{"id":23885,"date":"2023-04-24T17:19:02","date_gmt":"2023-04-24T21:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=23885"},"modified":"2023-04-24T17:19:05","modified_gmt":"2023-04-24T21:19:05","slug":"2023-nfl-draft-top-6-linebackers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/nfl\/2023-nfl-draft-top-6-linebackers\/","title":{"rendered":"2023 NFL DRAFT: TOP 6 LINEBACKERS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY ADAM GREENE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with our running backs (and upcoming safety) lists, it\u2019s important to talk about how undervalued the linebacker position is coming into the NFL Draft. What causes it? Mainly the size and athleticism involved in being a solid linebacker is something a lot of college athletes possess these days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are simply too many talented linebackers coming out of the NCAA every year to make the position tough to fill. Still, I\u2019ve taken what could be 30 NFL caliber guys and pared them down to just six here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, feast your eyes upon my Top 6 Linebackers heading into the 2023 NFL Amateur Player Selection Meeting<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. DREW SANDERS, ARKANSAS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Age:<\/strong> 22<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size:<\/strong> 6-4, 235 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2022:<\/strong> 103 tackles, 13.5 for a loss, 9.5 sacks, one interception, five passes defended, one fumble recovery<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PFF Grade:<\/strong> 79.2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Odds to be 1st<\/sup> linebacker selected:<\/strong> +15<\/a>0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drew Sanders entered the transfer portal after appearing in just 15 games over two years for the University of Alabama and it paid off in a big way. He went from a guy that could barely get onto the field, to a potential first, and at worst, second round draft pick. In his two seasons with the Crimson Tide, he recorded a total of 33 tackles. In one season starting for Arkansas in that same SEC West Division, he notched 103. Sanders was an Associated Press first team All-American and recorded the second most sacks in the SEC in 2022 behind only Will Anderson, Jr. He\u2019s probably not the next Micah Parsons, but if he’s Micah Parsons Lite, any team that takes him will be more than happy with that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NFL Mock Draft 2.0 Prediction:<\/strong> No. 22 overall to the Baltimore Ravens<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. JACK CAMPBELL, IOWA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Age:<\/strong> 22<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size:<\/strong> 6-5, 249 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2022:<\/strong> 125 tackles, 5.5 for a loss, one sack, two interceptions, one pass defended, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PFF Grade:<\/strong> 91.9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Odds to 1st<\/sup> linebacker selected:<\/strong> -110<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Sanders might be a linebacker and edge rusher hybrid, Jack Campbell is your classic linebacker and maybe the best pure linebacker of this bunch. His production, since sliding into the starting role for Iowa, has been off the charts. He recorded 140 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, a sack, two picks, one touchdown, six passes defended, two fumble recoveries, a defensive touchdown and one forced fumble in 2021. And this was a guy that Cincinnati wanted to convert to a tight end back in 2020? Campbell nabbed the Dick Butkis award last season as the nation\u2019s best linebacker. He\u2019s the 13th<\/sup> player in Iowa\u2019s history to earn unanimous All-American nods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NFL Mock Draft 2.0 Prediction:<\/strong> N\/A Projected to be a round two selection<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. DAIYAN HENLEY, WASHINGTON STATE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Age:<\/strong> 23<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size:<\/strong> 6-2, 225 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2022:<\/strong> 106 tackles, 12 for a loss, four sacks, one interception, one pass defended, two fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PFF Grade:<\/strong> 73.3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Odds to 1st<\/sup> linebacker selected:<\/strong> +2200<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daiyan Henley did himself a huge favor entering the transfer portal and moving from Nevada, in the FCS, to Washington State in the Pac-12. You always have to factor in high production at a lower level when you\u2019re evaluating a prospect, simply because the players an FCS or NCAA Division II guy is lining up across any given week, are usually not NFL talents. A guy that will be the best realtor in Phoenix in two years? Sure, but not a guy that\u2019s landing on an NFL team. In the Pac-12, Henley ran into those future NFL players, literally, and put up the best stats of his entire collegiate career. He was named an All-Pac-12 first teamer and was a Butkis award finalist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NFL Mock Draft 2.0 Prediction:<\/strong> N\/A Projected to go in the second or third round<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. HENRY TO\u2019O TO\u2019O, ALABAMA<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Age:<\/strong> 22<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size:<\/strong> 6-1, 227 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2022:<\/strong> 94 tackles, eight for a loss, 2.5 sacks<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PFF Grade:<\/strong> 70.4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Henry To\u2019o To\u2019o was one of the few bright spots of the Jeremy Priutt era at the University of Tennessee. He started both his freshman and sophomore seasons and recording 140 tackles, 12.5 for a loss, a sack, a pick, a defensive touchdown and two passes defended, all for one of the worst college football coaches of all time. In 2021, To\u2019o To\u2019o took his talents to Tuscaloosa, and under professional coaching instruction, spent the next two seasons chewing up the SEC. As great as his stats were last season, they were even better in 2021 when he posted 111 tackles, 7.5 for a loss, four sacks, one pass defended and a forced fumble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NFL Mock Draft 2.0 Prediction:<\/strong> N\/A projected to go in the third or fourth round<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. TRENTON SIMPSON CLEMSON<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Age:<\/strong> 21<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size:<\/strong> 6-2, 235 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2022:<\/strong> 72 tackles, four for a loss, 2.5 sacks, three passes defended, two forced fumbles<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PFF Grade:<\/strong> 69.7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Odds to 1st<\/sup> linebacker selected:<\/strong> +300<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simpson took over as a full-time starter for Clemson as a sophomore and instantly produced. In 2021, he finished with 65 tackles, a ridiculous 12.5 for a loss and 6.5 sacks. He was used as a more traditional linebacker last season, but can still be a hybrid edge rusher if called upon. He was a Butkis award finalist and a third team All-ACC selection in 2022. He combines all that production with top-line 4.43 speed, a mark many of the running backs in this draft didn\u2019t hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NFL Mock Draft 2.0 Prediction:<\/strong> N\/A Projected to go in the second or third round<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. DORIAN WILLIAMS, TULANE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Age:<\/strong> 21<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Size:<\/strong> 6-1, 228 pounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2022:<\/strong> 132 tackles, 8.5 for a loss, five sacks, two interceptions, seven passes defended, two forced fumble<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PFF Grade:<\/strong> 83.3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re an NFL talent at a smaller school, you need to jump off the stat sheet and video reel as a man among buys. Williams did that for three consecutive seasons for the Green Wave. Last year\u2019s numbers were off the chart and he proved he can play in space as well as rush the passer. But he did plenty in the years\u2019 previous to show it was no fluke, recording 97 tackles, 15.5 for a loss and 3.5 sacks in 2020 and 73 tackles, three for a loss and a sack in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NFL Mock Draft 2.0 Prediction:<\/strong> N\/A Projected to go in the third or fourth round<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter <\/em>@TheFirstMan<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with us our socials on <\/em>Twitter<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>Instagram<\/em><\/a> for the latest sports news, viral moments, betting odds and the occasional memes.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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