The college football season represents a time for evaluation among NFL scouts as they do their best to find the next generation of elite talents for their respective teams. Inside linebackers are asked to do more now than ever before with a need to be able to diagnose plays before the snap, drop back and make plays in pass coverage and lay out some big hits against the run. Here is a look at the top inside linebacker prospects in college football right now.
Reuben Foster
Alabama Crimson Tide
Foster’s combination of size, speed and power makes him an elite pure talent and his grooming in the Alabama defense has helped him prepare for the next level. The 6’1’’, 236-pound senior does a tremendous job diagnosing plays and getting downhill in a hurry to blow up opponents. This will be Foster’s first season as a full-time starter so he will have every opportunity to improve his instincts and recognition skills while emerging as a leader of the Crimson Tide defense. The Tide defense looked fantastic in their opener against the USC Trojans as they held them without a touchdown. Even though Alabama has so many players to replace after the NFL soaked up so many of their good prospects, it doesn’t seem to be an issue for Nick Saban and company. The next wave of stars has already started to shine.
Raekwon McMillan
Ohio State Buckeyes
McMillan made strides in terms of diagnosing plays and reacting immediately in order to blow things up in both the run game and in pass coverage. The Buckeyes lost a number of key pieces on both sides of the football so they will be relying even more on McMillan’s experience this season. The 6’2’’, 243-pound McMillan will need to improve his pass coverage even more in order to convince NFL scouts that he deserves to be a first round pick but he has the raw talent and should continue to improve throughout the 2016 season. The Buckeyes looked fantastic in their season-opening win against Bowling Green. MAC teams usually have strong offenses but they weren’t able to do much against the Buckeyes, scoring just one touchdown in their 77-10 loss.
Zach Cunningham
Vanderbilt Commodores
The 6’4’’, 230-pound Cunningham is an intriguing talent because he has shown plenty of range in pass coverage and he has the athleticism and speed to stick with tight ends or cover wide receivers in the slot. Cunningham hasn’t gotten as much attention as a player like Foster in part because he doesn’t play at Alabama, but he has the potential to be an elite NFL prospect. Cunningham can contribute at a high level rushing the passer, stepping up against the run or making plays in pass coverage and his raw talent combined with his versatility are enough to make him one of the top inside linebacker prospects in college football. The Commodores were valiant in their season-opener against South Carolina, but still fell a bit short.
Kendell Beckwith
LSU Tigers
Beckwith is arguably the best pure run defender on this list. The 6’4’’, 247-pound linebacker has the power to make the big hit and his recognition skills helped him blow up countless run plays last season. Now Beckwith enters his senior season looking to improve his pass coverage ability in order to prove that he can be the complete package at the position. Beckwith will have every opportunity to make impact plays under new coordinator Dave Aranda in an improved LSU defense and he will be watched closely as one of the top inside linebacker prospects for NFL scouts to keep a close eye on this season. The Tigers defense looked pretty good in their season opening loss to the Wisconsin Badgers. It looks like the Tigers defense will once again have to rely on their defense as the offense – most notably, the passing game – looked terrible. Guys like Beckwith and the rest of the LSU defense will have to do as much as possible because the offense, outside of Fournette, won’t be able to move the ball very once they start playing quality SEC teams.
