2024 Top Linebackers Across College Football Conferences
2024 Top Linebackers Across College Football Conferences – Linebackers are one of the critical pillars in any strong defensive line of most colleges playing football. Many are bound to remain unnoticed, they are busy eradicating it and most of the time near the ball, they set the pace of a match. Looking at the near-future which is the 2024 college football season, here are the linebacker prospects expected to stand-out in every conference, a critical cog in a team’s defense machine. This breakdown is a part of the series of breakdown in all positions for all conferences, perfect if you are looking for multiple experts premium picks.
American Athletic Conference (AAC): Memphis Tigers
Memphis Tigers should be ready to have the most impactful linebacking unit throughout the AAC. It must be agreed, however, that further we see Memphis being enriched by the return of first-team All-AAC player Chandler Martin, transfers Elijah Herring, Tennessee, and Javante Mackey, Arkansas State meaning Memphis is well-equipped with a formidable and deep linebacker corps.
Conference USA (C-USA): Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Despite this, Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders understanding that the team is devoid of some of its main players, the team continues to have confidence in its linebacking unit. Potentially, Parker Hughes and Devyn Curtis are set as the two key defenders who will be accompanied by Drew Francis and Jalen Davis to form a defensive line that is critical to Middle Tennessee’s defensive strategies.
Mid-American Conference (MAC): Buffalo Bulls
This season, Buffalo Bulls’ linebacker team gained a booster from the return of Shaun Dolac who transferred to Utah State but changed his mind. With Red Murdock and the raw talent Dion Crawford at his side, Buffalo will likely have a top tier linebacker corps in the entire MAC.
Mountain West Conference (MWC): Boise State Broncos
In the Mountain West Conference, the Boise State Broncos must be closely watched when putting into consideration their outstanding linebackers Andrew Simpson and Marco Notarainni who were named in the All-MWC last year. The depth offered by Chase Martin, Jake Ripp, and freshman JUCO transfer Udoka Ezeani make Boise more than a conference favorite in this regard.
Sun Belt Conference: Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns has a core that can potentially mold into one of the formidable groups within the Sun Belt. Another unit that has the possibility of boosting Louisiana’s defense line to the next level is this one which is led by K. C. Ossai who had 95 tackles last season and Cameron Whitfield and Kailep Edwards who are quite promising.
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC): Clemson Tigers
Clemson’s linebackers are spearheaded by All-ACC returner Barrett Carter, while there is an incoming freshman, Kobe McCloud, to fill the void. As supported by the strong players on the ground such as Sammy Brown, this Clemson team appears well primed at ensuring the university’s defense line remains intact.
Big Ten Conference: Iowa Hawkeyes
In the case of the Iowa Hawkeyes, it is home to two of the most productive, and one of the most efficient linebacker duo of Jay Higgins and Nick Jackson. Even their kicking game lets this duo remain on the field almost as long as the linemen do, which makes Iowa’s linebackers all the more deadly.
Big 12 Conference: Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State’s linebacker group is led by first-team All-Big 12 pick Nick Martin and former edge rusher switched to linebacker Collin Oliver. Combined this is a very powerful combination which can make a large difference in games and will be important as OSU begins to rebuild its front six.
Southeastern Conference (SEC): Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats have new Georgia transfer Jamon Dumas-Johnson and return top tackler D’Eryk Jackson and could have, in fact, the best group of linebackers in the entire SEC. The depth and talent of this group makes them a difference-maker as this is a tough conference to play in.
With the anticipation of the college football season in 2024, these set of linebackers lined up in different conferences are poised in changing the game. For those who are interested in the highest odds on sports, watching the above teams could help the prediction of numerous crucial games in the current season.