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
77 100 100 86
83.6
2

Kobe
King

LB
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
78 70 94 72
83.1
3

Cody
Simon

LB
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
78 91 94 80
83.0
4

Danny
Stutsman

LB
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
79 73 92 56
84.6
5

Jalen
McLeod

LB
/ED
Auburn   Mascot
Auburn Mascot
70 97 90 77
79.0
6

Jack
Kiser

LB
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
94 77 88 74
80.3
7

Chris
Paul Jr.

LB
Ole Miss   Mascot
Ole Miss Mascot
90 85 87 76
84.8
8

Demetrius
Knight Jr.

LB
South Carolina   Mascot
South Carolina Mascot
84 85 85 86
85.9
9

Jihaad
Campbell

LB
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
93 79 83 82
87.0
10

Keenan
Pili

LB
Tennessee   Mascot
Tennessee Mascot
70 62 82 65
74.0
11

Barryn
Sorrell

LB
/ED
Texas   Mascot
Texas Mascot
57 83 82 62
81.0
12

Shaun
Dolac

LB
Buffalo   Mascot
Buffalo Mascot
82 72 81 82
74.0
13

Barrett
Carter

LB
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
71 72 81 53
84.8
14

Que
Robinson

LB
/ED
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
76 89 80 73
80.0
15

Oluwafemi
Oladejo

LB
/ED
UCLA   Mascot
UCLA Mascot
74 63 79 72
82.4
16

Jay
Higgins

LB
Iowa   Mascot
Iowa Mascot
83 70 79 96
79.3
17

Karene
Reid

LB
Utah   Mascot
Utah Mascot
86 71 79 62
79.0
18

Chandler
Martin

OLB
Memphis   Mascot
Memphis Mascot
64 61 79 70
74.0
19

Jackson
Woodard

LB
UNLV   Mascot
UNLV Mascot
67 74 78 71
74.0
20

Cody
Lindenberg

LB
Minnesota   Mascot
Minnesota Mascot
62 66 78 64
77.0