The 2025 college football season is still roughly two months away from offically kicking off, but that leaves plenty of time for Ranking Season to continue. And Athlon Sports more than provided with its 2025 preseason college football preview magazine.
As part of its annual preseason preview, Athlon Sports identified the Top 10 positional groupings entering the 2025 regular season, including the Top 10 linebacker units. To little surprise, the SEC leads the way with four of Athlon’s Top 10 linebacker rooms, including the Top 2 overall units. The Big Ten was also well-represented with three teams in the Top 10, including the last two College Football Playoff national champions.
Reigning national runner-up Notre Dame also managed to crack Athlon’s Top 5, while the ACC earned a pair of Top 10 spots. Check out Athlon Sports’ full Top 10 list of best linebacker units below:
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Projected starters: MLB Jaishawn Barham, WLB Ernest Hausmann, EDGEs TJ Guy, Derrick Moore
The Wolverines return a particularly experienced group in the heart of its defense, including starting linebackers in Barham (66 tackles) and Hausmann (team-high 89 tackles, both of whom started all 13 games last season. Michigan also returns veteran pass rushers in Moore (4 sacks, 6 TFL) and Guy (5.5 sacks, 7 TFL), who combined for 9.5 sacks and 13 TFL in 2024.
Projected starters: MLB Whit Weeks, WLB Harold Perkins
The heart of the Tigers’ defense rests with Perkins and Weeks in 2025. Perkins, a former 5-star recruit in 2022, has had his once-promising collegiate career derailed by injuries, including being limited to just four games in 2024. Meanwhile, Weeks has emerged as one of the SEC’s top tacklers after finishing second in the league with 125 total tackles in 2024, including 10 for loss.
Projected starters: MAC Bryce Boettcher, MONEY Devon Jackson, JACK Teitum Tuioti
Much likes others on this list, the Ducks return all three of their projected starters from last season, including 13-game starting ‘backers Boettcher and Tuiioti. Boettcher, a two-sport star and former walk-on to the football team, led Oregon with 94 total tackles in 2024, while Tuitoti added 58 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Jackson started one game in 2024 and will replace Kansas City Chiefs draft pick Jeffery Bassa.
Projected starters: WLB Rasheem Biles, STAR Kyle Louis, MLB Braylan Lovelace
Louis returns after receiving All-American honors and a first-team All-ACC selection after racking up 101 total tackles, including a team-high 15.5 TFL and 7 sacks, while making 13 starts in 2024. Biles wasn’t far behind him with 82 tackles, 14.5 for loss, and 5.5 sacks across 8 starts last season, while Lovelace appears in line to replace Brandon George as the Panthers’ starting middle linebacker in 2025.
Projected starters: MLB Justin Jefferson, STING Deontae Lawson, WOLF Qua Russaw
Lawson and Jefferson both opted to return for their fifth season, giving the Crimson Tide one of the SEC’s most experienced LB units. Lawson (76 total tackles, 6.5 TFL) is back after suffering a season-ending injury against Oklahoma, while Jefferson (60 tackles, 6.5 TFL) earned a NCAA waiver following Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia‘s court win last year. Russaw becomes a full-time starter after tallying 36 tackles in limited role as a true freshamn.
Projected starters: MLB Wade Woodaz, WLB Sammy Brown
While they might not have the star power of their peers in the trenches, Brown and Woodaz are arguably the true heart of the Clemson defense after combining on 163 total tackles in 2024. Woodaz started 13 games last season and led the team with 83 stops, while Brown won ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year after ranking second to superstar DE T.J. Parker with 11.5 TFL, 5 sacks and 80 tackles last season.
Projected starters: ROVER Jaiden Ausberry, MLB Drayk Bowen, WLB Jaylen Sneed
The Fighting Irish lost leading tackler Jack Kiser to the NFL, but still returns serious talent in the middle of its defense, including rising juniors Bowen (78 total tackles, 3 forced fumbles) and Sneed (51 tackles). But arguably the most impactful returner is Ausberry, who splashed as sophomore with 58 total tackles, 6.5 TFL, and two QB hurries despite just two starts in 2024.
Projected starters: EDGE Beau Atkinson, WLB Sonny Styles, MLB Arvell Reese
Despite significant turnover within the Buckeyes’ championship defense, including losing leading tackler Cody Simon, Ohio State still features plenty of talent and experience at LB. Styles has started 28 straight games and ranked second on the team with 100 total tackles last season, while Reese will replace Simon after making two starts in 2024. Atkinson transferred in from North Carolina after racking up 7.5 sacks, 5 QB hurries, 12 TFL and 35 tackles last season.
Projected starters: MONEY CJ Allen, JACK Elo Modozie, MAC Raylen Wilson
While the Bulldogs’ 2024 defense took its share of lumps, the heart of the unit more than held its own last season. Led by Allen (76 total tackles, 5 QB hurries, 4 PBUs) and Wilson (47 tackles, 7 TFL) in the middle, Georgia’s linebackers made plays all over the field. After losing some of its best pass rushers off last season’s squad, the Bulldogs added 6-foot-3, 245-pound EDGE Modozie (6.5 sacks, 8 TFL) from Army out of the transfer portal.
Projected starters: MLB Anthony Hill Jr., WLB Trey Moore, BUCK Colin Simmons
Given the sheer wealth of returning talent, it’s no surprise the Longhorns would have college football’s top-ranked LB room. After opting to forgo the NFL, the senior Hill comes back as arguably the best individual linebacker in college football after racking up 113 total tackles and a SEC-leading 16.5 TFL in 2024. Simmons added a team-high nine sacks and 14 TFL despite not starting a single game as a true freshman. That’ll change in 2025. On the other side, Moore has made 15 consecutive starts after adding 5.5 sacks and 9.5 TFL last season.
