Every year we are introduced to new star players across the country while being reintroduced to the top players we already know. The wealth of talent at the college football level influenced us to break down every single roster and pick what we feel would be the perfect lineup to field. The linebacker position wasn’t an easy one to break down since there was so many difficult choices to make based on who we thought deserved to be on this list. Here is a look at our choices for our optimal college football lineup at the linebacker position.
OLB: Tim Williams, Alabama
The fact that Williams was listed third on the depth chart at outside linebacker on the Alabama defense a year ago is testament to the team’s ridiculous recruiting and development. Williams will be a starter this year and it will be very interesting to see how he performs with more snaps. Williams recorded 10.5 sacks in a limited role in 2015 and he should have no problem topping that mark with more opportunities to get after opposing quarterbacks this season. He’ll be a very sought after NFL prospect and Mel Kiper Jr. has him entering the season as the second best player in the country. That’s very high praise for someone who played minimal snaps last year. Williams probably would have been a first-round pick had he come out but if he backs up what he did last season, he’ll be a top five pick this year.
The 6’4’’, 230-pound Williams has a nose for getting after the passer and his dominance off the edge should lead to some impressive numbers in 2016.
ILB: Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State
The Buckeyes’ defense will be made up of a number of first-year starters this season but they will have McMillan back at inside linebacker. Expect them to will lean heavily on his production at the heart of their defense. McMillan started all 13 games for Ohio State in 2015 and he led the team in tackles with 119. The fact that the Buckeyes’ second, third and fourth-leading tacklers were taken in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft offers some perspective of how dominant McMillan is. Even though it’s very early, most 2017 NFL Draft projections have him landing in the middle of the first round. Mel Kiper Jr. projects him to be the 18th-best player in the country.
He could very well be one of the best open-field tacklers in college football and his versatility and leadership make him stand out even more. He showed a lot last year as a true freshman and should only be more polished with a year of experience. McMillan will be an impact player defending both the run and pass and a lock in our perfect college football lineup as our middle linebacker.
OLB: Devonte Fields, Louisville
Fields dominated the Big 12 in his freshman season for TCU as a defensive end. He was cut from the Horned Frogs after an injury-shortened 2013 campaign and after a season in junior college, he reemerged as a force at linebacker after he signed on with Louisville. This is exactly what the Cardinals brought in Bobby Petrino for. Is he a head coach with a checkered past? Absolutely. But he has a knack for finding diamonds in the rough like this – especially kids that need a second change.
Fields paid off handsomely last season as he tied for third in the FBS with 22.5 tackles for loss and he tied for 11th with 11 sacks last season. He added two forced fumbles, broke up three passes and made 35-percent of his tackles behind the line of scrimmage to complete one of the most impressive statistical lines of any linebacker in the ACC. Fields will be one more year removed from his injury-plagued season and could be even better with another year of experience. It will help that the Cardinals are expected to compete for a division title this year, which means Fields – and the team – will be in the spotlight. He’s an every-down linebacker that can rush the passer, make plays in space and drop back in coverage. That’s why he’s primed for another very productive season in 2016.
