CFB Recruiting 200: Top 7 Inside 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. Here we present the Top Inside Linebackers.
Other Positions
Inside linebacker is a position that has undergone a face-lift in terms of responsibilities and its value to a defense.
Players at that spot still have to be physical forces against the run. However, they have to be athletic enough to drop into coverage on passing downs in order to be on the field for three downs.
There are no 5-star prospects among this group, but there are still a handful of inside linebackers in the 2015 class who have the potential to be elite talents at the next level—headlined by 4-star Mississippi commit Leo Lewis.
Bleacher Report broke down the 2015 inside linebacker class, scoring recruits on important traits such as tackling (35 points), pass-rushing (15 points), run defense (30 points) and pass coverage (20 points). The cumulative figures from those traits resulted in our overall grade of each prospect.
How does the 2015 crop of inside linebackers measure up?
*All analysis from Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analyst Sanjay Kirpalani. All rankings courtesy of 247Sports Composite Rankings.
7. 4-Star Cameron Smith
1 of 7Height/Weight: 6'3"/225 lbs
High School: Granite Bay High School, Granite Bay, Calif.
247Sports Ranking: No. 7 ILB/No. 189 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Committed to USC on May 21, 2014
Cameron Smith's recruitment picked up when USC made an offer to him in February 2014.
Schools such as Arizona, Louisville, Oregon and Washington were among those to follow suit, but Smith committed to the Trojans in May.
According to Justin Hopkins of 247Sports, Smith was one of three USC pledges to sign financial aid paperwork—a signal of the strength of his commitment to the Trojans.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Smith has the size and frame of the prototypical middle linebacker. His speed is listed at 4.98 seconds in the 40-yard dash, but he plays quicker than that on film. He's athletic enough to cover zones in the middle of the field and is at his best coming downhill against the run.
6. 4-Star Asmar Bilal
2 of 7Height/Weight: 6'2"/205 lbs
High School: Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis, Ind.
247Sports Ranking: No. 6 ILB/No. 183 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to Notre Dame on Oct. 16, 2014
By the spring of 2014, Asmar Bilal had offers from powers such as Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech, among others.
In the end, he chose to commit to the Irish over the Wolverines.
Bilal combined to record 261 tackles and 10.5 sacks over his final two prep seasons.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Bilal shows great instincts in diagnosing run plays and closes on the ball with great quickness. He also has the athleticism and agility to drop into coverage and be effective. He's not as big as most prototypical middle linebackers. While he may need to add some weight, he already plays with the tenacity and toughness needed to be effective in the middle.
5. 4-Star Darrin Kirkland Jr.
3 of 7Height/Weight: 6'1"/223 lbs
High School: Lawrence Central High School, Indianapolis, Ind.
247Sports Ranking: No. 5 ILB/No. 163 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to Tennessee on Dec. 15, 2014
Darrin Kirkland Jr. is another blue-chip recruit who initially committed to Michigan before backing off that pledge in November.
After reopening his recruitment, he narrowed his choices down to Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas before selecting the Volunteers in mid-December.
He's already enrolled in Knoxville and will go through spring practice with the Vols in hopes of solidifying a spot in the linebacker rotation next fall.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Kirkland is comfortable dropping into zone coverage and does a great job of reading the quarterback's eyes and breaking on passes thrown in his vicinity. He's also great at busting through gaps on run blitzes.
His athleticism helps him avoid blocks from linemen flowing to the second level, but he's also physical enough to shed blocks. He's a sound tackler in space, as well. His skill set should help him become a contributor early in his Tennessee career.
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4. 4-Star Jahvoni Simmons
4 of 7Height/Weight: 6'1"/225 lbs
High School: Ocean Lakes High School, Virginia Beach, Va.
247Sports Ranking: No. 4 ILB/No. 152 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 92/100
Committed to Virginia on Aug. 5, 2014
In-state schools Virginia and Virginia Tech were among the first to offer Jahvoni Simmons late in 2012.
Powers such as Alabama, Clemson, Oregon and Ohio State followed suit, but he committed to longtime favorite Virginia in August 2014.
The Under Armour All-American has never wavered from his pledge to the Cavaliers.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Simmons also played tight end in high school, which highlights his athleticism. That offensive background is evident when he's dropping into coverage, and he's speedy enough to run down the middle of the field against receiving tight ends.
He flows well to the ball in run pursuit and packs a punch as a big hitter.
3. 4-Star Josh Smith
5 of 7Height/Weight: 6'3"/228 lbs
High School: Oakland High, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
247Sports Ranking: No. 3 ILB/No. 142 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Committed to Vanderbilt on July 8, 2014
Josh Smith picked up his first offer from Vanderbilt back in March of 2013.
After picking up subsequent offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn and Duke among others, Smith committed to the Commodores last summer.
However, schools such as Georgia, Oklahoma and Oregon have not given up on Smith. He's scheduled to see the Sooners and the Ducks in January, which means that Derek Mason and his staff will have to fight it out until the end to secure his services.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Smith is a hard hitter who shows good instincts coming downhill against the run. He's also got the speed and agility to chase plays from sideline to sideline and drop into coverage. He's athletic enough to play on the outside. Overall, Smith's frame and his best attributes make him an intriguing option to plug into the middle of a defense at the next level.
2. 4-Star Ricky DeBerry
6 of 7Height/Weight: 6’3”, 240 lbs
High School: Atlee High, Mechanicsville, Va.
247 Ranking: No. 2 ILB/No. 86 overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Committed to: Oklahoma on Dec. 19
Ricky DeBerry ended a high-profile recruitment last month by choosing Oklahoma over the likes of Alabama, Michigan State, Ohio State, Tennessee and Texas A&M, among others.
The Sooners secured his first official visit back in September and it was enough to get the Virginia native to head to Norman.
Bleacher Report Analysis
DeBerry has the frame of a defensive end, and that’s a spot he frequented at the prep level. He's physical enough to be a middle linebacker but athletic enough to play on the outside at the college level. If he can display the ability to drop into coverage, DeBerry will bring a versatile skill set in the middle.
1. 4-Star Leo Lewis
7 of 7Height/Weight: 6'3"/225 lbs
High School: Brookhaven High School, Brookhaven, Miss.
247Sports Ranking: No. 1 ILB/No. 63 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 94/100
Committed to Ole Miss on Sept. 23, 2014
Leo Lewis has already had a tumultuous recruiting process that began with offers from Ole Miss and Mississippi State back in November 2013.
However, he committed to Alabama during a visit for the Tide's spring game last year. He subsequently decommitted from that pledge in July and made a surprise commitment to Ole Miss in September.
Even with that pledge, it's likely that he's still not done with the recruiting process.
He has an official visit scheduled to Texas A&M in January. However, Mississippi State seems to be the biggest threat to flip Lewis, as evidenced by his Crystal Ball page.
Bleacher Report Analysis
It may be a down year in terms of quantity at inside linebacker, but Lewis is a potential game-changer for the lucky school that lands him.
He has the athleticism and instincts to play inside or outside. He's quicker than the typical inside linebacker and is equally effective against the run and the pass. He's also a ferocious hitter.
Overall, Lewis has the attributes to be an excellent middle linebacker at the next level.
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