BEST RATED RUN DEFENDING LINEBACKERS 2025 NFL Draft

2025 BEST RATED RUN DEFENDING LINEBACKERS

A dominant run defense often pivots on the linebacker’s capability to decipher plays, navigate through blocks, and bring down ball carriers with efficacy. Throughout the years, linebackers like Reuben Foster (Alabama) and Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame) have etched their names in college football lore, being recognized for their exceptional ability to quell opposing run games through astute play reading and unyielding tackling.

Explore, in the subsequent data, a compilation of current linebackers who stand as bastions against the run in college football. Delve into their play via metrics like run-stop percentage, tackles for loss, and run defense grading, offering a nuanced view of how these linebackers are curbing opposing run offenses and fortifying their team’s defensive front.

2025 Linebackers ranked by RUN DEFENSE

RANK Player Pos Team TACKLING PASS RUSH RUN DEFENSE COVERAGE Rating
1

David
Walker

LB
/ED
Central Arkansas   Mascot
Central Arkansas Mascot
73 99 92 72
77.1
2

Deontae
Lawson

LB
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
75 80 89 59
84.7
3

Cody
Simon

LB
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
69 85 86 71
78.2
4

Jack
Kiser

LB
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
86 65 85 78
78.1
5

Danny
Stutsman

LB
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
76 72 85 62
83.6
6

Reid
Carrico

LB
West Virginia   Mascot
West Virginia Mascot
78 56 79 66
70.0
7

Jay
Higgins

LB
Iowa   Mascot
Iowa Mascot
86 66 78 98
84.2
8

Jaishawn
Barham

LB
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
77 69 78 52
82.0
9

Barrett
Carter

LB
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
68 75 77 65
86.3
10

Shawn
Murphy

LB
Florida State   Mascot
Florida State Mascot
68 54 76 55
56.0
11

Barryn
Sorrell

LB
/ED
Texas   Mascot
Texas Mascot
60 74 76 79
77.8
12

J.J.
Weaver

LB
/ED
Kentucky   Mascot
Kentucky Mascot
76 76 76 76
75.0
13

Lander
Barton

LB
Utah   Mascot
Utah Mascot
52 58 76 74
83.7
14

Karene
Reid

LB
Utah   Mascot
Utah Mascot
80 71 75 68
83.3
15

Jihaad
Campbell

LB
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
82 79 75 76
83.0
16

Jamon
Dumas-Johnso...

LB
Kentucky   Mascot
Kentucky Mascot
66 64 74 64
82.1
17

Power
Echols

LB
North Carolina   Mascot
North Carolina Mascot
71 65 74 70
78.2
18

Khari
Coleman

LB
Ole Miss   Mascot
Ole Miss Mascot
61 60 73 45
61.3
19

Ty
French

LB
/ED
West Virginia   Mascot
West Virginia Mascot
68 62 72 66
64.1
20

Harold
Perkins Jr.

LB
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
66 80 72 76
87.7