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

Jack
Kiser

LB
Notre Dame   Mascot
Notre Dame Mascot
91 79 90 85
78.5
2

Jay
Higgins

LB
Iowa   Mascot
Iowa Mascot
92 65 87 95
84.4
3

Deontae
Lawson

LB
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
73 90 82 47
83.0
4

Jason
Henderson

LB
Old Dominion   Mascot
Old Dominion Mascot
86 68 82 71
79.7
5

Dasan
McCullough

LB
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
75 59 79 82
84.6
6

Jamon
Dumas-Johnso...

LB
Kentucky   Mascot
Kentucky Mascot
61 75 79 67
84.5
7

Derrick
Moore

LB
/ED
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
64 85 79 49
84.0
8

Keaten
Wade

LB
/ED
Colorado   Mascot
Colorado Mascot
71 63 78 73
72.5
9

Cody
Simon

LB
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
86 88 77 75
74.0
10

Francisco
Mauigoa

LB
Miami   Mascot
Miami Mascot
71 69 77 60
78.0
11

Shawn
Murphy

LB
Florida State   Mascot
Florida State Mascot
68 54 76 55
56.0
12

Jaishawn
Barham

LB
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
75 78 76 59
82.1
13

J.J.
Weaver

LB
/ED
Kentucky   Mascot
Kentucky Mascot
76 76 76 76
75.0
14

Danny
Stutsman

LB
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
77 68 75 62
85.7
15

Power
Echols

LB
North Carolina   Mascot
North Carolina Mascot
71 73 72 73
74.0
16

Barrett
Carter

LB
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
60 76 72 73
86.7
17

Abdul
Carter

LB
/ED
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
47 96 71 61
88.4
18

Lander
Barton

LB
Utah   Mascot
Utah Mascot
66 71 71 83
86.0
19

Nick
Jackson

LB
Iowa   Mascot
Iowa Mascot
75 70 71 55
45.6
20

Harold
Perkins Jr.

LB
LSU   Mascot
LSU Mascot
73 86 70 86
89.0