Tier 2: Top-50 players with first-round potential
Chazz Surratt, North Carolina: Potentially the most interesting storyline I’ve ever followed, Chazz Surratt is a former star high school quarterback who won National Player of the Year. In his redshirt freshman season, Surratt started seven games and showed some promise. However, Surratt would lose the starting job, and after the 2018 season, he made the decision to move to the defensive side of the ball. There, Surratt believed he had a chance to make enough of an impact to get a shot at playing football at the next level, and he was absolutely correct.
Surratt has always been an excellent athlete, and his athletic ability is on display in his sideline-to-sideline speed. Surratt, as a former quarterback, plays the game with great instincts. However, he has only started to learn the position. With another full offseason learning the position, Surratt could prove to be an elite linebacker, given his athletic ability, size, and intellect of the game.
Nick Bolton, Missouri: Playing significant time on an SEC team as a true freshman is impressive. Being voted to the All-SEC by the coaches as a true sophomore is even more impressive. At 6’0″, 235, Nick Bolton is a tad undersized and occasionally lines up in the secondary. However, I think he projects best as a linebacker at the next level. He’s a solid athlete, and can absolutely lay the wood. Bolton was super productive in the SEC in his first two seasons, and I expect him to take a leap this year and cement himself as a legitimate star prospect.
Tier 1: Future All-Pro level players
Dylan Moses, Alabama: Many thought Dylan Moses would be a surefire first-rounder this year. He has elite sideline-to-sideline speed, great instincts, and is strong in coverage. Add on his size of 6’3″, 233, and Moses is an elite linebacker prospect. Moses chose to return to school after missing all of last season to an injury. If he can return to form and produce in his final season at Alabama, expect him to be a highly coveted prospect.
Micah Parsons, Penn State: I fully expect Micah Parsons to be the best linebacker I’ve ever evaluated. That title currently belongs to Roquan Smith, coming out of Georgia. Parsons is still learning the position, as he was recruited as a defensive end. His physical abilities are special; he’s got elite size at 6’3″, 245 pounds, and flies around the field. He’s instinctual in coverage, dominant against the run, and an elite pass rusher for the position. Expect Parsons to be one of the best players in the country next year, and the first defensive player selected in next year’s draft. He is the top linebacker prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft.