The college football season is approaching. There is always debate over ranking the best players in the sport. Here are the top 25 college football linebackers heading into the 2025 season.
Note: There is some projection in these rankings for the upcoming season. These are not NFL Draft rankings, but rather focus on the best players in college football.
25. Josiah Trotter, Missouri Tigers
Trotter was one of the best freshmen in the country at West Virginia last season with 92 total tackles and four tackles for loss. He now will help a Missouri team that has added plenty of talent in the portal.
24. Arion Carter, Tennessee Volunteers
Carter had 68 total tackles and seven tackles for loss last season. Tennessee will need him to up his game this season, as they lost some key players from last year’s team.
23. Red Murdock, Buffalo Bulls
Murdock has plenty of production, as he had 156 total tackles and 17 tackles for loss in 2024. He will be one of the best players in the MAC for the 2025 season.
22. Keaton Thomas, Baylor Bears
After starting his career at West Virginia, Thomas had a great year for Baylor last season. He had 114 total tackles and will be a key on Baylor’s defense as they try to make a push in the Big 12.
21. Jason Henderson, Old Dominion Monarchs
Henderson was one of the leading tacklers in the country in both 2022 and 2023. He is recovering from injury after getting hurt early in 2024 and will have to regain his form.
20. Jaishawn Barham, Michigan Wolverines
In Barham’s first season at Michigan after transferring from Maryland, he racked up 66 tackles. He will need to take a step forward this season for Michigan to rebound to national contention.
19. Ernest Hausmann, Michigan Wolverines
Hausmann played well in 2023 for Michigan, but really took a step forward in 2024 with 89 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks. He and Jaishawn Barham give Michigan two good linebackers to rely on this season.
18. Xavian Sorey, Arkansas Razorbacks
Sorey nearly had 100 tackles last season. Arkansas doesn’t have too many impact players on defense, but Sorey really helps the unit with his ability to rack up tackles.
17. Wade Woodasz, Clemson Tigers
Woodasz is part of a good linebacker room that also includes Sammy Brown. Woodasz had 83 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and three sacks in 2024.
16. Lander Barton, Utah Utes
Barton is a unique linebacker who tallied 72 tackles, five tackles for loss and two sacks last season. He has NFL potential and should have his best season yet for the Utes.
15. Sammy Brown, Clemson Tigers
Brown impressed in his first season suiting up for the Tigers, as he had 80 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and five sacks. Clemson has produced some good linebackers in recent years and Brown can be another great one.
14. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Rodriguez started his career at Virginia then transferred to Texas Tech for the last three seasons where he has improved in every season. After getting 127 tackles in 2024, Rodriguez will lead a Texas Tech defense with a lot of potential in 2025.
13. Rasheem Biles, Pittsburgh Panthers
Biles pairs well with Kyle Louis to give Pittsburgh one of the best linebacker rooms in the country. Biles was impressive with 82 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
12. Austin Romaine, Kansas State Wildcats
Romaine was a great boost to the Kansas State defense last season, as he totaled 96 tackles and six tackles for loss in 2024. He will hope to lead Kansas State to a Big 12 Championship this season.
11. Raylen Wilson, Georgia Bulldogs
Wilson wasn’t even a starter for most of the season, but still registered 47 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He will have a larger role and can play even better in 2025.
10. Drayk Bowen, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
He was just a sophomore last season, but Bowen had 78 total tackles and really showed to be a good run defender. He will be a leader on a Notre Dame defense that has to replace a lot from last season.
9. Sonny Styles, Ohio State Buckeyes
Styles is a former safety who moved to linebacker, which gives him good athleticism for the position. He adjusted to his new position well last season, as he totaled 100 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and six sacks on the way to a national championship last season.
8. Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh Panthers
Louis stuffed the stat-sheet for Pitt last season with 101 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks. The versatile linebacker can become more of a household name this season with some more good play.
7. Taurean York, Texas A&M Aggies
York has had plenty of experience over the last two years at Texas A&M. He had 82 tackles and 10 tackles for loss last season.
6. Whit Weeks, LSU Tigers
LSU didn’t have many bright spots on their defense in 2024, but Weeks was one of them. He registered 125 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks last season.
5. Deontae Lawson, Alabama Crimson Tide
Lawson decided to return to school instead of going into the 2025 NFL Draft. He’ll now be looking to build on a year where he had 76 total tackles and seven tackles for loss.
4. Harold Perkins, LSU Tigers
LSU has moved Perkins around, which hasn’t always been to his benefit. He should be able to play a more free-flowing style this season and replicate the early success in his career.
3. Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss Rebels
Perkins is a versatile linebacker who had 60 tackles and 10.5 sacks. His ability to get pressure on the quarterback could be the key to Ole Miss’s hopes this season.
2. CJ Allen, Georgia Bulldogs
Allen tallied 76 tackles and three tackles for loss last season. He has plenty of NFL Draft potential, but also is one of the best linebackers in the country right now.
1. Anthony Hill, Texas Longhorns
Hill has been productive since the minute he stepped on campus. Last season, he took it to a new level, as he had 113 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss and eight sacks.
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