Projecting Every Conference’s Best Linebackers in 2024 CFB Season
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Collin Oliver Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Despite being around the ball more than anyone else on defense, linebackers often stay out of the spotlight.
If the unit is subpar, though, it’s easy to see. That juxtaposition can be especially clear in college football, where a stout linebacking corps is a finishing piece of an elite defense.
As we look ahead to the 2024 season, B/R is breaking down every position in every conference and projecting the best unit within each league. The choices are subjective but consider past production—including from transfers—and meaningful position-related context.
Note: Oregon State and Washington State, which are affiliated with the Mountain West in 2024, are considered within the MWC.
American, C-USA and MAC
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Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
AAC: Memphis Tigers
There are several deserving teams to consider. Tulane has a veteran unit, while Rice is a sneaky contender, particularly if we had included edge-rusher or hybrid safety as part of the linebackers.
Memphis, though, returns first-team All-AAC player Chandler Martin with a slew of transfers. Elijah Herring led Tennessee in tackles last year, Javante Mackey had 84 at Arkansas State, and the Tigers added lower-division standouts Matt Hudson and Jayden Flaker.
C-USA: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Rarely can a defense lose three key linebackers and still feel so confident in a returning group. Such is life for Middle Tennessee, which has plenty of experience sticking around.
Parker Hughes notched 53 stops in 2023, while Devyn Curtis tallied 45, with Drew Francis at 43. Throw in Jalen Davis and his 22 tackles, and the Blue Raiders will be sturdy at the second level. Given the near-total rebuild on the defensive front, that may be critical, too.
MAC: Buffalo Bulls
Had I written this piece in April, there’s a good chance Miami would have been the choice. After spring practice, though, Buffalo received a boost with star linebacker Shaun Dolac returning to the program.
Dolac, who missed most of the 2023 season, transferred to Utah State but decided to leave in May. He bolsters a group that leaned on Red Murdock last year. Murdock stepped in for the injured Dolac and posted 60 tackles with 9.5 for loss.
They will play significant snaps, but Dion Crawford is a good third option after he recorded 31 tackles as a freshman.
Mountain West and Sun Belt
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Andrew Simpson Ian Maule/Getty Images
MWC (and Pac-2): Boise State Broncos
This should be a key strength for Washington State, which returns two starters and added Portland State transfer Parker McKenna. As part of the affiliate agreement, Wazzu takes on eight Mountain West teams.
Within the conference formally, there are so many contenders. Colorado State, Nevada and San Jose State all deserve a nod, even though Boise State is my pick.
Andrew Simpson and Marco Notarainni are an excellent one-two punch in the 4-2-5 defense, and both landed All-MWC attention last season.
Chase Martin, Jake Ripp and JUCO transfer Udoka Ezeani round out the Broncos’ quality depth.
Sun Belt: Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
If you have a strong opinion here, I’d love to know. Several defenses have an encouraging group, but none—to me—stand out as undeniably high-end groups.
Louisiana at least has that potential.
K.C. Ossai collected 95 tackles last season, while Cameron Whitfield added 43 with 9.5 stops for loss. Kailep Edwards chipped in 35 tackles as a rotational piece but is expected to start in 2024. Caleb Kibodi and Trey Fite are experienced backups, too.
ACC
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Barrett Carter Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Pick: Clemson Tigers
Last season, the consensus was that Clemson would need to replace Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Barrett Carter after they left for the NFL.
Reality had a slightly different plan, though. And the Tigers aren’t complaining.
Carter passed up the draft to return for another year, providing the unit with a cornerstone defender. He registered 62 tackles with 9.5 stops for loss as a second-team All-ACC selection in 2023.
Wade Woodaz returns on the opposite side of Carter, while Kobe McCloud is set to replace Trotter in the middle. McCloud’s backup will likely be 5-star freshman Sammy Brown.
Big Ten
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Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson Matthew Holst/Getty Images
The Pick: Iowa Hawkeyes
Good luck finding a more productive duo.
Nick Jackson posted three 100-tackle seasons with Virginia before transferring to Iowa in 2023. He made a great impression with 110 stops, including eight for loss and four sacks.
Oh, and he’s the other guy in this tandem.
Jay Higgins piled up a nation-leading 171 tackles, securing second-team AP All-America recognition.
Other defenses in the Big Ten—such as Penn State—have greater depth than the seldom-used Karson Sharar and Jaden Harrell. Given that Jackson and Higgins almost never leave the field, the Hawkeyes only need to worry if an injury happens.
Big 12
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Collin Oliver William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Pick: Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State is retooling the front six, but a formidable group of linebackers should help ease the transition.
First-team All-Big 12 selection Nick Martin paced the Pokes with 140 tackles last season. Meanwhile, Collin Oliver moved back from edge-rusher, recorded 73 stops and earned second-team All-Big 12 recognition. They combined for 31.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.
Xavier Benson is gone, but OSU has a clear replacement.
Though an injury effectively sidelined Justin Wright last year, expectations are plenty high. He started for three seasons at Tulsa, generating 60-plus tackles each year and peaking at 101 in 2022.
As with Iowa, depth is a little thin beyond Gabe Brown and Donovan Stephens, but Oklahoma State won’t often be removing Martin, Oliver and Wright from the field.
SEC
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D’Eryk Jackson Andy Lyons/Getty Images
The Pick: Kentucky Wildcats
Honestly, you could flip a—well, maybe roll a dice? Alabama, Georgia and LSU merit consideration, and both Auburn and Oklahoma aren’t terribly far back, either.
I would accept an argument for nearly any of them, especially Bama or UGA. Also, I happen to like Kentucky.
For me, the difference-maker is Georgia transfer Jamon Dumas-Johnson—a two-year starter at UGA who garnered second-team AP All-America billing in 2022. He strengthens a defense that already returns top tackler D’Eryk Jackson and versatile outside ‘backer J.J. Weaver.
Daveren Rayner notched 30 tackles last season and headlines an intriguing, sophomore-heavy reserve unit.
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