The NFL Draft is a mere few months down the line. One of the major events kicking off the cycle is the Senior Bowl. Many of the positions have depth at the event, but one, in particular, is full of potential. Who are the linebackers participating in the 2022 Senior Bowl, and who are the top prospects of the bunch?
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2022 Senior Bowl Linebackers
Here are the 16 linebackers competing in the 2022 Senior Bowl.
Note: Utah’s Devin Lloyd, Iowa State’s Mike Rose, and Georgia’s Quay Walker withdrew from the Senior Bowl
National Team
- Terrel Bernard | Baylor
- Darrian Beavers | Cincinnati
- Mike Rose | Iowa State
- Jesse Luketa | Penn State
- Devin Lloyd | Utah
- Sterling Weatherford | Miami (Ohio)
- Chad Muma | Wyoming
- Brian Asamoah II | Oklahoma
- Troy Andersen | Montana State
American Team
- D’Marco Jackson | Appalachian State
- Jeremiah Moon | Florida
- Quay Walker | Georgia
- Channing Tindall | Georgia
- Damone Clark | LSU
- JoJo Domann | Nebraska
- Aaron Hansford | Texas A&M
Top Senior Bowl Linebackers
Both teams are loaded with talent at the linebacker position, with each player having their own NFL ceilings and floors. Coverage drills are important to showcase fluidity and athleticism at the second level.
Seven-on-seven sessions allow LBs to display zone and man skills while running with TEs and RBs. One-on-ones against OTs and RBs offers LBs the chance to prove their pass-rushing chops. And, of course, 11-on-11s and the Senior Bowl game itself highlight read-and-reaction speed while playing against some of the best NFL prospects.
Devin Lloyd and Chad Muma lead the National Team
Chad Muma is a patient LB, but he quickly identifies and attacks plays. He fills and shoots gaps with ferocity and processes quickly in coverage. Next up, Darrian Beavers, an exciting athlete that played receiver and safety in high school. At Cincinnati, he flashed his versatility and sideline-to-sideline prowess. He should quickly rise up draft boards with likely impressive testing numbers.
Speaking of former safeties, Sterling Weatherford joins the LB group at the Senior Bowl after lining up at safety for Miami (OH) for four years. He has plenty of experience in the box, and at 6’4″ and 221 pounds, has the size.
Meanwhile, Jesse Luketa thrived in a hybrid LB/EDGE role at Penn State in 2021. He will have to prove his coverage ability, but there is no denying he is a monster against the run.
Baylor’s Terrel Bernard, Oklahoma’s Brian Asamoah II, and Montana State’s Troy Andersen round out the National Team’s linebacking corps. Bernard is on the lighter side (222 pounds), but he gives up little in coverage (zero TDs allowed in his college career). Additionally, Asamoah is a rangy and explosive defender who wraps up well. An FCS standout, Andersen is an instinctual LB with a nose for the ball, making plays against the run and in coverage.
The American Team sports two national champions
While the National Team owns impressive talent, the American Team isn’t lacking any. Leading the way is a national champion in Georgia’s Channing Tindall.
2021 was Tindall’s first season as a starter, so there is a lot of tread left on the tires. Furthermore, he flys around the field and keeps the action in front of him. LSU’s Damone Clark is another linebacker who could skyrocket up draft boards with a solid showing at the Senior Bowl. Clark can bite on run plays at times, but he is rangy and can win engagements against blockers.
D’Marco Jackson was a machine for Appalachian State. He is violent when coming downhill, and outside of occasionally missed tackles, has few glaring holes in his game. While Jackson is a bit of a safer prospect, JoJo Domann is an interesting evaluation. He played almost exclusively in the slot and on the line at Nebraska. He received few reps in the box, so seeing how he performs there at the Senior Bowl will be key.
Lastly, we have Jeremiah Moon (Florida) and Aaron Hansford (Texas A&M). Moon is an older prospect, having been with the Gators since 2016. Yet, he has little experience in coverage and played significant snaps on the edge. He may be best utilized as an OLB or in a role closer to the line of scrimmage that utilizes his pass-rushing prowess. There were reports that Hansford may return to school, but he fits the modern mold of athletic/cover LBs in the NFL.