The calendar has officially turned to April, meaning all eyes are set on Pittsburgh and the 2026 NFL Draft. Over the next few weeks, we will take a look at some of the top prospects entering this year's draft, breaking it down position by position:
Let's continue with the linebackers. The rankings are taken from Pro Football Focus’s Big Board, ESPN’s Best Available and Daniel Jeremiah’s Top 50 Prospect Rankings and Bucky Brooks’s positional rankings from NFL.com.
Names of Note
Arvell Reese - Ohio State
Measurables
Height - 6'4"
Weight - 241 lbs
Arm - 32 1/2"
Hand - 9 1/2"
Prospect Overview
Reese capped off a three-year career with the Buckeyes by being named an Associated Press First-Team All American and First-Team All-Big Ten. He had 69 tackles during 2025 and 6.5 sacks.
Rankings and Analysis
"He plays off-ball linebacker and stand-up edge with the talent to post impact production from either spot. His third-down versatility adds alignment variety and helps camouflage defensive intent… He might need some runway to hit his stride, but his rare blend of traits, explosiveness and versatility could become a perfect storm of chaos once a defense decides how to deploy him."
Sonny Styles - Ohio State
Measurables
Height - 6'5"
Weight - 244 lbs
Arm - 32 7/8"
Hand - 10"
Prospect Overview
Styles was named First-team All-Big Ten in 2025 and led Ohio State with 82 total tackles, including 46 solo tackles. He played safety his first two seasons in Columbus before switching to linebacker in the spring of 2024.
Rankings and Analysis
"He can make an impact from multiple spots on the field and is a plus man-cover talent. Styles is an emerging player with the traits and versatility to garner longer looks by NFL evaluators. He could see his stock soar leading up to draft day."
CJ Allen - Georgia
Measurables
Height - 6'1"
Weight - 230 lbs
Arm - 31 1/2"
Hand - 10 1/8"
Prospect Overview
Allen was named Associated Press All-American First Team in 2025 after leading the Bulldogs with 88 tackles and eight tackles for loss. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award for the nation's top linebacker and was selected to the SEC Coaches All-SEC Team.
Rankings and Analysis
""Green dot" linebacker and team captain more capable of rowing the boat than making big splashes. Allen plays with toughness and control, sorting through run fits with patience and leverage in pursuit… Allen is a dependable starting Mike 'backer who raises the floor of a defense."
Anthony Hill Jr. - Texas
Measurables
Height - 6'2"
Weight - 238 lbs
Arm - 32 3/8"
Hand - 9 5/8"
Prospect Overview
Hill declared early for the draft after being named to the Associated Press Second-Team All American team and the SEC Coaches All-SEC Second Team in 2025. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award after tallying 69 tackles, four sacks and three forced fumbles in 10 games played.
Rankings and Analysis
"Three-down linebacker with the playing demeanor and production of a future Pro Bowler. He posted 31.5 TFLs, 17 sacks and eight forced fumbles in his three seasons at Texas, making an impact in every phase. He's instinctive, athletic and under control, transitioning seamlessly from read to react to finish."
Jacob Rodriguez - Texas Tech
Measurables
Height - 6'1"
Weight - 231 lbs
Arm - 30 7/8"
Hand - 9 1/4"
Prospect Overview
Rodriguez collected a slew of awards in 2025, including taking home the Butkus Award, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and was a Heisman Trophy Finalist and named to the Associated Press All-America First Team. He tallied 128 tackles, seven forced fumbles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 2025. For his career, Rodriguez became the only FBS player since 2005 to record at least 300 tackles, 10 forced fumbles, five interceptions and five fumble recoveries.
Rankings and Analysis
"Rodriguez arrived in college as an offensive "athlete" and leaves Texas Tech as a bigger-than-life, stat-stuffing linebacker. He's uniquely productive, with elite tackle, interception and forced fumble production... He projects as a long-term starting inside linebacker."
Jake Golday - Cincinnati
Measurables
Height - 6'4 1/2"
Weight - 239 lbs
Arm - 31 7/8"
Hand - 9 1/2"
Prospect Overview
Golday spent three years at Central Arkansas before transferring to Cincinnati in 2024. He tallied 105 tackles, 3.5 sacks and three passes defensed in 2025
"Golday is a big, explosive linebacker with a game best suited for work near the line of scrimmage… Golday's traits, explosiveness and field demeanor should make him an early special teams standout with the potential to eventually start at Sam or inside linebacker."
Josiah Trotter - Mizzou
Measurables
Height - 6'2"
Weight - 237 lbs
Arm - 32 1/4"
Hand - 10 1/4"
Prospect Overview
Trotter transferred to Missouri from West Virginia before the 2025 season. He ranked seventh in the SEC and led the Tigers with 84 total tackles. He was named to the SEC Coaches All-SEC First Team and Associated Press All-American Second Team. His father, Jeremiah Sr., had an 11 year-NFL career after being selected in the third round by the Eagles in the 1998 NFL Draft.
NFL.com: Not Ranked
"Ascending inside linebacker with NFL bloodlines and alpha energy. Trotter's heavy hands allow him to fit and choke off gaps, but he's inconsistent in doing so… Trotter's wiring and disruptive qualities make him easy to project as a productive, long-time starter in the middle but a defense might need to protect him in coverage."
Watch the 2026 NFL Draft April 23-25 on ESPN and NFL Network.
Take a look at some of the top linebacker prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles plays against Rutgers during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Georgia linebacker CJ Allen (3) hits Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson (15) during the second half of a Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese plays against Rutgers during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (0) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against San Jose State in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (10) defends during the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game between Texas Tech and BYU Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday (11) during an NCAA collage football game on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) celebrates after stopping a Kansas run on fourth down late in the second half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
FILE - Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson celebrates after recovering a fumble against Auburn during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
FILE - Oregon linebacker Bryce Boettcher (28) celebrates with fans after an NCAA college football game against Iowa, Nov. 8, 2025, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
TCU linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr (3) during an NCAA football game against Colorado on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas. TCU won 35-21. (AP Photo/Mike Buscher)
Texas A&M's Taurean York (21) celebrates after tackling UTSA's Patrick Overmyer (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (44) celebrates a third down stop against the TCU Horned Frogs during the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
Indiana linebacker Aiden Fisher (4) defends in coverage during the Rose Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal game against Alabama, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in Pasadena, Calif. Indiana defeated Alabama, 38-3. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Texas A&M linebacker Scooby Williams (0) reacts after Notre Dame came up short on a fourth down play during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Pittsburgh linebacker Kyle Louis (9) celebrates a tackle during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Louisville in Pittsburgh Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
