College football’s 20 best linebackers of 2025

They are the enforcers along the front seven, who set the tone from start to finish on any given autumn Saturday.

Linebackers are the most active defenders on the field, and are all about physicality. They’re relentless in their pursuit, have great instincts and play with a tenacity that intimidates anyone holding the ball.

From blitzing, to tackling and dropping back in coverage to make plays, these 20 backers are ready to make an impact again this fall.

20. Amare Campbell, Penn State: The Virginia native finished second on North Carolina in stops, tackles for loss and sacks last season. Campbell got off to a hot start, with four tackles, and put the quarterback to the turf in the opening victory at Minnesota. He tallied seven stops, and a sack the following week against Charlotte. Campbell generated eight tackles apiece against James Madison, Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech. The former three-star prospect posted five stops, including four solo and a sack in the win at Florida State. Campbell also had five stops, and made the quarterback eat grass at Virginia. Not to mention he recorded a season-high, nine tackles, and a sack against NC State.

19. Jordan Pollard, San Jose State: He’s undersized at 207 pounds, but is a tackling machine, with 194 stops over the past two seasons with the Spartans. Pollard racked up 115 tackles last year, which ranked third in the Mountain West, and were the most in a single-season by a San Jose State defender since 2021. He even earned first-team, All-Mountain West honors. Pollard tallied a season-high, 17 tackles, including nine solo in the win at Air Force. The former three-star prospect recorded 12 stops, a sack and an interception in the victory over Kennesaw State. Pollard also had a sack against Colorado State. The Los Angeles native made 10 tackles at Washington State, and 13 against UNLV.

18. Sean Brown, NC State: The redshirt senior led the Wolfpack in stops, and tied for second on the team in tackles for loss last season. Brown was a team captain in 2024, and played safety prior to his junior campaign. He recorded 11 tackles against Tennessee. Brown posted five stops, and made the quarterback eat grass at Clemson. The Charlotte native generated a season-high, 12 tackles, and a sack in the victory over Northern Illinois. Brown also put the quarterback to the turf against Wake Forest. The former three-star prospect had 10 tackles apiece against Duke and Georgia Tech. Brown left a lasting impression with nine tackles, including five solo in the bowl against East Carolina.

17. Rasheem Biles, Pittsburgh: The 19-year old started nine games for the Panthers last season, and finished second on the team in tackles for loss. Biles even capped off the year with third-team, All-ACC honors for his heroics. He started off on fire, with seven tackles, including four solo and a sack in the opener against Kent State. Biles racked up a season-high, 12 stops, including eight solo, and put the quarterback to the turf in the victory over West Virginia. The Ohio native also tallied eight tackles, a sack and an interception in the win over Syracuse. Biles recorded a sack against Virginia and Boston College, plus he posted seven tackles apiece against Clemson and Youngstown State.

16. Austin Romaine, Kansas State: The 20-year old started 12 games last year, and led the Wildcats in tackles. Romaine’s 96 stops were the most in a single-season by a Kansas State defender since 2017. He ended his true sophomore campaign with second-team, All-Big 12 honors. Romaine also took care of business in the classroom, and earned Academic All-Big 12. The Missouri native tallied eight stops, and two sacks in the victory at Tulane. Romaine posted 12 tackles apiece in road games at West Virginia, Houston and Iowa State. The former three-star prospect generated nine stops at BYU. Romaine even had seven tackles apiece against Arizona, Oklahoma State, and Rutgers.

15. Xavian Sorey, Arkansas: The 23-year old led the Razorbacks in stops, and tied for first on the team in tackles for loss in 2024. Sorey got off to a hot start, and put the quarterback to the turf in the opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He also recorded a sack against Louisiana Tech. Sorey posted 13 tackles, including seven solo against Oklahoma State. The Florida native also generated 11 stops, including six solo and picked off a pass in the victory at Mississippi State. Sorey made nine tackles against LSU, and eight apiece against UAB and Tennessee. The former four-star prospect left a lasting impression with 10 stops in the bowl win over Texas Tech. He’s due for an All-SEC campaign.

14. Keaton Thomas, Baylor: The former Juco started all 13 games with the Bears last season, and led the team in tackles. His 114 stops were the most in a single-season by a Baylor defender since 2018. Thomas also finished second in the Big 12 in tackles per game. The Florida native earned first-team, All-Big 12 honors for his heroics. Thomas returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown in the opener against Tarleton State. The former three-star prospect tallied nine solo tackles, and two sacks at Colorado. Thomas had 12 tackles and a sack in the win at West Virginia. The 6-foot-2, 224-pounder even generated 12 stops at Utah. Thomas recorded 11 tackles against TCU, and 10 at Houston.

13. Dariel Djabome, Rutgers: The Canadian led Rutgers in stops, and tackles for loss last year. Djabome’s 105 tackles were the most in a single-season by a Scarlet Knight defender since 2018. The former two-star prospect capped off his campaign with third-team, All-Big Ten honors. He’s also a two-time, Academic All-Big Ten performer. Djabome posted a season-high, 14 tackles in the opener against Howard. The former two-star prospect tallied 12 stops against Wisconsin, 11 against UCLA, and 10 against Washington. Djabome generated 13 tackles, including 11 solo and a sack against Minnesota. The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder even recorded a sack in road games at Nebraska and Michigan State.

12. Travion Barnes, Baylor: The former three-star prospect put together a monster campaign at Florida International in 2024. Barnes racked up a jaw-dropping, 129 tackles, which were the second-most in a single-season for the Panthers. He finished third in the FBS in tackles per game. Barnes ranked ninth nationally in solo tackles per game. The Florida native capped off the year with first-team, All-CUSA honors too. Barnes posted 15 tackles apiece at UTEP and Florida Atlantic. His 16 stops, and two sacks at Liberty were season-highs. Barnes even recorde nine tackles, and returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown against MonMouth. He’ll make an impact in the Big 12.

11. Red Murdock, Buffalo: The Virginia native started all 13 games for the Bulls last season, and finished second nationally in tackles per game. Murdock ranked fifth in the FBS in solo stops per game, and 14th in tackles for loss. He even led the country in forced fumbles. His 156 tackles were the third-most in a single-season at Buffalo. The cherry on top for Murdock was first-team, All-MAC honors for his stellar campaign. After all, he posted a season-high, 19 tackles in the win over Ball State. Murdock made 16 stops against Western Michigan. The former three-star prospect had 13 tackles, including nine solo, and returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown in the bowl victory over Liberty.

10. Gabe Jacas, Illinois: The Florida native is as versatile as they come, with an elite skill set to play outside linebacker and edge rusher. Jacas led the Fighting Illini in tackles for loss and sacks last season. He even finished second on Illinois in stops, and earned third-team, All-Big Ten honors. Jacas tallied six tackles, including five solo and a sack against Central Michigan. The former three-star prospect posted five stops, and made Dylan Raiola eat grass at Nebraska. Jacas put Drew Allar to the turf the following week at Penn State. His 13 tackles, including six solo and 2.5 sacks in the victory over Michigan were all season-highs. Jacas also had a sack against Oregon and Michigan State.

9. Sammy Brown, Clemson: The former five-star prospect finished second on the Tigers in tackles for loss, and sacks last season as a true freshman. Brown was named the ACC’s Rookie of the Year for his heroics too. He posted nine tackles, including seven solo against Appalachian State. Brown made 11 stops against The Citadel. The 19-year old tallied eight stops, and made the quarterback eat grass in the win at Virginia Tech. Brown also had a sack against Virginia and South Carolina. The Georgia native had a season-high, 14 tackles, including eight solo in the victory over SMU in the ACC Championship Game. Brown left a lasting impression in the Playoffs, with 10 tackles at Texas.

8. Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss: The former five-star prospect is an undersized defender, but excels at edge rusher and outside linebacker. Perkins tied for first on the Rebels in tackles for loss, and sacks last season. He put the quarterback to the turf, and hauled in an interception at Wake Forest. Perkins tallied six tackles, including five solo and two sacks against Kentucky. The Mississippi native generated a season-hgh, 12 tackles, including six solo and a sack in the win at South Carolina. Perkins recorded 11 stops, including eight solo and a jaw-dropping, four sacks in the victory over Oklahoma. Te 6-foot-1, 210-pounder made Carson Beck eat Grass against Georgia, and had 10 tackles at Florida.

7. Bryce Boettcher, Oregon: The hometown kid made 13 starts for the Ducks, led the Big Ten Champs in tackles and was instrumental in their perfect regular season in 2024. Boettcher earned second-team, All Big Ten honors, and won the Burlsworth Trophy, which is given to the most outstanding player, who began his career as a walk-on. Not to mention he was selected by the Houston Astros in last year’s MLB Draft. Boettcher recorded 11 tackles at Oregon State. He also made 11 stops, and a sack against Washington. The 22-year old also had 11 tackles at Oregon State. Boettcher picked off a pass at UCLA. The inside linebacker posted eight stops, and made Luke Altmyer eat grass against Illinois.

6. Sonny Styles, Ohio State: The former five-star prospect finished second on the National Champs in stops, and third in tackles for loss last season. Styles even earned second-team, All-Big Ten honors. He posted nine tackles, including six solo, and put Quinn Ewers to the turf in the Playoff victory over Texas. Styles also recorded nine stops apiece at Oregon and Penn State. Styles tallied eight tackles against Indiana. The 20-year old posted six stops, including five solo and two sacks at Northwestern. Not to mention he made the quarterback eat grass against Purdue and Michigan State. Styles left a lasting impression with six tackles, and a sack in the win over Notre Dame.

5. Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech: The converted quarterback was a team captain, started all 13 games and led the Red Raiders in tackles last season. His 127 stops were the most by a Texas Tech defender since 2002. Rodriguez led the Big 12, and ranked 12th in the FBS in tackles per game. He also led the Big 12, and finished third nationally in solo tackles per game. The Texas native even earned first-team, All-Big 12 honors. Rodriguez posted 13 tackles apiece in road wins over Arizona, and Oklahoma State. Rodriguez tallied 14 tackles, and two sacks in the victory at Iowa State. The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder aso had a sack against West Virginia. His 17 tackles against Colorado were season-highs.

4. Aiden Fisher, Indiana: Although he had no stars behind his name out of high school, the Virginia native has blossomed into one of the nation’s best linebackers. Fisher earned third-team, All-Sun Belt honors at James Madison in 2023. He followed Coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana, and earned first-team, All-Big Ten honors. His 118 stops were the most in a single-season by a Hoosier defender since 2016, plus he ranked second in the Big Ten, and 22nd nationally in tackles per game. Fisher posted 12 tackles apiece against Florida International and Maryland. The 21-year old tallied a season-high, 14 stops against Michigan. Fisher generated 11 tackles against Nebraska, and 10 against Notre Dame.

3. Whit Weeks, LSU: The Georgia native started 11 games, led the Bayou Bengals in stops, and finished second on the team in tackles for loss last season. Weeks’ 125 tackles were the most in a single-season by an LSU defender since 2018, and ranked eighth all-time at the program. He even earned first-team, All-SEC honors. Weeks posted 11 stops at South Carolina. The former four-star prospect tallied a season-high, 18 tackles, including 10 solo and a sack in the win against Ole Miss. Weeks generated 15 stops, including nine solo and a sack in the victory over Oklahoma. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder also had 15 tackles against Alabama. Weeks recorded nine stops, a sack and an interception at Arkansas.

2. Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh: The former three-star prospect led the Panthers in tackles for loss, and sacks last year. Louis ranked second on Pittsburgh with 101 stops, and capped off his stellar campaign with first-team, All-ACC honors. He got off to a hot start with 10 tackles, and a sack in the opener against Kent State. Louis posted a season-high, 13 tackles, and picked off a pass in the victory over West Virginia. The 21-year old returned an interception 59 yards for a touchdown against Syracuse. Louis also generated an interception against Youngstown State, and Virginia. The New Jersey native tallied two sacks against Clemson. Louis also had a sack against SMU, North Carolina and California.

1. Anthony Hill Jr., Texas: The former five-star prospect has generated 180 tackles, including 25 for loss and 13 sacks over the past two seasons. Hill started all 16 games last year, and posted 113 tackles, which were the most in a single-season by a Texas defender since 2004. He led the team in stops, tackles for loss, and earned second-team, AP All-America honors. The Texas native tallied 11 tackles, and a sack against UTSA. Hill also had 11 stops, including seven solo and two sacks apiece in victories over Oklahoma and Kentucky. The 6-foot-3, 237-pounder even had a sack against Mississippi State and Georgia. Hill picked off a pass against Louisiana-Monroe, and made nine stops against Clemson.

Honorable Mention

Bryan McCoy, Oklahoma State: He ranked eighth in the nation in tackles per game last season at Akron. McCoy’s 120 stops were the most by an Akron defender since 2022, and he earned first-team, All-MAC honors.

Jaden Yates, Ole Miss: The Ohio native finished 19th nationally in tackles per game at Marshall in 2024. He also capped off the year with first-team, All-Sun Belt honors. Yates playing alongside Perkins will be scary.

Tyquan King, Connecticut: The redshirt senior was very productive at Temple last season, and racked up 112 stops. King finished 18th nationally in tackles per game, and earned first-team, All-AAC honor for his heroics.

Kyle Efford, Georgia Tech: The Georgia native has led the Yellow Jackets in tackles for the past two seasons, and ended 2024 with third-team, All-ACC honors. Yates is versatile, and can fly from sideline to sideline.

Nikhai Hill-Green, Alabama: The former four-star prospect tied for first on Colorado in tackles for loss, and ranked second on the team in stops last season. Hill-Green also earned second-team, All-Big 12 honors.