against the run. He’s also adept at coming off the edge as a blitzer in pass-rush situations. He plays bigger than his listed size, yet he has the quickness of a lean safety when operating in space. It will be interesting to see if he ends up playing linebacker or fills a hybrid role such as the “star” position in a nickel defense.
12. 4-Star Darrell Williams
2 of 13Height/Weight: 6’3”, 226 lbs
High School: Hoover High, Birmingham, Ala.
247 Ranking: No. 12 OLB/No. 177 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to: Auburn on May 7
Darrell Williams committed to Auburn over offers from Alabama, Florida State and Mississippi State, among others.
However, he paid a number of visits to Alabama and his recruitment could get interesting if the Tide begin to make a push for him.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Williams is another player who has some hybrid characteristics in his game. If he continues to grow and add weight, he could eventually land at defensive end. As a linebacker, he is a physical defender who has great instincts and is a sound tackler in space.
11. 4-Star Adonis Thomas
3 of 13Height/Weight: 6’4”, 229 lbs
High School: Central Gwinnett High, Lawrenceville, Ga.
247 Ranking: No. 11 OLB/No. 171 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 92/100
Committed to: Alabama on Dec. 8, 2014
Adonis Thomas shocked some in the recruiting community when he committed to Florida over Alabama back in August.
However, as the Gators slumped during the season and Will Muschamp's future grew cloudier, many Florida commitments started to look around—including Thomas.
Eventually, Thomas committed to the Tide—who remained aggressive in their pursuit of Thomas after his initial commitment—in December.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Thomas’ best asset is his versatility. What separates him from other linebackers in the 2015 class is his ability in pass coverage. He can run with speedy receivers and he’s also adept at coming off the edge in pass-rush situations. Look for him to play in one of the inside-linebacker spots at Alabama, similar to the role that former Tide All-American C.J. Mosley occupied during his time in Tuscaloosa.
10. 4-Star Ben Humphreys
4 of 13Height/Weight: 6’1”, 200 lbs
High School: Mater Dei High, Santa Ana, Calif.
247 Ranking: No. 10 OLB/No. 163 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Committed to: Duke on July 19
Littered among the offers from Power Five schools coveting Ben Humphreys was an offer from Yale—which speaks to the intelligence the 6’1”, 200-pounder has on and off the field.
Humphreys selected Duke over Arizona State, Miami and Wisconsin, among others.
However, his family has strong connections to Stanford. Both of his parents are former Cardinal athletes, while his sister currently plays volleyball for the Cardinal, according to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Humphreys displayed his athleticism by doubling as a receiver for his high school team. He is a versatile prospect who can come off the edge as a pass-rusher in certain situations, or he can drop into coverage and stick with receivers and running backs. He has great instincts and he flies to the ball when he’s in pursuit.
9. 4-Star Josh Barajas
5 of 13Height/Weight: 6’3”, 215 lbs
High School: Andrean High, Merrillville, Ind.
247 Ranking: No. 9 OLB/No. 138 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 88/100
Committed to: Notre Dame on May 30
The recruitment of Josh Barajas took off last February when he began collecting offers from the likes of Michigan, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Penn State and Virginia Tech, among others.
He committed to Penn State in late March. However, he decommitted two months later in favor of Notre Dame.
He’s stuck with the Irish since his pledge.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Barajas is a tough and physical linebacker who does an excellent job of filling gaps, shedding blocks and disrupting running plays. The Indiana native can also come off the edge and bring the heat to quarterbacks in pass-rush situations. He’s a solid all-around athlete. However, pass coverage is one area where he will have to improve in order to be effective as an outside ‘backer at the next level.
8. 4-Star Jeffery Holland
6 of 13Height/Weight: 6’2”, 230 lbs
High School: Trinity Christian Academy, Jacksonville, Fla.
247 Ranking: No. 8 OLB/No. 116 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Uncommitted: Considering Auburn and Florida
Jeffery Holland is one of several stud recruits from Trinity Christian Academy, joining the likes of Kevin Toliver II and Kendrick Norton as prospects who are likely to land in the SEC.
It’s shaping up to be a battle between Auburn and Florida for Holland, who has been a frequent visitor to both schools over the last year.
Bleacher Report Analysis
I saw Holland live this season, and he immediately stuck out because he was playing receiver and running back at 230 pounds. At linebacker, he’s an athletic specimen with above-average lateral quickness. He’s physical against the run, and he has value as an edge-rusher on passing downs. He’s still raw as a defender, but he possesses a lot of potential to develop into a dominant linebacker in college.
7. 4-Star Anthony Wheeler
7 of 13Height/Weight: 6’2”, 225 pounds
High School: Skyline High, Dallas, Texas
247 Ranking: No. 7 OLB/No. 74 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to: Texas on Jan. 2
Anthony Wheeler had offers from Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas, among others, but his recruitment came down to the annual participants in the Red River Shootout.
Wheeler committed to Texas during the Under Armour All-America Game.
As Jeff Howe of Horns247 notes, he adds to a deep crop of linebackers who are heading to Austin as part of the 2015 cycle.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Wheeler excels in run support, as he has a knack for diagnosing plays and flying to the ball in pursuit. He’s great at shedding blocks and also packs a punch when he tackles. His skill set seems to favor him playing inside at the college level, especially considering his movements are not as fluid in pass coverage.
6. 4-Star John Houston
8 of 13Height/Weight: 6’3”, 211 lbs
High School: Junipero Serra High, Gardena, Calif.
247 Ranking: No. 6 OLB/No. 49 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Uncommitted: Considering USC, Oregon, Arizona State, Miami, Oklahoma
John Houston has a visit to USC remaining on his itinerary for January.
He’s already made official visits to Oregon, Miami, Arizona State and Oklahoma.
The Trojans—who have signed standouts such as Marqise Lee, Robert Woods and Adoree' Jackson from Junipero Serra High School in recent years—are the presumed favorite to land Houston.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Houston is a rangy linebacker with excellent speed from sideline to sideline. He’s a sure tackler in open space and he’s comfortable in pass coverage because of his length and athleticism. He’s a little light at 211 pounds, but if he can add some weight while maintaining his explosiveness, he can be a top-flight defender in college.
5. 4-Star Roquan Smith
9 of 13Height/Weight: 6’2”, 205 lbs
High School: Macon County High, Montezuma, Ga.
247 Ranking: No. 5 OLB/No. 47 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Uncommitted: Considering Georgia, Ole Miss, LSU, USC, UCLA
Roquan Smith is one of the nation’s top defenders still weighing his options.
The Georgia native has official visits scheduled in January with LSU, Ole Miss and UCLA.
USC is also in the mix, but it would be a shock to see him land anywhere other than Georgia on signing day.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Smith’s athleticism really stands out when watching his tape. He’s listed at 205 pounds, but he plays more physical than his size indicates. He has great short-area burst and takes good pursuit angles when moving laterally. He’s also comfortable dropping into coverage as a pass-defender. Although you would like to see him add a little size, Smith has the tools to be an elite outside linebacker in college.
4. 4-Star Porter Gustin
10 of 13Height/Weight: 6’5”, 240 lbs
High School: Salem Hills High, Salem, Utah
247 Ranking: No. 4 OLB/No. 41 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 93/100
Uncommitted: Considering USC, Notre Dame and Arizona State
Porter Gustin is the No. 2 prospect out of the State of Utah. Schools such as Arizona State, Notre Dame and USC are high on his list.
He visited all three during the fall, with USC being the last of his stops in late November.
The Trojans are the heavy favorite to land the U.S. Army All-American.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Gustin is a supreme athlete who also played quarterback for his high school team. He’s raw on the defensive side of the ball, but he has all the tools—size, athleticism, speed and agility—to be a force as a linebacker. He’s versatile enough to play inside or outside linebacker, but his development as a pass-defender will likely determine his eventual landing spot at the next level.
3. 5-Star Osa Masina
11 of 13Height/Weight: 6’4”, 230 lbs
High School: Brighton High, Salt Lake City, Utah
247 Ranking: No. 3 OLB/No. 35 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 93/100
Uncommitted: Considering USC, UCLA, Arizona State and Utah
Osa Masina is another talented linebacker who is still available heading down the stretch toward signing day.
The Utah native is strongly considering Pac-12 schools such as Arizona State, UCLA, Utah and USC.
He’s wide open at this point, which means his recruitment will be worth monitoring.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Masina flashes great instincts and the ability to diagnose run plays. He also has some pass-rushing skills as an edge-rusher and he’s adept at blitzing from a variety of angles. He’s got the versatility to play either inside or outside. If he can prove to be effective in coverage, he will likely end up playing on the outside.
2. 5-Star Justin Hilliard
12 of 13Height/Weight: 6’0”, 225 lbs
High School: St. Xavier High, Cincinnati, Ohio
247 Ranking: No. 2 OLB/No. 34 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Committed to: Ohio State on July 2
The foundation for Ohio State’s 2015 class was laid when Justin Hilliard and Jashon Cornell committed to the Buckeyes on the same day in early July.
Hilliard selected the Buckeyes over Notre Dame, Iowa and Michigan, among others.
He’s been one of the key cogs in helping the Buckeyes build a class rated as the best group in the Big Ten.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Hilliard plays with an aggressive mentality on every snap. He’s physical at the point of attack and he takes blocks head-on, showing the ability to disengage himself and flow to the ball in short order. He shines as a blitzer and has decent pass-rush skills coming off the edge on passing downs. He’s another versatile talent who complements fellow Buckeyes ‘backers such as Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan well in Columbus.
1. 5-Star Malik Jefferson
13 of 13Height/Weight: 6’3”, 215 lbs
High School: Poteet High, Mesquite, Texas
247 Ranking: No. 1 OLB/No. 10 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 96/100
Committed to: Texas on Dec. 19
Malik Jefferson represents the biggest victory for Charlie Strong on the recruiting trail since he’s been in Austin.
Jefferson and DeAndre McNeal—his prep teammate and 4-star athlete—both chose Texas over Texas A&M and UCLA, among others.
Jefferson won the 2014 high school Butkus Award as the nation’s top prep linebacker.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Jefferson’s versatility sets him apart as the nation’s premier linebacker in the 2015 class. He’s explosive in pass-rushing situations and he stands out in pass coverage due to his ability to match up with speedy offensive skill players. He’s physical in run support and flashes great instincts in reading his keys. Overall, Jefferson has the tools to be a potential instant-impact performer for the Longhorns next fall.
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