B/R CFB 250: Top 19 Inside Linebackers
Bleacher Report's CFB 250 is an annual ranking of the best players in college football, regardless of NFL potential. Through interviews with B/R Experts Matt Miller, Michael Felder, Barrett Sallee and Adam Kramer, authors Brian Leigh and Brian Pedersen have studied, ranked and graded the top athletes in the country, narrowed that list to 250 and sorted by position. Today, Brian Leigh presents the Top 19 Inside Linebackers.
Other CFB 250 Positions
College inside linebackers come in all shapes and sizes.
There are 4-3 inside linebackers, 3-4 inside linebackers, even 4-2-5 and 5-2 inside linebackers. The variance of college formations makes this a mixed and distinct position.
It also makes it a crucial one.
But before we dig into that, a disclaimer: The players who follow were graded as college prospects, not as NFL prospects. If they get the job done at this level, who cares how they project to the pros?
This is all about college performance.
Note: If two players finished with the same grade, the authors made a subjective call on which player they prefer.
19-15. Alexander, Kiser, Burgess, Kwiatkoski, Norris
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19. Dominique Alexander, Oklahoma
Run Defense: 35/40; Pass Rush: 21/30; Coverage: 25/30
For the second straight season, Dominique Alexander led Oklahoma in tackles. His per-game average dropped from last year, but he still earned All-Big 12 honors for his well-rounded contributions. Although he's undersized (6'0", 220 lbs), he makes the most of his frame and flows naturally to the ball. He'll never be the type to shed big blockers, but that's his only real flaw.
18. Micah Kiser, Virginia
Run Defense: 33/40; Pass Rush: 25/30; Coverage: 24/30
Despite its lack of wins, Virginia always fields a solid defense. This year's unit took a step back from 2014, but thanks to Micah Kiser, that step was minimal. With great size (6'2", 240 lbs) and burst, he penetrates holes and contributes all over the field. He led the Cavaliers with 117 tackles and also posted 7.5 sacks.
17. James Burgess, Louisville
Run Defense: 35/40; Pass Rush: 21/30; Coverage: 26/30
As a senior, James Burgess produced his third straight quality season. Louisville took a step back on the whole, but Burgess posted a career-high 92 tackles, up from 71 last year and 72 two years ago. He created fewer plays in the backfield and in coverage, which is why he dropped a few points from the preseason list. But leaving him off entirely would have been wrong.
16. Nick Kwiatkoski, West Virginia
Run Defense: 36/40; Pass Rush: 20/30; Coverage: 26/30
For the first time in what feels like forever, West Virginia's defense carried the load this season. Nick Kwiatkoski was at the center of everything, leading the Mountaineers in tackles and organizing teammates with pre-snap reads. Despite the loss of All-American safety Karl Joseph, who tore his ACL in early October, Kwiatkoski helped the defense stay strong.
15. Jared Norris, Utah
Run Defense: 36/40; Pass Rush: 21/30; Coverage: 26/30
Jared Norris brought the lumber for one of 2015's best defenses. His stats don't jump off the page, but he was always around the ball and played a crucial role in calling pre-snap adjustments. When he missed the USC game with an injury, Utah's defense allowed 42 points and suffered its first defeat of the year. The Utes were just a different team without him.
14-11. Jewell, Forrest, Kelsey, Beckwith
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14. Josey Jewell, Iowa
Run Defense: 35/40; Pass Rush: 21/30; Coverage: 27/30
Defense carried Iowa to a 12-0 regular-season record, a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game and nearly a trip to the College Football Playoff. The sum of its parts was greater than the whole, but certain parts stood out for their production. Linebacker Josey Jewell was at the top of those standout parts, having finished the regular season with 119 tackles, three interceptions and six pass breakups. His all-around ability helped the Hawkeyes account for losing star defensive end Drew Ott.
13. Josh Forrest, Kentucky
Run Defense: 35/40; Pass Rush: 23/30; Coverage: 25/30
Josh Forrest has carried his weight—and then some—in trying to turn Kentucky around. It hasn't been successful in the win column, but of all the things to blame for that, he's last. He finished his senior season with 93 tackles, six tackles for loss, two interceptions, five pass breakups and countless miscellaneous impact plays. With great size (6'3", 255 lbs) and production, he'll draw a long look from NFL scouts.
12. Keith Kelsey, Louisville
Run Defense: 36/40; Pass Rush: 24/30; Coverage: 24/30
Keith Kelsey led Louisville with 100 regular-season tackles. He's a physical downhill run-stopper who pairs well with teammate James Burgess, more of an all-around linebacker, on the inside of Louisville's defense. Burgess is the leader and mentor, but Kelsey's play has elevated the past season-and-a-half. He is one of many future pros to come through the Cardinals' ranks.
11. Kendell Beckwith, LSU
Run Defense: 36/40; Pass Rush: 23/30; Coverage: 25/30
He's not the prototypical LSU linebacker, but Kendell Beckwith has made the most of his abilities and proved himself a capable leader. He's a big-bodied run defender (6'2", 252 lbs) whose instincts need work but whose physical presence sets the tone for a blue-collar unit. Even with the change in defensive coordinator, he kept the Tigers organized and efficient in 2015.
10. Antonio Morrison, Florida
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B/R Expert Scouting
"I wouldn't call him undersized, but he's more athletic than thick. And as a result, he's the guy who really has that defense playing the way it does. Florida doesn't like huge linebackers, and he proved this year that, regardless of the coordinator, the Gators' system works."
—Barrett Sallee
Run Defense
Antonio Morrison led Florida with 97 regular-season tackles. He had five games with double-digit tackles, including 16 against Ole Miss and 11 against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game. Size (6'1", 229 lbs), strength and speed make him a dangerous threat up the middle, which is scary because he can still be so much better. He needs to improve his tackling and, more importantly, his instincts.
Pass Rush
Morrison can rush the passer, although it's not something Florida often asks of him. He did look better this season, posting 2.5 sacks as a senior after two his first three years, which is something he can build on in predraft workouts. He is not long and rangy, but his motor, which so often becomes important on broken plays, is one of the best in college football.
Coverage
Morrison is far from a coverage linebacker. He struggled in man as a junior, and although he improved as a senior, he still had occasional breakdowns. He's better in zone and has the raw tools to become a three-down linebacker, but for now, he is better on standard downs.
Overall
After shredding his knee in the Birmingham Bowl and undergoing multiple offseason surgeries, Morrison defied biology and returned to play well in 2015. His recovery, leadership and mojo make him an easy player to root for, even if his game needs fine-tuning. What he sometimes lacks in instincts, he makes up for in heart and effort; no one will ever accuse him of playing soft.
9. Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State
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B/R Expert Scouting
"Prototype interior linebacker who checks every box. He gets downhill and does not avoid blocks; he plays his rules and is effective in coverage. There is not much more you could ask for."
—Michael Felder
Run Defense
Raekwon McMillan led Ohio State with 114 regular-season tackles. Only 2.5 were non-sack tackles for loss, but as soon as rushers crossed the line of scrimmage, he came downhill and popped them. He has rare burst and quickness for a player with such natural size (6'2", 240 lbs) and strength. As he learns to more consistently stay in position, he will grow into an All-American candidate.
Pass Rush
McMillan is undeveloped as a pass-rusher. He posted one sack against Western Michigan and a one-yard half-sack against Illinois but otherwise failed to take down a quarterback. He did add five QB hurries, but for the most part, the stats tell the story. He fights off blocks in space but gets congested near the line.
Coverage
Fortunately, despite needing work in the pass rush, McMillan makes himself useful on passing downs. He does this with superior coverage skills, which he developed as a backup last season. He's smart in zone and deceptively fluid when he turns his hips and runs. He bites on the occasional play-fake, but that's a fix that should come with experience.
Overall
Curtis Grant started for the 2014 Buckeyes, but McMillan forced his way onto the field. Then a true freshman, he was too good to waste away on the sideline. This year, with Grant out of the picture, he started and showed flashes of dominance. With Joshua Perry leaving and Darron Lee likely to follow, he will carry an even bigger load next season.
8. Blake Martinez, Stanford
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B/R Expert Scouting
"It's such a cliche, but really…he's just so smart. He's never out of position. I don't think he's a great athlete, but his instincts always push him to the ball."
—Matt Miller
Run Defense
Stanford lost a ton along the defensive front seven, with Blake Martinez the main returning starter. The unit took a predictable step back, but Martinez kept that regression to a minimum. He fought and weaved through holes against the run, using strength and speed to rack up 131 regular-season tackles. He's built like an NFL linebacker (6'2", 245 lbs) and has pro-level instincts, too.
Pass Rush
Martinez took a step back in the pass rush, posting one sack as a senior in the regular season after 4.5 sacks last season. However, that had more to do with how Stanford used him—relying on him to cover so much ground in the middle—than a noticeable regression in his skill set. He can still get to the quarterback when needed, even if it's not his strongest area.
Coverage
Martinez is savvy in coverage and has a knack for playing the ball. With four interceptions and seven pass breakups over the past two seasons, he is not a linebacker offenses look to target. His hips get a little stiff in man coverage, but he sinks to the proper spots in zone and can read a quarterback's eyes. There are better ways to attack Stanford's pass defense.
Overall
Martinez played a huge role in Stanford's Pac-12 title and Rose Bowl win. The Cardinal front seven looked nothing like previous units on paper but played well enough to keep the team in games. Martinez's ball-hawk attitude and leadership made a difference behind a thin defensive line. He continued—and in some ways added to—the modern tradition of great Stanford linebackers.
7. Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt
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B/R Expert Scouting
"People don't talk about him, but he's the best player on that defense—and it's actually a really good defense! [Vanderbilt head coach] Derek Mason likes athletic linebackers who can move, so he and Cunningham are a perfect marriage."
—Barrett Sallee
Run Defense
Zach Cunningham led Vanderbilt with 103 tackles, including 12 non-sack tackles for loss. He started the year with nine tackles in three games, but from there, he flipped a switch and averaged more than 10 tackles per game. Built long and skinny like an outside linebacker (6'4", 230 lbs), Cunningham excels on the inside of Vanderbilt's aggressive 3-4 scheme. His burst through the gap and speed to the edge make him perfect for that role.
Pass Rush
When he's on, Cunningham looks like an expert pass-rusher. The aforementioned length helps him disengage blockers, as he did in logging four sacks against SEC opponents—Ole Miss, South Carolina, Florida and Texas A&M—and one half-sack against Houston in 2015. However, he failed to record any sacks or QB hurries outside of those stats just listed. If he shows up each week and learns to dominate inferior opponents, he could post giant numbers next season.
Coverage
Used more in the pass rush than most inside linebackers, Cunningham still features often in coverage. He is still finding his feet and learning how to read quarterbacks' eyes and tight ends' routes, but the size, length and speed allow him to recover and alleviate mistakes. Here more than other phases, he is still a work in progress. But based on his performance, that's a compliment.
Overall
Despite a banal offense, Vanderbilt's defense showed great promise in 2015. The Commodores finished 2-6 in conference, but Cunningham earned—and rightfully so—a spot on the All-SEC first team. His improvement mirrored that of his entire unit, and his future looks bright under head coach/defensive guru Derek Mason. You may have missed his impact this fall, but there's a good chance you hear his name this summer when the Preseason All-American hype begins.
6. Anthony Walker, Northwestern
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B/R Expert Scouting
"The kid is a tackling machine. He sees the play happen and gets on his horse from the inside out to go get the ball-carrier down."
—Michael Felder
Run Defense
Anthony Walker anchored the middle of Northwestern's run defense, raising his game and leading the Wildcats to an unexpected 10-win season. He led the team with 113 tackles and made a living in the offensive backfield, posting an absurd 16.5 non-sack tackles for loss. His instincts are off the charts for a redshirt sophomore, and he also has the speed to finish plays. That's a hard combination to teach.
Pass Rush
Walker chipped in with four sacks this season, and all four came against Power Five opponents. Those are respectable numbers, but Walker still has room to grow. His instincts diagnosing protections lag behind his instincts in run support. If and when those click and he can calculate the best route to the quarterback, his explosiveness could make him a terror.
Coverage
Here's another spot where Walker's speed can make him special. He has size (6'1", 235 lbs) to cover tight ends and wheels to track them deep or across the middle. He can also shoot to the flat and wreck a screen pass or a checkdown. He intercepted one pass this season, and as a freshman, he picked off Penn State's Christian Hackenberg and (at the time) Notre Dame's Everett Golson.
Overall
Of all Pat Fitzgerald's creations, Walker might be the best. The former two-time Bednarik Award winner, College Football Hall of Famer and Northwestern head coach has mentored his newest protege into a wrecking ball. Like Fitzgerald, Walker plays with his heart on his sleeve and personifies an overachieving unit. No matter where you look, he's making plays.
5. Nick Vigil, Utah State
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B/R Expert Scouting
"Relentless is how I'd describe him. He's all over the field and does that dual-threat, running back-linebacker thing where he's always making plays. He's probably one of my 10 favorite players to watch."
—Matt Miller
Run Defense
Nick Vigil finished No. 2 in the country and No. 1 among inside linebackers with 144 tackles this season. Add that to his 123 tackles from last season, and it's clear what type of animal we're dealing with. He moonlights at running back and understands how to read blocks and holes, which gives him a tactical advantage on the ground. He also has that running back speed to track plays in open space.
Pass Rush
Vigil posted bigger stats last season, when he recorded seven sacks and six QB hurries, than he did in 2015. His numbers regressed to three sacks and four QB hurries, but much of that concerns how Utah State used him. With edge-rusher Kyler Fackrell back from injury, Vigil focused more on guarding the middle of the field than attacking the quarterback. But that doesn't mean he forgot how to attack.
Coverage
That he moonlights on offense says a lot about Vigil's comfort in space. He is good in man coverage and has the size (6'2", 235 lbs) and speed to track all types of targets. He is less advanced in zone coverage, where his instincts and technique need refinement. There's a chance he never learns those things, in which case there's a ceiling on his potential, but in any case, he is not a liability.
Overall
Buried, like all Group of Five prospects, on the periphery of the national radar, Vigil has enjoyed two dominant seasons. He's the Mountain West version of Myles Jack—a two-way star who only plays offense when necessary. But even when he doesn't carry the football, his running back instincts play a key role in his performance. It's always good to know your enemy.
4. Tyler Matakevich, Temple
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B/R Expert Scouting
"I think he's a classic overproducer, and at the next level, that always scares me. He's always in the right place at the right time, but I'm not as in love with him as other people."
—Matt Miller
Run Defense
Numbers do the talking for Tyler Matakevich, who just recorded his fourth straight 100-tackle season. Crazy as it sounds, that sentence actually undersells his impact, as two of those seasons, including this past one, featured more than 135 tackles. Stats aren't everything, but in this case, they highlight a rare nose for the football on running plays. Like a basketball player who can tell which way a rebound will bounce off the rim, Matakevich intuits the best route to the running back.
Pass Rush
After posting 2.5 sacks in his first three seasons, Matakevich nearly doubled that number with 4.5 sacks as a senior. Those numbers are inflated by a three-sack game against Penn State in the season opener, but that's still nice for an inside linebacker. He lacks the burst needed to rush consistently off the edge, but he's slippery and has the motor to cause problems up the middle.
Coverage
Coverage was a question before the season, but Matakevich improved on a down-to-down basis and as a playmaker. He intercepted five passes in Temple's first eight games, showing instincts and ball skills he lacked in previous years. When he does allow a catch, he is always, predictably, in position to minimize the damage with a tackle. He might be too clunky to play on NFL passing downs, but in college, he got the job done and then some.
Overall
Since tackles became official in 2005, only two FBS players have recorded more than Matakevich. One of those two, Luke Kuechly, is the best inside linebacker in the world right now; the other, Marcus McGraw, failed to play an NFL down. Accordingly, Matakevich will draw a sharp line on NFL draft boards, but no one can deny his college production. And that's what this list is about.
3. Steven Daniels, Boston College
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B/R Expert Scouting
"He's small, but he's always around the football. He tracks the ball well, whether that's inside or outside the tackles, and he doesn't get moved off his spot, which really surprised me."
—Matt Miller
Run Defense
Boston College finished with the No. 2 run defense in college football, per Football Outsiders' S&P+ ratings. No player did more to get it there than Steven Daniels, whose 82 tackles included 10 non-sack tackles for loss and whose impact extended far beyond the box score. With impressive bulk (6'0", 243 lbs) and power, Daniels plays the hammer as well as any college linebacker, taking on blocks and executing run fits to set up his teammates for tackles.
Pass Rush
Daniels posted six sacks in 12 games, including five in conference play. His burst off the line and leverage became an issue for offensive linemen, who couldn't seem to stop him from shooting gaps. He lacks the bounce and range of pass-rushing outside linebackers, but he's great for an interior rusher.
Coverage
The weakest part of Daniels' game—though not necessarily a "weakness"—is coverage. He has stiff hips and is not the most fluid athlete. This limits him from covering angle and drag routes, which are crucial for an inside linebacker. He holds his own despite that and showed up with a couple of big pass breakups, but he'll never be a standout nickel or dime 'backer.
Overall
Of all Boston College's breakout defenders (and there were a lot), none impressed more than Daniels in 2015. He couldn't drag the Eagles to a bowl game, but he gave them a unit worth fearing. NFL scouts might doubt him because he's short and won't run well at the scouting combine, but tape speaks louder than measurables. He won't get drafted early, but he'll stick on an NFL roster.
2. Reggie Ragland, Alabama
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B/R Expert Scouting
"More than just a really fierce hitter. He's great against the run but fast enough to hang with tight ends—even quicker than some of his predecessors. He's really just an all-around monster."
—Barrett Sallee
Run Defense
Reggie Ragland patrols the middle of the nation's best run defense. That is not a coincidence. His football instincts are high, as he picks the right gap and does the dirty work to free up teammates. He is also built like a rock (6'2", 252 lbs) and gets downhill to fill lanes or make plays on his own. He's not the fastest inside linebacker but has underrated speed to track the edge.
Pass Rush
After hardly rushing the passer in 2014, Ragland made an impact this season. He worked on his edge rushing and finished with 2.5 sacks and six QB hurries in 13 games. Those are modest but impressive numbers for an Alabama pass rush that improved on the whole this season. It helped having a wrecking ball who could rush from the inside or out.
Coverage
He might look stiff in pads, but Ragland moves well in coverage. He's a deceptively awesome athlete who can swivel his hips and chase tight ends up the seam. He held up against Hunter Henry and Evan Engram, two NFL-quality tight ends, during conference play this season. His six regular-season pass breakups were a testament to his improvement in coverage.
Overall
After losing C.J. Mosley to the NFL draft, Alabama needed a new star inside linebacker. Ragland didn't fill that void immediately, but he improved throughout the season in 2014, carried that momentum into the offseason and came back ready to dominate in 2015. By winning SEC Defensive Player of the Year, he etched his name onto a list of special players. He's earned the right to be called one, as well.
1. Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame
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B/R Expert Scouting
"It's rare to find someone with the football IQ, the instincts and then the athleticism to back it up. It's rare to even find two of those things, but Jaylon Smith has all three. You can see him pointing out on tape where the play is gonna go before the snap. He's everything you want to build a defense around."
—Matt Miller
Run Defense
Jaylon Smith led Notre Dame with 113 regular-season tackles. That's a great number for a 3-4 inside linebacker and a step up from last year, when he posted 102 regular-season tackles. The key to his run defense, as with most of his game, is speed: He's the fastest and most explosive inside linebacker in the country. He tracks the ball from sideline to sideline but has size (6'2.5", 240 lbs) and strength to shed blockers and make tackles on his own.
Pass Rush
The numbers might not show it, but Smith is a capable pass-rusher. His burst through the line is considerable, keeping guards on the tips of their toes. He only posted one sack this regular season, and it came against Texas in the opener, but he added six QB hurries and showed the ability to rush off the edge. Don't put too much stock in the box score.
Coverage
No man Smith's size should cover like a free safety, but he defies logic and does it anyway. He's built like an undersized lineman but moves like an oversized defensive back, faring just as well in man as he does in zone. His hips, speed and length make him the quintessential three-down linebacker. You can line him up just about anywhere.
Overall
Smith has done more than just replace Manti Te'o at inside linebacker; he's surpassed the one-time Heisman runner-up and become the better all-around player. It's wrong to call that surprising—Smith was the No. 2 overall recruit in the country, per 247Sports' composite ratings—but it's definitely a testament to Notre Dame's system. Having seen what the Irish did with Smith and Te'o, it might be time to call them "Inside Linebacker U." Had Smith not left the Fiesta Bowl with an injury, it might have been a much different game.
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