Linebacker U: ESPN releases updated Top-10 for best LB producing schools

ESPN dusted off the annual lists for “Position U,” weighing out which college football programs have the best history and current production at various position groups around the field. And the pride of being Linebacker U, in 2023, belongs to Georgia.

But a bevy of programs that would love to stake a claim to being Linebacker U — Alabama, Penn State, Clemson — also pop up on the list. Both the Big 10 and SEC have three teams in the Top 10 while the ACC has a pair and the Big 12 and Pac-12 each have one team making the cut.

One SEC team with a laundry list of linebacker production and potentially feeling snubbed in LSU. The Tigers have no shortage of linebackers in the NFL and have a potential future star in the league in Harold Perkins on the roster. With that in mind, ESPN’s David Hale wrote that patience will serve LSU, as Perkins should play them into the Top 10.

1. Georgia

With six linebackers taken on the first two days of the NFL draft the last three go arounds, ESPN has slotted Georgia comfortably ahead of Alabama for now. And with the likes of Jamon Dumas-Johnson stepping into a bigger and true freshman Raylen Wilson waiting in the wings, the Bulldogs should stay near the top of this list.

Plus, the NFL production from former Bulldogs has been top notch. Players like Roquan Smith, Justin Houston and Thomas Davis have all thrived and starred at the next level.

2. Alabama

Will Anderson Jr., a stud outside linebacker and No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, headlined the Alabama linebacker corps in recent years, but he’s merely the latest in a long line of great off ball and outside linebackers for the Crimson Tide. Alabama has produced the likes of C.J. Mosley, Dont’a Hightower and Rashaan Evans during the Nick Saban era, to name a few.

And there’s no shortage of talent still on the roster in Tuscaloosa. Chris Braswell and Dallas Turner are next in line off the edge and guys like Deontae Lawson and Jaylen Moody playing off the ball.

3. Ohio State

Ohio State had a bit of a dearth of high-level linebackers throughout the 2010s, but a long track record of excellence at the position plus some new players emerging have the Buckeyes high on the list. Anchoring the current linebacker corps is Tommy Eichenberg, as the fifth-year senior recorded a career high 112 tackles in 2022.

The history Ohio State has a linebacker is maybe the most impressive on this list. Former Buckeyes who went on to successful NFL careers at linebacker include: Mike Vrabel, A.J. Hawk, James Lauranitis, Lorenzo Styles, Chris Spielman and many others.

4. Penn State

Few programs covet the Linebacker U title more than Penn State, and the Nittany Lions have the credentials to show for it. Currently set to star in the middle of the Penn State defense is sophomore Abdul Carter, who is poised for a potentially dominant year.

And the list of Penn State linebackers carving out long and successful careers is lengthy, going all the back to the likes of Jack Ham. In the interim, Penn State has gone on to produce the likes of LaVar Arrington, Navorro Bowman, Sean Lee, Paul Posluszny and, of course, Micah Parsons.

5. USC

USC doesn’t scream “linebacker,” especially since Lincoln Riley came to town with high-octane offense. But the Trojans have produced plenty top-notch linebackers over their history and currently boast a potential breakout star in the lengthy Eric Gentry.

And over the course of decades, USC has produced a number of NFL linebackers with decorated careers. They include: Junior Seau, Clay Matthews Jr., Clay Matthews III, Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing, to name a few.

6. Oklahoma

Oklahoma holds claim to perhaps the most brash, headline grabbing linebacker to play college football: Brian Bosworth. But aside from “The Boz,” the Sooners have produced plenty of great linebackers.

There are the likes of all-time tackles in Jackie Shipp and Daryl Hunt during the mid-20th century. And in more modern times, the likes of Curtis Lofton and Kenneth Murray have been drafted and played in the NFL — Murray is currently with the Los Angeles Chargers, the team that drafted him.

7. Michigan

Michigan, like so many of the programs on this list, has NFL linebackers scattered throughout its history. In the last decade, the likes of Jabrill Peppers and Devin Bush have both been drafted and started out on NFL careers — Peppers position is fair to be debated.

And Michigan has no shortage of historical linebackers, either. A strong run in the late 1990s and early 2000s — when guys like Dhani Jones and LaMarr Woodley came through — particularly bolstered the Wolverines. On the current squad, off-ball linebacker Junior Colson seemed poised to join that list.

8. Clemson

Clemson could be a lot higher on this list next year as it boasts of a pair of linebackers — Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Barrett Carter — who could be All-Americans and NFL draft picks in 2024. And the recent track record isn’t half bad, either.

Depending on how you view him, former defensive standout Isaiah Simmons has shown flashes with the Arizona Cardinals. And while the program’s recent history has featured plenty of stars, some of the best Clemson linebackers, for now, are still the likes of Levon Kirkland, Wayne Simmons and others who starred in the 1990s and beyond.

9. Miami

A program that has produced Jonathan Vilma and Ray Lewis was pretty certain to make the Linebacker U list. However, a recent dip in NFL linebacker production has seen the Hurricanes slip from what could otherwise be a lofty position on this list.

Since Denzel Perryman was drafted by the Chargers in 2015, just two Miami linebackers have been drafted. In 2020, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Shaquille Quarterman and a year later the Pittsburgh Steelers took Quincy Roche.

10. Florida

Florida cracked into the Top 10 this year, as a spate of NFL alumni have boasted solid careers and 2022 star linebacker Ventrell Miller is off to the NFL. It was enough for ESPN to pop the Gators in at No. 10 over LSU and UCLA, among others.

Some of the Florida linebackers that helped them earn this spot include Jonathan Bostic, Brandon Spikes and Alex Anzalone. A strong rookie showing from Miller and Anzalone continuing a resurgence with the Lions could keep Florida locked in to this list.

Conclusion

A few teams that didn’t make the list did do some major climbing. Cincinnati rose 14 spots to No. 45, according to ESPN, largely on the back of what former Bearcat Bryan Cook did as a rookie in Kansas City, bringing home a Super Bowl ring. And the Iowa linebackers jumped from No. 23 to No. 17 as middle linebacker Jack Campbell was selected No. 18 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

And of the non-Power 5 programs, Temple was the highest ranked for Linebacker U status. They can largely thank another Super Bowl player in 2023, Haason Reddick.