College Football Recruiting 2012: Ranking the Top 25 Linebacker Prospects

Today we get to the second level of the defenders' board, or the linebackers, as they're more generally known. From the MIKE to the SAM to the WILL, to the 3-4 LB positions, we have all kinds of LB prospects.

This is the third edition of my top 25 LB rankings and I have made some revisions, additions and even took out some 'backers. I also have a couple prospects that made honorable mentions and even a sleeper I want to tell you about.

Come check out the new LB rankings.

Sleeper: Butch Pauu

If Butch Pauu was two inches taller, he'd be a four or five star recruit. Period. He's only about 5'10", 210 pounds, but he can play with anybody.

Pauu explodes in his take on, uses his hands pretty well to shed blocks and has great ball location skills. He has solid play speed, great instincts and can thump when he arrives at the ball.

He's committed to BYU, and look for him to become the Cougar's defensive leader in the next few years. You heard it here first. 

Honorable Mention No. 1: Donavin Newsom

At 6'2", 225 pounds, Newsom can track the run well, can sniff a RB around the box and has outstanding play range.

He has 4.5 speed and should be able to develop as a underneath coverage LB in time.

Newsom is at his best on the run in pursuit, using his speed to beat blockers' angles and get to the ball-carrier. He's headed to Missouri.

Honorable Mention No. 2: Elijah Shumate

The only reason I have Shumate as an honorable mention is because he could also wind up as a safety.

6'1", 200 pounds, Shumate can play outside linebacker or strong safety and is nasty in the box. He can stand to improve his coverage ability, but he's too good in the box to be asked to play in space often.

Rutgers, Wisconsin and many more are on his trail.

25. Dalton Santos

Santos de-committed from Oklahoma State in order to switch to Tennessee.

He plays the run better than the pass as a LB, but also can play DE at 6'3", 230 pounds.

Santos plays to his size at the point of attack and makes OL pay for coming to the second level in an attempt to block him. He's one of the better run-stuffers on this list.

24. Scott Starr

Starr has drawn some comparisons to Clay Matthews, since he can double as a DE or 3-4 OLB. Starr is a solid wrap-up tackler that always gets his man and has some pass-rush ability as well.

6'3", 205 pounds with good speed, but he's a little straight line-ish and can be stiff at times. However, he plays with excellent toughness, play strength, effort and instincts.

He's going to USC.

23. Joe Bolden

I think Bolden could be a Mike 'backer at Michigan. He's an effective on-field communicator, can check in and out of fronts, stunts, alignments and coverages and is a great leader.

I love his 6'3", 230-pound frame, instincts and play smarts. Bolden is a solid hitter, delivers a blow to the ball carrier and flashes good wrap tackling ability.

22. Brian Nance

Nance, who tore his ACL in February, is an OLB type that can fit in as a WILL or SAM. He's 6'3", 210 pounds and has athletic ability to spare. He moves around with ease and has excellent re-direct and change of direction skills.

Nance really will be able to stay on the field for all three downs, and he can cover RBs and TEs out of the backfield. He also flashes the foot quickness and transition skills to cover slot receivers underneath.

He's still mulling his options.

21. Aaron Porter

A very decorated player, Porter is 6'2", 230 pounds and plays in the middle, for the most part.

He brings his lunch pail every game and works every snap. Porter has very good instincts, a feel for the game and is an underrated LB that flies a bit under the radar.

UCLA has him locked up and I think he'll be able to come in and start early.

20. Quanzell Lambert

6'2", 245 pounds, Lambert looks the part of a premier 3-4 ILB prospect. He's big, physical and mixes it up at the point of attack.

Lambert doesn't quit on a play, keeps coming and his motor never stops. He has solid instincts, plays downhill post-snap and explodes at the point of attack.

Alabama, Penn State, Rutgers, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma and Northwestern are in the hunt.

19. Tyler Hayes

6'3", 220 pounds, Hayes, an Alabama commit, is a huge man that is also very athletic on the field.

There is some talk that he actually may be a better RB than LB but, with his size, athleticism, speed and potential, he looks like a future All-Conference LB. Look for him to fit in well as a strong side player at Alabama.

18. Kaleb Ringer

Ringer is a future Wolverine that stands 6'1", 225 pounds and has great shedding ability.

He also has excellent play speed, which is why his range is so good, and he can be used on blitzes. Another trait to Ringer's game that I like is that when he arrives at the point of attack, he brings the wood with him.

17. Keith Brown

Brown got knocked as a junior for not being active enough, but come to find out, he was playing hurt. This year, the 6'2", 230-pounder is healthy and is getting after it on the field.

He has been timed in the 4.5 range in the 40, and has a skill set that can man all three LB spots in a 4-3 style defense. Brown shows great athleticism, play speed and has a ton of potential.

He's committed to Miami, however late news has it that Clemson, Florida State and LSU will get visits.

16. Cassanova McKinzy

The Auburn pledge is instinctive in the box and is a prime prospect in the middle. He's 6'3" and weighs 225 pounds.

McKinzy shows the want and intelligence to take on the chore of lining up an entire defense, play in and play out, while also being able to shift coverages, gap responsibilities and alignments pre-snap.

15. Beniquez Brown

Brown is 6'2", 200 pounds and boy does he have great athleticism, speed and quickness.

He also has a great range, shows a knack for reading the run quickly and can jump a RB in an alley. Brown flashes the potential to stay on the field in nickel and dime situations and carry RBs and TEs around the field.

MSU, 'Bama and Florida are schools to watch out for.

14. Deaysean Rippy

6'2", and around 200 pounds, Rippy isn't too big, but that's okay. He has a ton of other things going for him.

Rippy uses his lack of bulk to his advantage as he'll cover on third downs, blitz and use great play speed to pursue. Some schools feel he is a strong safety, while others say they will develop him as an OLB.

West Virginia, LSU and Florida are just the tip of the iceberg.

13. Peter Jinkens

A Texas commit, at 6'1", 210 pounds, Jinkens is a technician. He's a natural wrap tackler that really works at playing the LB spot like it's supposed to be played: good technique mixed with some amazing ferociousness. 

He has excellent tackling technique, as he locates his targets, sinks his hips and strikes hard and through the ball carrier, wrapping up and bringing them down in one fluid motion. He plays with great toughness and range and should be a multiple-year starter in college.

12. Dillon Lee

Lee is a versatile defender that stands 6'4", 220 pounds and plays with great instincts. He plays the run with fantastic recognition and attacks the line of scrimmage with tenacity.

I also believe Lee has the burst to finish off the ball carriers he seeks out. His speed is better than many people think, and his length will allow him to factor as a blitzer, since he will clog up throwing lanes naturally.

Lee's committed to Alabama.

11. Joshua Perry

6'3", 225 pounds, Perry has a chance to develop into a dark horse player on this list that could become a star in college.

He's very, very athletic and has a high ceiling. He projects as a SAM LB in college due to his length, increasing strength and ability to cover TEs. He doesn't back down from play side runs and will attack the line of scrimmage.

Perry is sticking with his pledge to Ohio State no matter what.

10. Kaiwan Lewis

One of the biggest hitters in the country, Lewis is a dangerous second level defender. I expect him to become a starter early in his career, while also impacting on cover units.

On tape, he plays like a heat-seeking missle at 6'2", 225 pounds. He explodes upon contact and seems to hit like he has the intention of making the ball carrier feel as much pain as possible. He's a future starting MLB.

Lewis is going to South Carolina.

9. Josh Harvey-Clemons

At 6'4" and nearly 210 pounds, he shows very good knowledge of the game on defense, plays with instincts, can set the edge and is a sound athlete.

If he sticks at OLB, his transition quickness will allow him to become one of the better cover LBs in the country.

Harvey-Clemons also may play WR in college.

Alabama, Florida State, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Clemson and Auburn have offered.

8. James Ross

Ross is another LB in the Michigan class.

He's a 6'1", 215-pounder that has only seen limited time because he just recently started playing football a few years ago.

He's a natural MIKE 'backer who plugs the run, jumps backs in alleys and uses his athleticism to play with range. Once he gets seasoned in college, he could be a prime time steal.

7. Noor Davis

While Davis can play DE, he's a 6'4", 225 pound LB that is headed to Stanford and is most valuable as a two-down LB/third-down, sub-rusher type.

Davis is very athletic, changes direction well for such a tall player in space and can cover pretty well at this stage of his development. He had eight sacks last year.

6. Royce Jenkins-Stone

A 6'2", 215-pound linebacker, Jenkins-Stone has the ability to play all three spots in the 4-3 look. He's instinctive enough to play MIKE, stout enough to play SAM and fast enough to man the WILL spot.

He can bring the wood at the point of attack, thump well as a tackler and even be an efficient blitzer. Wherever Jenkins-Stone plays, look for some big things to happen.

He's yet another Michigan commit on this list.

5. Eli Harold

At 6'3", 230 pounds, Harold is an extremely explosive pass rusher that can play DE or 3-4 OLB.

He is a great athlete with good range, play speed in pursuit and a quick close on ball carriers.

His versatility will get him on the field early at Virginia.

4. Ifeadi Odenigbo

6'4", 220 pounds, Odenigbo is as a raw a prospect as there may be in the country. He's only played football for just a few years, but watch his tape and you see a ceiling that is as high as Mount Everest.

He's super athletic, quick and explodes off the ball. He plays very, very fast and has amazing range.

If he can find a program that has a great pass-rushing coach and get stronger, he may have a long playing future ahead of him as a 3-4 OLB.

Odenigbo has Notre Dame, Cal, Northwestern and Stanford among many more after him.

3. Jabari Ruffin

Ruffin is a big and athletic player that has played LB, TE, RB and some DE for his prep team. He's a 6'4", 230-pounder with great athleticism, agility and strength. 

He makes plays on offense as TE/WR/RB, but his future lies, more than likely, on defense as an OLB. I think Ruffin can play the SAM spot at the next level as he plays stout against the run but also can cover TEs and RBs in coverage.

USC has him locked up.

2. Reggie Ragland

Crimson Tide fans, I present to you another LB that will continue your recent tradition of great LB play: Mr. Reggie Ragland.

He's a 6'4", 245-pound monster that will be an All-American LB one day. He's big, fast in a straight line, strong, instinctive and physical.

Ragland shows tremendous instincts, run-plug ability and plays to his size at the point of attack. But he also has the speed and range to make tackles outside the box and work in coverage as well.

1. Kwon Alexander

6'3", 210 pounds, I have Alexander as my No. 1 LB prospect and a top-10 recruit overall.

He's a fantastic linebacker prospect. He has tremendous play speed and range and will be a three-down defender in college.

He projects well at the WILL, but I think he can also play SAM in a 4-3 scheme due to his ability to carry tight ends around the field in coverage

Alabama, Auburn, Oregon, Florida State and LSU are in his top five.