Top 15 Underrated NCAA Linebackers

By Dustin Snyder
Love of Sports Correspondent

Just like with the Top 10 quarterbacks, there’s a plethora of impressive linebacker talent that isn’t getting their much deserved hype as well.

We all know the little guy always gets the shaft, but there’s a few little guys on these teams who aren’t too little.

Every kid on this list will get NFL consideration, and many of them will end up making a name for themselves in the pro league, whereas their efforts in college have gone largely unnoticed.

When your favorite BCS team is playing one of these kids, and he’s making tackles and impressing every one in the room, you can tell your friends “I told ya so.”

Top 10 Linebackers You Need To Know

1. Daniel Holtzclaw, Sr, Eastern Michigan, 6-foot-1, 246 lbs

His preseason All-MAC selection is already on the Lombardi watch list ... and with good reason. Holtzclaw is all over the field. In 2007, he tallied 125 tackles, had two interceptions and broke up four passes. Just imagine if the Eagles could only get that offense moving. It isn’t always easy to be an Eastern Michigan fan.

2. Joe Henderson, Sr, UAB, 6-foot-2, 220 lbs

There’s not a whole lot of reasons for UAB fans to be excited this season, but one look at this kid is enough to have a little bit of hope. Henderson’s been soaring graciously under every radar known to man. In 2007, he was a seconnd-team All-CUSA selection, with five sacks and 109 tackles, 4.5 of them for losses. The Blazers will need him to match those numbers - and then some.

3. Jake Hutton, Sr, Utah State, 6-foot-0, 236 lbs

When Hutton leaves Utah State, the Aggies literally won’t know what to do with themselves. As a freshman, he was the first freshman in school history to lead the team in tackles. He now begins his fourth year as a starter. In 2007, he was an All-WAC selection, gathered 102 tackles, 4.5 of which were for losses.

4. Deon Hightower, Sr, Minnesota, 6-foot-3, 215 ls

Since 2000, Minnesota’s had six different defensive coordinators. The head man last year, Everett Winters, bolted for North Carolina. Things haven’t been easy for the Gopher defense. But new coordinator Ted Roof has got the kids excited. One of them is Hightower, who’s rehabbing from offseason shoulder surgery. Last season, he had 70 tackles, 9.5 which went for losses. In 2008, the Gophers are going to need him to step up even more.

5. Sergio Kindle, Jr, Texas, 6-foot-4, 239 lbs

Kindle left Woodrow Wilson HS in Dallas as a five-star prospect, but injuries have kept his career from reaching its limit early. That may change in 2008, if he can stay healthy. Last year, he had 32 tackles, four for losses. Texas brought in Will Muschamp as the new defensive coordinator, and he’s a guy who’s done marvelous things with his defenses. His track record also carries quite a few big-name LBs.

6. Joe Pawelek, Jr, Baylor, 6-foot-3, 233 lbs

When Art Briles left Houston, he brought in the Penn State secondary coach, Brian Norwood, to coach the defense. Norwood’s switched the 4-2-5 defense to a 4-3, a formation that allows a defensive overseer. He inherited a good one in Pawelek, a kid who garnered seconnd-team All-Big 12 honors in 2007. Pawelek had 99 tackles last season, eight for losses, two sacks, and three forced fumbles.

7. Quean Studivant, So, North Carolina, 6-foot-2, 230 lbs

Sturdivant didn’t even play LB in high school, but UNC is thanking God the transition was a smooth one. He’s had an excellent spring. As a freshman, he tallied 47 tackles and a sack. There isn’t much tape on this kid as yet, but his upside is tremendous.

8. Zack Follett, Sr, California, 6-foot-1, 238 lbs

The grasping-for-straws mentality has officially hit Berkeley, as coach Tedford’s switched his defenses to a 3-4 formation. I hate the 3-4. The coaches are hoping the new scheme will allow Follett to rush off the edge. In 2007, Follett was All-Pac-10, had 65 tackles and seven for losses. Even on a team that tailspinned, Follett still managed to get 5.5 sacks.

9. Bani Gbadyu, So, Penn State, 6-foot-1, 221 lbs

The Nittany Lions have the luxury of being able to say they have what is possibly the best LB depth in the nation. That’s a big statement when you consider the loss of Dan Connor to the NFL and Sean Lee to injury. The injury opened up doors for kids like Bani Gbadyu and Josh Hull. Last year, Gbadyu tallied only six tackles, but his speed and athleticism has allowed him to beat out a plethora of great LBs for the starting spot.

10. Motty Ivy, Sr, West Virginia, 6-foot-2, 236

Lord only knows how this WVU team will fare after losing all those coaches and three of their top four offensive weapons. But the LB corps is impressive in Morgantown, and Ivy’s performances has a lot to do with that. Last season, he had 89 tackles, 11 tackles for losses, and six sacks. On top of that, his speed is impressive.

11. Ward Dobbs, Sr, Wyoming, 6-foot-, 230 lbs

The Cowboys have the worst home uniforms in college football, and for that sole reason (yeah, right!) no one watches their games. But out there in the middle of nowhere, they have themselves a nice little LB in Dobbs. The team’s leading tackler in 2007, he had 98 tackles, six for losses, and was an honorable mention all conference. The leader of the Wyoming defense has his work cut out for him in 2008.

12. Frantz Joseph, Sr, Florida Atlantic, 6-foot-1, 229 lbs.

FAU’s made a quantum leap since their football inception. They’re already the top team in the Sun Belt, and much of that has to do with not only the coaches, but in the kids they recruit. FAU’s done an excellent job in getting kids who are, sometimes foolishly, overlooked by the bigger programs. Joseph’s no exception and is already on the preseason lists for not only the Lombardi, but also the Butkus Award. In 2007, he lead the team in tackles with 131, 12.5 for losses. He’ll duplicate his 2007 All-SBC honors in 2008.

13. Bryant Haines, Sr, Ball State, 6-for-5, 223 pounds

The Ball State surge isn’t just offensive. A few years ago, the LB corps was the weak spot on the team. Now, with maturity, Haines leads an excellent set. Last season, he tallied 125 tackles, nine tackles for losses and was given second-team All-MAC honors. This fifth-year senior won’t be relegated to that same second team in 2008. He’s a natural leader and a great tackler.

14. Russell Allen, Sr, San Diego State, 6-foot-3, 235 lbs

Like many of the kids on this list, San Diego State is another program which doesn’t generally offer their fans much reason to get excited. But Allen has NFL size and speed and is the best defensive player the school has had since Kirk Morrison was drafted a few years ago by the Raiders. Morrison, like Allen, swam in a sea of relative obscurity. Last year, Allen set a school record for tackles in a game, when he got 22 against conference rival Utah. For the season, the senior picked up 119 tackles, 5.5 for losses and averaged 10.6 tackles in his conference games. This year, Allen starts as a preseason All-Mountain West selection.

15. Glenn Cook, Sr, Miami, 6-foot-0 235 - There might be a ton of youth on this Miami defense, but one of the old men is still holding down his starting spot. In 2007, Cook redshirted and didn’t play. But there;s reason to be optimistic despite his vacancy. In 2006, Cook was responsible for 64 tackles. With a new defensive coordinator in Miami, the kids are responding well. Cook’s a very smart player who will contend for the rights to be the next great Hurricane LB.

Much like with the quarterbacks, it is the undercard that makes me excited for college football.

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