There might not be a guaranteed first-round linebacker in the 2023 NFL Draft, but a number of the top linebackers will be on display at the 2023 Senior Bowl. Headlined by Alabama’s Henry To’oTo’o and Army’s Andre Carter II, who are the top Senior Bowl linebackers to watch in Mobile?
Top 2023 Senior Bowl Linebackers NFL Draft Prospects
The 2023 Senior Bowl linebacker rosters include 3-4 OLBs that might otherwise be considered as EDGE prospects but are included here as per the official Senior Bowl website.
1) Henry To’oTo’o, Alabama
Currently ranked as the fourth-best linebacker in the 2023 NFL Draft class, Henry To’oTo’o will be the top linebacker at the Senior Bowl in the absence of Noah Sewell, Drew Sanders, and Trenton Simpson. The Alabama LB has the potential to solidify himself as an early Day 2 prospect while in Mobile.
To’oTo’o is an exciting linebacker prospect with top-tier explosiveness, who plays the game with a hot motor and bruising physicality. Meanwhile, the Alabama LB showcases excellent football intelligence — quickly processing the action and reacting accordingly.
As one of the top linebackers at the Senior Bowl, To’oTo’o can answer some questions hanging over his 2023 NFL Draft stock. These mainly focus on how his size (6’2″, 228 pounds) limits his ability to overwhelm larger offensive linemen, in addition to some difficulties in coverage during his college football career.
2) Andre Carter II, Army
Andre Carter II is one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft, and his inclusion amongst the linebackers at the Senior Bowl makes him one of the top players at the position. Players from service academies — particularly Army — usually have a difficult time making it to the NFL, but there aren’t many prospects quite like Carter.
The excitement around the Army outside linebacker comes from his unique size and athletic profile. The 6’7″, 260-pound OLB’s size is buoyed by excellent length that he regularly uses to make first contact at the point of attack. Carter weaponizes this with a combination of explosion, speed, and change-of-direction ability that a man of his size simply shouldn’t possess.
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To further establish himself as one of the top linebackers at the Senior Bowl, Carter needs to display improvements in the ground game. At this present moment, he’s a pass-rush-specific prospect. Furthermore, we’d like to see him demonstrate the ability to play with a lower pad level and better protect his chest.
3) Ivan Pace Jr., Cincinnati
Mobile is the latest stop on a football journey that has led Ivan Pace Jr. to be one of the top linebackers at the 2023 Senior Bowl. A former two-star linebacker out of Colerain High School, Pace shone at Miami (OH) before a transfer to the Cincinnati Bearcats allowed him to solidify himself as one of the top players at his position.
Like several of the top linebackers at the Senior Bowl, Pace might be considered undersized at 6’0″. Yet, he plays much bigger than his listed size with a ferocious game that exudes energy on every snap. You won’t find many linebackers in this 2023 NFL Draft class that are as potent in the backfield as the Bearcats beast with his ludicrous closing speed and physicality.
4) Isaiah Land, Florida A&M
With OLBs included among the top linebackers at the Senior Bowl, Florida A&M standout Isaiah Land emerges as one of the most exciting to watch in Mobile. The 6’4″, 225-pound pass rusher can solidify his standing as one of the top HBCU prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft with a stellar showing in Mobile.
Land is an explosive pass rusher who boasts excellent play speed. He can win with impressive change-of-direction ability while also possessing the bend to fly around the edge.
While his athletic tools are enticing, the Florida A&M prospect has demonstrated an understanding of how to exploit angles and use multiple pass-rush moves to win. Furthermore, Land’s more than just a situational pass rusher with an ability to get down and dirty against the ground game.
5) Daiyan Henley, Washington State
Although he’s one of the top linebackers at the Senior Bowl, Washington State’s Daiyan Henley has only been playing the position since 2020. The former Nevada product has experience at QB, WR, EDGE, safety, and kick returner, with the athleticism powering that versatility being the exciting factor of his evaluation.
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Henley’s speed ensures that he can patrol the full width of the field, with sideline-to-sideline range. Meanwhile, he can come downhill as a dangerous gap penetrator, leading to 12.0 tackles for loss and four sacks in 2022. As a former DB, Henley has the coverage capability that could see him eventually establish himself as a three-down NFL linebacker.
Other Linebackers To Watch
- Nick Hampton, Appalachian State
- DJ Johnson, Oregon
- Will McDonald IV, Iowa State
- SirVocea Dennis, Pittsburgh
- Carlton Martial, Troy
- Dorian Williams, Tulane
- DeMarvion Overshown, Texas
- Aubrey Miller Jr., Jackson State