While linebackers may not always be drafted as early as skill position players or pass rushers, they are essential to a football team’s success.
With college bowl games and the College Football Playoff quickly approaching, football fans are going to be treated to some phenomenal games in the coming weeks. And NFL fans are going to be making their lists (and checking them twice) of players they would love to see their favorite team draft to help their squad improve next season.
We’ve been looking at the top prospects at the college level whose names will be called in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Today, we close the books on the defensive side of the ball with the guys who call the shots in the huddle: the linebackers. Though they aren’t always drafted as early as skill position players and pass rushers, linebackers are critical to any football team’s success.
Here are the top names to watch at linebacker heading toward the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jalon Walker
Georgia
6–2, 245
Thirty-six solo tackles, 6.5 sacks, one pass breakupWalker, a three-year contributor at Georgia, is likely the only off-ball linebacker whose name will be called in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He has the size to play inside or outside linebacker at the next level, and his long arms help his pass-rush ability. Walker is still a raw prospect in many regards, however. If he’s an inside linebacker, he’ll need work in pass coverage; if he’s outside, he’ll need to develop his repertoire of pass rush moves.
Jihaad Campbell
Alabama
6–3, 244
Fifty-five solo tackles, five sacks, one interception, two pass breakupsCampbell, a two-year contributor at Alabama, is likely an early Day Two pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He has the ideal size to be an off-ball linebacker at the next level and pursues the ball very well. He uses his length to play the pass effectively, as well. He forced two fumbles and broke up two passes as a junior.
Chris Paul, Jr.
Mississippi
6–1, 235
Forty-eight solo tackles, 3.5 sacks, four pass breakups, one interceptionPaul profiles as a true inside linebacker in either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme at the next level. He has great play recognition, is a strong, reliable tackler, and has good speed in pursuit. He’ll need to work on shedding blocks. After spending three years at Arkansas, he moved to Ole Miss and had a terrific senior season. He’s likely a late-second or third-round pick.
Danny Stutsman
Oklahoma
6–4, 241
Forty-four solo tackles, one sackStutsman was a four-year contributor at Oklahoma. Over the course of his career, he filled the stat sheet: three straight seasons with at least 104 total tackles, eight career pass breakups, four career forced fumbles, eight career sacks, and three career interceptions (one of which he returned for a touchdown). He has great size, reads the ball well and can play in all situations. He’s likely a second or third-round pick.
Barrett Carter
Clemson
6–1, 230
Thirty-nine solo tackles, 3.5 sacks, seven pass breakupsCarter, who played four years for Clemson, is another prospect who profiles as a traditional inside linebacker and fills the box score. Over the course of his career, he was credited with 12.5 sacks and 21 pass breakups, as well as two forced fumbles. He’s likely a late Day Two or early Day Three pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
