CFB Future 100: Top 10 Linebackers in Class of 2016
After thorough study using specific scoring criteria, Bleacher Report National Recruiting Analysts Sanjay Kirpalani, Tyler Donohue and Damon Sayles have graded the top 100 players in the 247Sports composite ratings and provided in-depth analysis. Bleacher Report provides a position-by-position breakdown of the best college football recruits. Today, we present the Top Linebackers.
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There's a theme with linebackers in the 2016 class: bigger, stronger, faster.
One look at the top linebacker recruits of 2016, and it's evident that the smaller, bowling ball-shaped linebackers will be taking a back seat to the broad, tall, athletic prospects. The nation's top-ranked outside linebacker, Keion Joyner, is 6'3", 200 pounds and built more like a wide receiver than a linebacker.
It's the athleticism of the new linebacker crop that will make it one to watch, and Bleacher Report will give credit where credit is due via its CFB Future 100 series.
Outside linebackers are scored using the metrics of tackling (25 points), explosive strength (20), run defense (15), pass coverage (15) and football IQ (25). Inside linebackers are scored using the metrics of tackling (35 points), pass rush (15), run defense (30) and pass coverage (20).
10. 4-Star OLB Jeremiah Moon
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Height/Weight: 6'4", 200 lbs
High School: Hoover (Montgomery, Alabama)
247 Ranking: No. 7 OLB/No. 98 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 84/100
Last month, Jeremiah Moon told 247Sports' Paul Jones that Mississippi State and Auburn were his co-favorites, but Ole Miss and South Carolina are two teams to keep an eye on as Moon's recruiting process matures. He took in South Carolina's junior day on Jan. 31.
Alabama has yet to offer, but if head coach Nick Saban pulls the trigger, the Crimson Tide wouldn't be a bad guess, as Moon has taken multiple unofficial trips to Tuscaloosa. He currently has seven offers, and five of the seven are from SEC programs.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Moon has the build of a tall safety, but he has the first step of a pass-rushing defensive end. His quickness will get him added looks throughout his recruiting process. He is a lengthy, athletic linebacker who likes to play sideline to sideline.
9. 4-Star ILB Shaquille Quarterman
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Height/Weight: 6'1", 225 lbs
High School: Oakleaf (Orange Park, Florida)
247 Ranking: No. 3 ILB/No. 92 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 86/100
Committed to Miami
Shaquille Quarterman has been a Miami commit since June 2014. He chose the Hurricanes after attending a Miami camp and now is among 13 commits in one of the nation's biggest 2016 classes. Most recently, Quarterman was in attendance for Miami's junior day on Jan. 25.
Quarterman participated in several summer camps last year. In addition to Miami, he competed at Florida, Auburn and Georgia camps. He picked up an Alabama offer on Feb. 11, but it'll take a lot for him to be lured from Miami.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Quarterman is the type of linebacker who loves taking on athletes in north-south situations. He's a hard-hitting linebacker who is all about playing between the tackles. Quarterman may be more quick than fast, but he makes up for it with his physical nature.
8. 4-Star OLB Jeffrey McCulloch
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Height/Weight: 6'2", 225 lbs
High School: Aldine Davis (Houston)
247 Ranking: No. 6 OLB/No. 78 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 89/100
Jeffrey McCulloch has been a rising standout in recruiting. He is inching closer to 30 offers and has Texas, LSU, Alabama, Auburn, Michigan and Oregon high on his list, according to 247Sports. Keep an eye on how Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Baylor recruits him as the spring approaches.
Bleacher Report Analysis
You don't get the nickname The Shark for being a softy on the football field. McCulloch is a ball-hawking defender who loves to deliver the big hit. He plays with a high motor and a lot of instincts, which make him a dangerous player from sideline to sideline.
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7. 4-Star OLB Daelin Hayes
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Height/Weight: 6'3", 225 lbs
High School: Skyline (Ann Arbor, Michigan)
247 Ranking: No. 5 OLB/No. 76 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 88/100
Committed to USC
Daelin Hayes kick-started USC's 2016 class on July 26 by becoming the first pledge, two days after taking an unofficial visit. According to 247Sports, Hayes chose USC over offers from Notre Dame, Illinois and in-state programs Michigan and Michigan State.
Hayes is inching closer to 20 offers, but it will be tough for a team to steer Hayes away from USC. He picked up an offer from Alabama most recently, but he also took in an unofficial visit to USC, per 247Sports.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Hayes' athleticism makes him a good candidate to be either an outside linebacker or a safety. College coaches may even try to add weight to his frame and turn him into a defensive end. Hayes has the power and explosiveness to be successful wherever he lines up. He's a physical player who likes to make the big play.
6. 4-Star ILB Brendan Ferns
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Height/Weight: 6'3", 223 lbs
High School: St. Clairsville (St. Clairsville, Ohio)
247 Ranking: No. 2 ILB/No. 71 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 87/100
Linebackers are bred in the Ferns household, and Brendan Ferns is the next in line. He is continuing the path that his older brother, 2014 Michigan signee Michael Ferns, set. Ohio State, Penn State, Texas A&M, Oregon, Alabama and a host of other schools have already made offers.
Ferns took an unofficial visit to Ohio State on Jan. 25, according to 247Sports. He's also had multiple coaches come in to see him during the offseason.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Ferns is the kind of player who is versatile enough to line up at several positions. He can be an inside linebacker or outside linebacker, and if he chose to bulk up, he'd make for a reliable defensive end at the next level. Ferns is a savvy football player who likes playing sideline to sideline.
5. 4-Star ILB Lokeni Toailoa
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Height/Weight: 6'1", 212 lbs
High School: Wilmer Amina Carter (Rialto, California)
247 Ranking: No. 1 ILB/No. 59 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Lokeni Toailoa recently surpassed 20 offers by picking up two from schools he's interested in. Toailoa's latest offers are from Oregon and Utah. He has additional offers from coast to coast, including USC, UCLA, Notre Dame, Miami and Stanford.
Toailoa is looking to turn up his recruiting process this spring. He made unofficial visits to USC and UCLA last year and also had coaches from Oregon come to see him in January.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Toailoa is a high-energy athlete who has a good nose for the football. He nearly recorded triple digits in tackles because of his ability to make plays in running and short-yard passing situations. Toailoa is a player who is technically sound and uses his instincts well to make plays.
4. 5-Star OLB Ben Davis
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Height/Weight: 6'4", 230 lbs
High School: Gordo (Gordo, Alabama)
247 Ranking: No. 4 OLB/No. 24 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 88/100
The offer list continues to grow for Ben Davis, who is now entertaining interest from more than 20 schools. Davis is the No. 2 player in the state of Alabama, and he's a prime target for both Alabama and Auburn. He's made several unofficial visits to both schools.
Per 247Sports, Davis also is considering Florida, Georgia and LSU in what appears to an all-SEC race for his commitment. Whichever school lands the 5-star prospect will get an outstanding player.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Looking at Davis' size alone, he's everything a college linebackers coach wants in a prospect. He is a tall, quick linebacker who possesses good length and a lot of athleticism. An instinctive player, Davis has shown that he can be a decent pass-rusher in addition to playing in his zone.
3. 5-Star OLB Caleb Kelly
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Height/Weight: 6'3", 215 lbs
High School: Clovis West (Fresno, California)
247 Ranking: No. 3 OLB/No. 14 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 90/100
Caleb Kelly is at the 20-offer mark and has Pac-12 looks from Oregon, UCLA, USC, Stanford and others. Per 247Sports, Oklahoma is a school that's considered an early front-runner. The Sooners will have to fight off recruiting powers such as Alabama, LSU, Notre Dame, Penn State, Miami and, of course, the Pac-12 schools.
One advantage the Sooners have is that Kelly has taken an unofficial visit to the campus. He's also made an unofficial visit to USC.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Kelly's Twitter bio may be a perfect firsthand description: "Look like a linebacker, move like a DB." Kelly has good size, but it's his quickness that makes him an intriguing prospect. His ability to blitz makes him a prime candidate as a nickelback in the right defense.
2. 5-Star OLB Lyndell Wilson
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Height/Weight: 6'2", 220 lbs
High School: Carver (Montgomery, Alabama)
247 Ranking: No. 2 OLB/No. 8 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 91/100
Lyndell Wilson is determined to keep all of his options open, but on Jan. 22, he announced his top seven schools via Twitter. Oregon, Alabama, Auburn, Louisville, Tennessee, Georgia and USC all made the list, although there is still time for other schools to make their way up Wilson's ladder.
Alabama is a strong contender in Wilson's recruiting race. He's made multiple unofficial visits to Tuscaloosa, but he's also visited Auburn and Tennessee, according to 247Sports.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Although Wilson is an outstanding tackler and a physical athlete, his instincts are among his best qualities. He is quick to read a play and make the right decision. Wilson brings a level of toughness to a defensive front seven, and his tenacity will be welcomed at the next level.
1. 5-Star OLB Keion Joyner
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Height/Weight: 6'3", 200 lbs
High School: Havelock (Havelock, North Carolina)
247 Ranking: No. 1 OLB/No. 5 Overall
Bleacher Report Score: 92/100
As the nation's top-ranked outside linebacker and the top-ranked player from North Carolina, Keion Joyner is a wanted man. Joyner has more than a dozen offers but, per Adam Friedman of Rivals.com, he has been in touch with four schools in particular: North Carolina, Texas A&M, Florida State and LSU. Auburn and Florida are two other schools to watch.
Joyner has kept a relatively low profile during the recruitment process, but he told Friedman last month he would like to visit Oregon, Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame during the offseason.
Bleacher Report Analysis
Joyner, for an outside linebacker, has great size and excellent lateral movement. He is a tackling machine who is also getting better at coverage in passing situations. Joyner uses his athleticism to be a disruptive defender, and he plays with a high motor.
All star rankings and recruitment info via 247Sports.
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