Mike Farrell’s Top 10 Linebackers in the 2025 NFL Draft

By Mike Farrell

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1. Jihaad Campbell, Alabama

6-foot-3, 235 pounds. 2024 Stats: 119 Tackles, 5 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles, 1 Int.

Campbell played in nine games as a reserve and on special teams as a freshman in 2022. He started eight of the team’s 13 games in 2023 with 66 tackles and an interception. Campbell started 13 games and was named first-team All-SEC in 2024.

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2. Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina

6-foot-2, 235 pounds. 2024 Stats: 82 Tackles, 2 Sacks, 3 Forced Fumbles, 1 Int.

Knight played four seasons at Georgia Tech from 2019-2022. He played in 36 games before transferring to Charlotte for 2023. He was named first-team All-AAC when he had 96 tackles and three interceptions. He started 10 of 13 games for South Carolina in 2024.

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3. Carson Schwesinger, UCLA

6-foot-2, 242 pounds. 2024 Stats: 136 Tackles, 4 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, 2 Int.

https://twitter.com/ZachHicks2/status/1911551410417656223

Schwesinger was a walk-on and redshirted in 2021. He played in all 26 games as a reserve and on special teams in 2022 and 2023. Schwesinger was a finalist for the Butkus Award (top LB) and was named first-team All-Big Ten and first-team AP All-American in 2024.

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4. Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma

6-foot-3, 233 pounds. 2024 Stats: 110 Tackles, 1 Sack.

Stutsman started all 13 games as a sophomore and led the Big 12 with 125 tackles in 2022. He was named first-team All-Big 12 and third-team AP All-American in 2023. Stutsman’s senior season saw him become a first-team All-SEC and second-team AP All-American selection.

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5. Jack Kiser, Notre Dame

6-foot-2, 231 pounds. 2024 Stats: 90 Tackles, 2 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles.

After redshirting in 2019, Kiser played in 50 games from 2020-2023, starting 18 of those games. For his career, he had 276 tackles, six sacks, four interceptions and two touchdowns. Kiser was named a team captain in 2024 and set a school record with 70 games played.

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6. Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss

6-foot-1, 222 pounds. 2024 Stats: 86 Tackles, 3.5 Sacks, 1 Int.

Paul started his career at Arkansas and had 62 tackles, four sacks and was named a Freshman All-American in 2022. He played in 28 games in three seasons before transferring to Ole Miss. Paul was named second-team All-SEC and third-team AP All-American in 2024.

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7. Barrett Carter, Clemson

6-foot, 231 pounds. 2024 Stats: 82 Tackles, 3.5 Sacks.

https://twitter.com/NFL_DF/status/1790794066797465877

Carter came into his sophomore season as the starter in 2022 and totaled 73 tackles and 5.5 sacks. In 2023, he was named second-team All-ACC with 62 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Carter was a first-team All-ACC and third-team AP All-American selection in 2024.

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8. Kobe King, Penn State

6-foot-1, 236 pounds. 2024 Stats: 97 Tackles, 3 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble.

King played in 13 games as a reserve in 2022 as a redshirt freshman. He started 11 of 13 games in 2023 and recorded 59 tackles, 1.5 sacks and was an Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. King was named a team captain in 2024 and made the second-team All-Big Ten.

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9. Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky

6-foot-1, 238 pounds. 2024 Stats: 67 Tackles, 3.5 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Int.

Dumas-Johnson played three seasons at Georgia from 2021-2023. As a sophomore, he started all 15 games for the national champions and was named second-team AP All-American in 2022. Dumas-Johnson started the first nine games in 2023 before breaking his arm.

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10. Cody Simon, Ohio State

6-foot-2, 229 pounds. 2024 Stats: 112 Tackles, 7 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble.

Simon played in 45 games, had 147 tackles and three sacks from 2020-2023 before becoming the starter in 2024. He started all 15 games for the national champion Buckeyes. Simon was named first-team All-Big Ten and College Football Playoff National Championship Game Defensive MVP in 2024.