During his four seasons with the Old Dominion Monarchs, Jason Henderson has become synonymous with tackling expertise. He’s twice led the nation in assisted tackles (2022 and 2023) and has averaged 109.7 tackles per season, a remarkable feat made even more impressive by the fact he played just one game last fall due to injury. He doesn’t just bolster statistics with meaningless downfield tackles, however, with Henderson a constant backfield enforcer with 34 tackles for loss.
Suntarine Perkins followed up an impressive freshman campaign for the Ole Miss Rebels with a standout sophomore season, setting the scene for a junior year that could establish him as one of the best linebackers in the country. A former five-star with an elite athletic profile, Perkins has established himself as a do-it-all defensive playmaker who is equally as comfortable using his excellent speed to missile into the backfield as an edge rusher as he is using his coverage skills and patience in a more traditional linebacker role
Jake Retzlaff commanded a lot of attention last fall as the BYU Cougars embarked on a nine-game winning run that carried them as high as seventh in the AP Poll. Yet, in reality, the program’s success was built on defense, a unit led by do-it-all linebacker Jack Kelly. A ferocious force coming downhill who deconstructs blocks for fun, Kelly racked up 10 tackles for loss and five sacks while leading the Cougars with two forced fumbles. He’s physical but smart, and brings coverage chops too. His return is huge for BYU in 2025.
The Buffalo Bulls boasted CSN’s 2024 Linebacker of the Year, Shaun Dolac, who masked the accomplishments of teammate Red Murdock who is primed to receive more national attention in 2025. Murdock tallied 156 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception which he returned for a touchdown. No player in the country had more forced fumbles (7) than the Buffalo linebacker, who hits with ferocity while demonstrating the ability to read the game at a high level.
One of the top linebackers in the country, Aiden Fisher earned a CSN All-American honorable mention after making the transition from the Sun Belt to the Big Ten alongside former James Madison Dukes head coach Curt Cignetti. Fisher was unfazed by the jump from the Group of Five level to the Power Four, putting together another six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks campaign while notching over 100 tackles for the second successive season. You don’t want to meet him in the alley this fall.
Kyle Louis experienced a breakout campaign at the heart of the Pittsburgh Panthers defense last season, finishing second on the team with 101 tackles in his third ACC campaign. After registering 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and four interceptions, he earned CSN Third Team All-American honors while being named CSN’s ACC Linebacker of the Year. His all encompassing skill set even extends to being an impact maker on special teams, blocking a kick and returning it for a score against the Toledo Rockets.
The Clemson Tigers have had a string of elite linebackers in recent years, and after his performances as a true freshman for Dabo Swinney’s team a year ago, Sammy Brown is set to earn his place among the best in the country. He was named the CSN Freshman Linebacker of the Year and tallied 80 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and five sacks in 2024, more than any other Clemson linebacker. He should be even better in 2025.
A CSN Second Team All-American in 2024, Anthony Hill Jr. enters the 2025 college football season as one of the top linebackers in the country. He’s been a high-level contributor for the Texas Longhorns since making his debut as a true freshman, and enters his junior campaign on the back of a season where he led the SEC in tackles for loss (17) and forced fumbles. A force coming downhill, he also impacts the passing game both with pressure and coverage capability.
Weeks’ season ended in tragedy with a dislocated ankle suffered in the Texas Bowl win over the Baylor Bears. Yet that shouldn’t overshadow a sensational sophomore campaign. He led the SEC with 61 solo tackles, tallied 10 tackles for loss with 3.5 sacks, snagged an interception and forced two fumbles.
