| Linebackers |
| 1) Drew Sanders, Arkansas |
| 2) Jack Campbell, Iowa |
| 3) Trenton Simpson, Clemson |
| 4) Henry To’o To’o, Alabama |
| 5) Daiyan Henley, Washington State |
| 6) Noah Sewell, Oregon |
| 7) DorIan Williams, Tulane |
| 8) Owen Pappoe, Auburn |
| 9) Ventrell Miller, Florida |
| 10) Ivan Pace Jr, Cincinnati |
| 11) Jeremy Banks, Tennessee |
| 12) DeMarvion Overshown, Texas |
| 13) Yasir Abdullah, Louisville |
| 14) Marte Mapu, Sacramento State |
| 15) Dee Winters, TCU |
| 16) Anfernee Orji, Vanderbilt |
| 17) SirVocea Dennis, Pitt |
| 18) Cam Jones, Indiana |
| 19) Isaiah Moore, NC State |
| 20) Charlie Thomas, Georgia Tech |
| 21) Shaka Heyward, Duke |
| 22) Carlton Martial, Troy |
| 23) Jalen Graham, Purdue |
| 24) Jaden Woodbey, BC |
| 25) Mikel Jones, Syracuse |
| 26) Bumper Pool, Arkansas |
| 27) Micah Baskerville, LSU |
| 28) Drake Thomas, NC State |
| 29) Mahmoud Diabate, Utah |
Drew Sanders, Arkansas
A former five-star who was rated as the top overall recruit from the talent-laden state of Texas, Sanders (6'4/235) spent his first two seasons at Edge for Alabama where he earned 336 part-time reps during his tenure. In 2022 he transferred to Arkansas where he earned unanimous All-American recognition and became the first linebacker in school history to be named a finalist for the Butkus Award. Despite the move to off-ball, Sanders’ pass rush prowess persisted, finishing second in the SEC with 9.5 sacks despite lining up outside on just 108 of his 846 snaps last year. His 39 pressures ranked fourth among all linebackers while his 77.8 PFF coverage grade was a solid mark, especially considering he was learning a new position. Despite picking up LB quickly Sanders will still make some incorrect reads and has to improve as a finisher, which is reflected in his 19.7% missed tackle rate. He didn’t test at the Combine, but Sanders’ ability to bring heat from any angle is rare and sets him apart from his 2023 Draft contemporaries.
Jack Campbell, Iowa
A unanimous All-American who brought home Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year accolades, Campbell (6'5/249) was named the 2022 Butkus Award recipient given to the top linebacker in the country. He plays the position with a cerebral approach befitting a three-time Academic All-Big Ten student and is a savant at diagnosing play flow. The rangy MLB rarely lets rushers escape his grasp, which is reflected in his superb 8.9% missed tackle rate and 107 run stops over the last two seasons. The mechanics with which he plays the game are unassailable, but his length can hurt him in coverage and in change of direction situations. Is at his best scraping and challenging ball carriers at the point of attack, though his 31.875” arms hurt his ability to out-leverage massive linemen. His Combine performance was near-perfect, with Campbell posting 97th+ percentile results in jumping and agility testing to go with a 92nd percentile 1.58s 10-yard dash to combine for an eye-popping 9.98 RAS. His play style and athleticism are reminiscent of former Boise State LB Leighton Vander Esch.
Trenton Simpson, Clemson
The 13th ranked overall recruit from the 2020 prep cycle, Simpson (6'2/235) was a key cog from Clemson’s vaunted defensive class that includes fellow 2023 draftees Bryan Bresee and Myles Murphy. He played sparingly as a freshman until tallying five tackles, 2.0 TFL and a sack in the ACC Championship game against Notre Dame, formally announcing his arrival as a force in DC Brent Venable’s defense. Simpson was a menace in 2021 with the All-ACC linebacker posting 32 pressures and receiving a stellar 87.1 pass rush grade from PFF. Versatility is a clear strength, as Simpson is equally comfortable dropping into coverage or rushing off the edge where he logged 387 reps in his three year collegiate career. An aggressive defender who flows downhill with urgency in run support, Simpson can be fooled by misdirection and his overpursuit can lead to poor gap fills. His closing speed is elite and backed up by his blinding 1.48s 10-yard split and 4.43s 40-yard dash were both 99th-percentile marks, while his sky-high 9.83 RAS proves he has more than enough athleticism to play at the next level. Simpson is a complete linebacker with edge experience who has the tools and pedigree to be an impact NFL linebacker.
Henry To’o To’o, Alabama
A former blue-chip recruit who was rated as the 44th overall player from the 2019 prep class, To’o To’o (6'1/227) spent his first two collegiate campaigns at Tennessee. He earned SEC All-Freshman Team recognition while starting 12 games and recording 72 in his first year on campus, and finishing fourth in the SEC with 10.0 TFL as a sophomore before shipping off to chase national titles at Alabama. He started every game for the next two years while accruing 205 tackles, 15.5 TFL and 6.5 sacks while twice receiving All-SEC honors. To’o To’o’s 6.74 RAS shows decent athleticism, with his 97th percentile 1.55s 10-yard split being his most projectable test result in addition to middling jumps and agility drills. He’s a dependable, well-schooled field general who takes good angles, is adept at separating from blockers and converts tackle opportunities. However, the Bama standout can be too easily overpowered by downblocks, isn’t a blitz threat and is a step-behind in coverage due to stiff hips. While To’o To’o has a lot of the intangibles you look for in a middle linebacker, he is more workmanlike than dynamic and should be able to provide credible production at MLB for a mid-round investment.
Daiyan Henley, Washington State
Henley (6'1/225) worked his way up the college ranks, spending 2017-2021 at Nevada where he was named Second Team All-Mountain West Conference before transferring as a graduate to Washington State. He made a seamless transition to the Power Five level, earning First Team All-Pac-12 recognition while becoming the first Butkus Award finalist in Wazzu history. A textbook finisher thanks to his 33” arms, Henley led the P5 with a 90.3 PFF tackling grade thanks to his relentless motor and pristine 5.2% missed tackle rate last year. He ran a 95th percentile 4.54s 40-yard dash and has had demonstrable success in coverage, holding opponents to a 39.0 NFL Passer Rating when targeted and picking off four passes in 2021. He can sometimes make bad reads and needs to keep his pad level low when engaging blockers. However, Henley has shown the ability to be a complete linebacker, be it bringing pressure off the edge with ferocity, crashing down on run plays or dropping into coverage. A physical middle linebacker whose play strength far outweighs his size, Henley has legitimate NFL starter potential.
Noah Sewell, Oregon
The fifth highest-rated recruit ever signed by Oregon, Sewell (6'1.5/246) has NFL pedigree as his brother, Penei, is a former first-round pick. The stout middle linebacker received the Freshman Defensive Player of the Year Award after leading the Ducks in tackles with 45 during the shortened 2020 season. Solidified his status as a premium enforcer by posting 34 pressures and an elite 88.9 PFF pass rush grade which ranked third among all Power Five linebackers in 2021. The two-time Butkus Award semi-finalist ran a 95th percentile 1.56s 10-yard split and pushed out 27 reps on the bench (94th%), but was merely average in his agility testing and jumps for a strong 8.33 RAS. While he’s not going to have the range for sideline-to-sideline work, Sewell seeks out conflict and has no problem standing up to down blocking offensive linemen on the second level. A true thumper and shot caller in the middle of the defense, Sewell is a controlled rusher who has edge-worthy power in his hands and is ideally suited for a box linebacker role that maximizes his ability to bring inside pressure.
Daiyan Henley, Washington State
Henley (6'1/225) worked his way up the college ranks, spending 2017-2021 at Nevada where he was named Second Team All-Mountain West Conference before transferring as a graduate to Washington State. He made a seamless transition to the Power Five level, earning First Team All-Pac-12 recognition while becoming the first Butkus Award finalist in Wazzu history. A textbook finisher thanks to his 33” arms, Henley led the P5 with a 90.3 PFF tackling grade thanks to his relentless motor and pristine 5.2% missed tackle rate last year. He ran a 95th percentile 4.54s 40-yard dash and has had demonstrable success in coverage, holding opponents to a 39.0 NFL Passer Rating when targeted and picking off four passes in 2021. He can sometimes make bad reads and needs to keep his pad level low when engaging blockers. However Henley has shown the ability to be a complete linebacker, be it bringing pressure off the edge with ferocity, crashing down on run plays or dropping into coverage. A physical middle linebacker whose play strength far outweighs his size, Henley has legitimate NFL starter potential.
Dorian Williams, Tulane
Williams (6'1/228) was a nondescript, low three-star prospect who worked his way up to become a Tulane program legend and three-time All-AAC honoree. After finishing fourth nationally in FBS with 16.0 TFL in 2020, he racked up 132 tackles, 5.0 sacks, seven PBU and two interceptions for the Green Wave last year. His career on a high note, recording 17 tackles and winning the MVP in Tulane’s dramatic Cotton Bowl victory over USC. The team captain verified his wheels at the Combine with a sensational 4.49s 40-yard dash (98th%) and 1.52 10-yard split to go with an 8.76 RAS. While he likely doesn’t have the requisite bulk and take-on skills to consistently play in the box at the NFL level, Williams received PFF coverage grades of 87.0 and 90.2 which are elite scores that should translate well to the NFL. A verified athlete who has the chops to stay with the majority of running backs and tight ends in space, Williams is a player who should develop into a core special teams contributor and third-down specialist.
Owen Pappoe, Auburn
Originally categorized as an outside linebacker during his recruitment, Pappoe (6'0/225) immediately moved off-ball where he started every game and received freshman All-American accolades from the FWAA in 2019. The two-time team captain tallied 256 tackles, 15.0 TFL, 8.0 sacks and seven PBU as a fixture on the Auburn defense for the last four years. Pappoe closes on the ball in a flash and can stay with either running backs or tight ends in space, as is evidenced by his 77.7 PFF coverage grade. His 6.9% missed tackle rate last year is a superb mark and is indicative of Pappoe’s ability to finish despite being on the smaller side for the position. A plus athlete, he lit up the combine radar gun with a 99.9th percentile 4.39s 40-yard dash while also banging out 29 bench reps (96th%) for a very respectable 9.31 RAS. Pappoe isn’t going to stack linemen in the run game or bring consistent pressure up the middle, but he can cover a lot of ground and chase down ball carriers in a way most linebackers cannot thanks to his elite speed.
Ventrell Miller, Florida
A staple of the Florida program since his arrival in 2017, Miller (6'0/232) recorded 238 tackles, 23.5 TFL and seven PBU during his tenure as a Gator. He finished fourth in the SEC in solo tackles in 2020 with 52, but never received all-conference recognition for his solid, workmanlike performance. The Lakeland, FL native is at his best when crashing down in run support, filling gaps and shedding blockers. While Miller can be depended on to make the proper reads, his lack of high-end athletic traits and stiff hips will likely limit him to being a box-linebacker and run-specialist when he’s not flying down the field on kick/punt coverage. It’s hard to imagine Miller holding up in space at the NFL level and his frame is on the small-side to be relied on as a true interior thumper on an every-down basis. Still, Miller held up well in the rugged SEC East for half-a-decade, which bodes well for his ability to hold down an NFL roster spot in some capacity.
Jeremy Banks, Tennessee
A homegrown product from Cordova High School in Memphis, TN, Banks (6'1/232) actually began his collegiate career as a running back, carrying 52 times for 185 yards, 3.6 YPC and three touchdowns as a true freshman in 2018 before beginning the transition to LB in spring of 2019. It was a prescient decision, as he finished seventh nationally with 128 tackles, 11.5 TFL, four PBU and 5.5 sacks in 2021. A plus athlete, Banks ran an impressive 4.53s 40-yard dash (95th%), 37.5” vertical (91st%) and 25 bench reps (87th%) for an 8.93 RAS. a sure-tackler who only missed 12.4% of his tackle attempts with 66 stops over the past two seasons, Banks noticeably improved in run support as he got more acclimated to the linebacker position. He has the juice to chase down ball carriers and the physicality to take on second-level blocks. However his slow change of direction and lack of feel for space in coverage will likely relegate Banks to a two-down role. He will also have to dispel disciplinary concerns stemming from his earlier days at UT that led to a temporary dismissal from the team.
DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
Originally recruited as a four-star safety prospect, Overshown learned the ropes at LB for two years before locking down a starting gig for the last three seasons. He took to the coverage aspect of the linebacker position like a fish-to-water, but navigating the congested line of scrimmage has taken a bit more time and is still a work in progress. In 2021 Overshown received a brutal 30.4 run defense grade from PFF, which was one of the lowest grades for any Power Five linebacker. However, after posting a sky-high 24.1% missed tackle rate in 2020, he cut that mark almost in half by missing just 13.2% of his attempts last year while improving to a very respectable 73.8 run PFF defense grade. It was nice to see him create more disruption in the backfield as well with 23 pressures and 46 stops, improving his pass rush chops and gap fits. His 4.56s 40-yard dash (93rd%) and 1.55s 10-yard split (97th%) backs up the speed he displays on tape, but the 15 bench press reps he put up was a troubling 17th percentile mark. A tall, lean rangy player who is light for box work, Overshown’s ability to cover in the slot and in space makes him an intriguing prospect for teams in need of athleticism and coverage skills from their linebacker position.
Yasir Abdullah, Louisville
Abdullah (6'1/237) spent five seasons harassing ACC quarterbacks off the edge, posting an elite PFF rush grade of 90.8 which was the fourth highest mark in the P5 this year. Adept at attacking blockers’ edges when penetrating, Abdullah recorded 31.0 TFL over the last two seasons while leading the ACC with 9.5 sacks in 2022. The two-time All-ACC performer shows an ability to take on linemen that belies his undersized frame thanks to his rocked-up physique and advanced ability to create leverage. An extremely effective havoc creator who is likely destined for an off-ball role in the NFL due to lack of length, Abdullah will have to adjust to playing in the middle of the defense and dropping into coverage. The good news is his 4.47s 40-yard dash (99th%), 1.48s 10-yard split (99th%) and 10'09” broad jump (98th%) combined for a 9.74 RAS verifies Abdullah’s high-level athleticism, which bodes well for a successful position change and value on special teams.
Marte Mapu, Sacramento State
Perhaps no player improved their NFL Draft profile in the postseason evaluation process than Mapu (6'3/221). A six-year player and Sacramento State program legend, Mapu was named the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and a First Team FCS All-American. He was invited to the NFLPA Bowl and proceeded to blow away his peers, intercepting multiple passes and providing all-encompassing sticky coverage all week in practice sessions. The Senior Bowl noticed and gave him a secondary-invitation which earned him significant exposure since players don’t end up at the Senior Bowl by accident, though he suffered a chest injury that knocked him out of Combine testing. Mapu held his own as the Senior Bowl though displaying the perfect, Tetris-esque fits he deployed during his days as a linebacker. He has an advanced feel for space in zone and the kind of banger demeanor the NFL looks for in a modern box safety-linebacker hybrid. Mapu will be an instant special teams contributor with backup box-safety value and the ability to play off ball linebacker when called upon.
