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 86
79.4
2

Jay
Higgins

LB
Iowa   Mascot
Iowa Mascot
90 65 86 94
81.9
3

Shawn
Murphy

LB
Florida State   Mascot
Florida State Mascot
74 60 84 61
74.0
4

Jason
Henderson

LB
Old Dominion   Mascot
Old Dominion Mascot
87 69 83 72
82.8
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

Cody
Simon

LB
Ohio State   Mascot
Ohio State Mascot
87 89 78 76
76.5
9

Keaten
Wade

LB
/ED
Colorado   Mascot
Colorado Mascot
70 63 78 73
72.2
10

Francisco
Mauigoa

LB
Miami (FL)   Mascot
Miami (FL) Mascot
72 70 78 61
80.9
11

Jaishawn
Barham

LB
Michigan   Mascot
Michigan Mascot
74 78 76 58
80.8
12

Nick
Jackson

LB
Iowa   Mascot
Iowa Mascot
80 75 75 59
56.3
13

Danny
Stutsman

LB
Oklahoma   Mascot
Oklahoma Mascot
77 68 75 62
85.7
14

Deontae
Lawson

LB
Alabama   Mascot
Alabama Mascot
65 80 73 42
60.5
15

Power
Echols

LB
North Carolina   Mascot
North Carolina Mascot
72 74 73 74
76.2
16

Jacob
Dobbs

LB
James Madison   Mascot
James Madison Mascot
76 74 73 70
59.1
17

Eugene
Asante

LB
Auburn   Mascot
Auburn Mascot
84 76 73 55
70.7
18

J.J.
Weaver

LB
/ED
Kentucky   Mascot
Kentucky Mascot
63 64 72 78
78.0
19

Barrett
Carter

LB
Clemson   Mascot
Clemson Mascot
60 76 72 73
86.7
20

Abdul
Carter

LB
Penn State   Mascot
Penn State Mascot
47 96 71 61
88.4