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College Top 10 Linbebackers
10. Stanford
10. Stanford
9.Penn StateThe Mohawk-wearing Shayne Skov is a big-play guy and Chase Thomas is a big-time pass rusher. They are the two returning starters in this four-man group (Stanford uses a 3-4 set), but the talent is in place for another solid unit. A key will be whether the new coaching staff lets these guys be as aggressive as they were last season.
8.Nebraska"Linebacker U." has had a short drought of sorts, but the Nittany Lions have some star power at the position this season. If Michael Mauti can stay healthy, he will be an All-Big Ten candidate. Nate Stupar is a veteran hand, and there are also some talented youngsters.
7.North CarolinaLavonte David was a revelation last season, his first with the Huskers after transferring in from a junior college. David - who is from Miami and played with Hurricanes linebacker Sean Spence in high school at Miami Northwestern (yes, they were part of a devastating defense) - set a school single-season record with 152 tackles last season. The Huskers ran a lot of five and six defensive back sets last season, but expect more of a traditional 4-3 look this fall, and Will Compton and Sean Fisher should be able running mates for David. Both were injured last season.
6.OklahomaOnce again, UNC is in turmoil, but the Heels again have some talent on defense. At linebacker, Zach Brown and Kevin Reddick will be one of the best duos in the nation; they combined for 146 tackles and five interceptions last season. Brown might be the fastest linebacker in the nation. Depth is good, and this group also will be playing behind one of the nation's best defensive lines.
5.TexasTravis Lewis is a tackle machine for the Sooners; he has 362 tackles in his first three seasons, which is third-most among active players. He is the best defensive player in the Big 12. Tony Jefferson is undersized (5-10/199), but he's another one of those Sooners true freshmen who made a big impact last season, finishing with 62 tackles and seven pass breakups. Tom Wort likely will start in the middle after the offseason death of Austin Box. This is not an overly big group, but each can run and hit.
4.Boston CollegeSeniors Keenan Robinson and Emmanuel Acho form an experienced and talented 1-2 punch. Robinson was overlooked last season because Texas struggled so much as a team, but he had 113 tackles. Acho is an effective blitzer and also had six pass breakups. The new starter is former five-star recruit Jordan Hicks, an Ohio native who flashed a ton of potential as a true freshman last season.
3.TCUWe talked earlier about Oklahoma's Travis Lewis being a tackle machine. BC junior Luke Kuechly, then, is some kind of futuristic version of that machine. He has made an incredible 341 tackles in two seasons, which is the fourth-most of any active player. If you're interested in watching Kuechly work during a BC game, it's easy to find him: When he's on the field, find the ball and he will be there. He has a solid running mate in sophomore Kevin Pierre-Louis, who made 93 stops as a true freshman last season. The one new starter likely will be sophomore Steele Divitto, and if that isn't a linebacker name, what is?
2.AlabamaTCU runs a 4-2-5 scheme, and the Horned Frogs return both their starters from last season. Since both those starters played at an extremely high level, you have to figure Gary Patterson and his defensive coaches are resting easy, even with questions in the front four and in the secondary. Tank Carder (another good linebacker name) and Tanner Brock are big, physical guys who can lower the boom. They combined for 166 tackles last season. Depth is good, too.
1.Arizona StateNick Saban hoards linebackers like Warren Buffet hoards money - and we're not sure who's in better shape. Seven linebackers started at least one game for the Tide last season and six return, including All-America candidates Dont'a Hightower and Courtney Upshaw. Four of those six are upperclassmen, so they're well-versed in what Saban and his defensive coaches expect. Sophomore C.J. Mosley was excellent as a true freshman, finishing third on the team with 67 tackles and leading the Tide with 10 pass breakups.
This is a nasty bunch of guys - and we mean that in a nice way. The leader is junior Vontaze Burfict, who plays with a mean streak. Burfict hits a ton and also has the speed to run down opposing runners from behind; he led ASU with 90 tackles last season. Burfict has ideal size (6-3/243) and the ideal temperament to play in the middle. One of the outside guys is senior Brandon Magee, who was second on the team with 73 stops. The other outside 'backer will be senior Colin Parker or senior Shelly Lyons, who missed five games last season with an injury. Sophomore Anthony Jones had a great spring and has the physical tools to be a future standout. Sun Devils coaches were frugal in their recruiting of the guys at this position; of ASU's top five 'backers, three are from Corona (Calif.) Centennial - Burfict, Lyons and Magee - and the other two are from Chandler (Ariz.) Hamilton - Jones and Parker.