Top 10 Linebackers in College Football in 2023

Linebacker could be the most physically demanding position on defense in football. Well, we’re here to reveal the top 10 linebackers in college football and these guys are a few steps ahead of the rest.

It’s not limited to college football veterans either. Some of these players burst onto the scene as freshmen in 2022 and they’re only going to get better.

Below are the top 10 linebackers ahead of the 2023 season, according to On3.

Top 10 Linebackers in College Football

1. Harold Perkins, LSU: Perkins was a breakout star as a freshman last season, and not only is he the top linebacker back for this season, he was the No. 7 overall player, according to On3. That should sum up how good he is sideline to sideline, in coverage and his physicality. Right now, it’s not close between him and the rest of the field. He finished the year with 72 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, an interception and three pass breakups.

2. Abdul Carter, Penn State: Carter was another breakout freshman in college football last season. He had 56 total tackles, 10.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks over the course of 13 games. Safe to say, he’s the best linebacker in the Big Ten, but not by much with the next player on the list.

3. Tommy Eichenberg, Ohio State: The veteran Buckeyes linebacker had the best season of his career in 2022 and it wasn’t even close. He basically doubled his numbers from 2021 and with that type of production, he can be one of the best nationwide. He finished 2022 with 120 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss and two sacks.

4. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson: Once Trotter Jr. got his shot to play over the course of a full season, he didn’t disappoint. The son of the former NFL veteran logged 89 tackles, 13.5 for loss and 6.5 sacks for the Tigers. He’s expected to be the de facto leader on defense for Clemson going into the 2023 campaign.

5. Ty’Ron Hopper, Missouri: Hopper broke out with the Tigers after transferring over from Florida. His 2021 campaign with the Gators was solid, but Hopper hit double digits in tackles for loss last season. He finished 2022 with 77 tackles, 13.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks. Not to mention he added an intersection to his resume as well.

6. Barrett Carter, Clemson: As a sophomore, it was Carter’s time to shine. He, along with Trotter Jr., made this list. It gives Clemson a huge advantage on defense over other teams around the country. Carter finished his 2022 season with 73 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two interceptions, eight pass deflections and two forced fumbles. At this point, he might pass his teammate.

7. Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Georgia: The two-time defending national champions should be very happy Dumas-Johnson is back in the fold. He logged 70 total tackles, nine for loss and four sacks last season. He also forced one fumble. Expect the numbers for Dumas-Johnson to go up in 2023 with more opportunities to wreak havoc on opposing defenses as Georgia goes for the three-peat.

8. Nathaniel Watson, Mississippi State: Why not run it back one more time? The sixth-year senior enters his final year of college eligibility with an opportunity to build on his career year in 2022. In 13 games last year, Watson had 113 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, one interception, one pass deflection and one forced fumble. Can he crack the century mark in tackles again? We like his chances.

9. Ernest Hausmann, Michigan: Hausman transferred to Michigan from Nebraska after just one season but was productive while in Lincoln. Last year, he finished with 54 total tackles, two for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery as a freshman. The potential to be great is there and he could be unlocked in Jesse Minter’s scheme up in Ann Arbor.

10. Curtis Jacobs, Penn State: The second Nittany Lion linebacker to make the list going into the 2023 season. After just five games in 2020, Jacobs kept his numbers consistent over the last two years and now has seven sacks for his career. He also has 122 total tackles over the course of 29 games at Penn State. It’ll be a deadly combo with Carter in the fall.