College Football Recruiting 2013: Power Ranking the Top 10 Linebackers

College football teams definitely need solid linebackers these days. Whether you need a defender to plug the run or someone to help combat the intermediate passing game, second-level defenders are necessary.

This 2013 class is a solid crop with some serious sizzle, especially at the top. For this read, I'm going to give you the top 10 linebackers in the country right now. 

10. Alexander Anzalone

The 6'3", 225-pound Anzalone is a keystone stater with great instincts. He's sharp to read and react, and can decipher plays quickly. He looks like a future OLB in college.

Anzalone can play well against the pass thanks to solid ball skills, and knows how to drop and get depth in his coverages. He stays clean against the run, and can play with solid range and speed.

On the recruiting front, Anzalone holds a slew of offers and claims he has no leaders right now (per Scout.com).

9. Michael McCray

McCray is a big 'backer at 6'3" and nearly 230 pounds. He's an interesting one because he's better against the pass right now than he is against the run.

McCray is very athletic for a linebacker, has good range and should be able to play all three downs in college. He can factor in all three spots in a 4-3 alignment and has good instincts on the field.

McCray has committed to Michigan. 

8. Dorian O'Daniel

O'Daniel isn't the biggest LB in the country, but he shows great range and an ability to be an attack-style defender. He's versatile at 6'2", 205 pounds and plays with great speed.

Whether you see him as a weak-side or strong-side linebacker, O'Daniel should be a tackling machine on the second level. He shows good lateral agility, can beat offensive linemen to spots with speed and angles, and makes plays on ball-carriers.

O'Daniel has committed to Clemson. 

7. Isaac Savaiinaea

Savaiinaea is a pretty athletic ILB with a 6'3", 230-pound frame. He sifts through traffic well, will plug an alley with ease and has the strength to shock a blocker upon contact.

A thumper at the point of attack, Savaiinaea is athletic enough to stick on a running back or tight end in coverage and has the ability to combat that passing game up the seam as a coverage defender.

Savaiinaea has committed to Stanford. 

6. Jaylon Smith

Smith has a pretty high ceiling as the 6'3", 225-pounder is an athletic OLB prospect that can do it all. He shows the speed to make plays from sideline to sideline, doesn't get caught up in traffic and has very good instincts.

Smith also can cover and shows a solid punch in jams to help reroute TEs in their release off the line. He's a versatile 'backer with solid ball skills, among other traits.

5. Matthew Thomas

Hailing from the Sunshine State, Thomas is a 6'4", 205-pounder with great speed. He can either be a stand-up 3-4 OLB or a strong-side 4-3 LB in college.

Thomas is raw, but you can see the athleticism, tenacity, excellent range and burst upfield. He's not a thumper like some other 'backers on this list, but Thomas is great in pursuit and has excellent play range.

4. Daniel McMillan

A 6'2", 220-pounder, McMillan is a very athletic and speedy linebacker. I think he can fit in well as a middle linebacker in college, as he makes a good amount of plays for a loss and doesn't mind mixing it up with anyone.

He also shows solid ability to be a pressure guy as a blitzer. Thanks to a fantastic burst, he has the ability to finish on the passer when he smells blood in the water.

McMillan has committed to Florida. 

3. Michael Hutchings

Hutchings is a 6'1", 210-pounder who could play strong safety in college or strong-side linebacker. He reminds me a little bit of Dion Bailey at USC.

Hutch shows very good athleticism, good speed and very good range. He has the ability to avoid getting outflanked on the edges, can hawk down ball-carriers from the backside and has the agility to develop into a solid zone defender against the pass. 

2. E.J. Levenberry

Levenberry may be a bit underrated by some. He's a 6'3" LB prospect who weighs nearly 230 pounds, has good athleticism and will pop you in the mouth.

He finished his junior year with 151 tackles, eight forced fumbles, three INTs and four sacks. Levenberry has great lateral quickness, is sharp to read and react, and can play well in space as a coverage defender.

According to Scout.com, Levenberry has the most interest in Florida State and Michigan.

1. Robert Foster

At 6'2" and almost 245 pounds, Foster is the best linebacker in the country and maybe the best LB prospect we've ever seen in the recruiting world.

He's physically ready to play college football right now and excel at it. He's tough, physical and slams downhill. He has natural instincts, great play speed, lateral quickness and range.

Foster, an Alabama pledge, will meet anyone in the hole head up and also has the athleticism to factor against the pass. He's as complete a LB prospect as any one I've evaluated over the past five to 10 years.