Ranking the top five portal LB classes
© Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
Teams around the country solidified the foundation of their roster during the winter transfer window. This week we're highlighting the best transfer classes by position. Today the linebackers are under the microscope.
THIS SERIES: Ranking the top five portal QB classes | Top portal RB classes | Top portal WR classes | Top portal TE classes | Top portal OL classes | Top portal LB classes
MORE TRANSFER PORTAL: Latest news | Transfer search | Transfer Team Ranking | Football Player Ranking
Missouri dominated the linebacker position this transfer portal cycle reeling in two of the best at the position. Damon Wilson is a former five-star who couldn't quite find his footing at Georgia but his talent is undeniable. Josiah Trotter, son of former NFL star Jeremiah Trotter, is coming off a season in which he won Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. The Tigers also added a pair of linebackers who have tallied more than 60 tackles over the past two seasons in Mikai Gbayor from Nebraska and Nate Johnson from Appalachian State.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH MISSOURI FANS AT MIZZOUTODAY.COM
© Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
Ole Miss sits at the top of the transfer team rankings for a reason - the Rebels loaded up with impressive talent across the board and linebacker is no exception. They just lost standout Princely Umanmielen to the NFL but they have signed his younger brother Princewill after an impressive start to his career at Nebraska. Lane Kiffin's defense will also benefit from the hard fault recruiting win for former Grambling State star linebacker Andrew Jones.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH OLE MISS FANS AT REBELGROVE.COM
© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Nebraska saw a lot of turnover on its roster during the winter transfer window but they restocked at multiple key positions, including linebacker. Dasan McCullough comes to Lincoln after an up-and-down career at Indiana and most recently Oklahoma. He has a chance to finish out his career on a high note since he has the inside track to start this coming season. Marques Watson-Trent also brings plenty of experience to the linebacker corps and should be a difference maker for the Cornhuskers.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH NEBRASKA FANS AT INSIDENEBRASKA.COM
© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Jedd Fisch and company took over a depleted Washington roster at the beginning of last season but things are looking up for the Huskies after a strong high school recruiting class and now a strong transfer class. At linebacker, former Arizona standout Jacob Manu is reuniting with his former head coach in Seattle in hopes of finishing his career out on a strong note. Xe'ree Alexander comes to Washington after a strong season at UCF and is primed to draw serious NFL Draft buzz if he continues to improve at the same rate.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH WASHINGTON FANS AT THEDAWGREPORT.COM
© Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Wildcats restocked their linebacker corps with two impressive prospects in Jayshawn Ross and Gabe Powers. This is a bit of a homecoming for Ross after he couldn't quite make it work at Alabama to start off his collegiate career. Powers is an Ohio native who signed with Ohio State but his style of play made it difficult to find consistent playing time.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH KANSAS STATE FANS AT EMAWONLINE.COM
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
14 minutes ago
- Yahoo
WNBA Announces Big Mystics News After Fever Game
WNBA Announces Big Mystics News After Fever Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Indiana Fever finally got a win on Tuesday night. After losing three in a row, the Caitlin Clark-less Fever secured an 85-76 victory against the Washington Mystics to improve to 3-4 in the season. Advertisement It was Kelsey Mitchell who led the charge for Indiana with a game-high 24 points, two rebounds, three assists, two steals and four triples in 32 minutes of action. The Mystics, on the other hand, got strong performances from their rookies, Kiki Iriafen (20 points, nine rebounds) and Sonia Citron (13 points, seven boards), but it still wasn't enough to carry Washington to victory. It was a noteworthy effort from the Mystics' rookies, though, which prompted an announcement from the WNBA shortly after the final buzzer. Following their strong performances against Indiana, Iriafen and Citron have now scored in double digits in their first eight WNBA games. "This rookie duo isn't lettin' up🔥Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron become the first rookies since A'ja Wilson (2018) to open their careers with 8+ straight double-digit scoring games," the league posted on Instagram. Advertisement View the original article to see embedded media. The fact that Iriafen and Citron have been mentioned in the same breath as three-time league MVP A'ja Wilson — by the WNBA, no less — is an incredible feat in itself. Wilson has reached unprecedented heights since winning Rookie of the Year in 2018, and it appears that both Iriafen and Citron are blazing a similar path. The Washington rookies have been very impressive so far this season. Entering Tuesday's contest against the Fever, Iriafen, the No. 4 overall pick of the 2025 WNBA Draft has averaged 13.9 points and 10.1 rebounds in 28.4 minutes of action. Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen dribbles the ball upcourt against the Las Vegas Ward-Imagn Images Citron has been making waves as well. The third pick of the draft came into Tuesday's games with averages of 14.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.7 triples in 30.9 minutes per contest. Advertisement The future is bright for Washington with these two at the helm. Related: Indiana Fever Get Good News Amid Caitlin Clark's Injury Absence Related: Aliyah Boston's Behavior Toward Caitlin Clark Before Fever Game is Turning Heads This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
19 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Broncos pass rusher dominated the UFL this spring
And the award for the best former Denver Broncos player in the UFL goes to ... Pita Taumoepenu! Taumoepenu (6-2, 250 pounds) signed with the Broncos in 2021, and after failing to make the active roster out of training camp, he spent the season on the team's practice squad. He is a journeyman pass rusher who has spent time with six NFL teams and now plays for the UFL's St. Louis Battlehawks. Advertisement Taumoepenu, 31, had a dominant spring season, leading the league with 7.5 sacks. He also totaled 27 tackles (five behind the line), three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and one pass breakup in nine games. Following that impressive season, Taumoepenu was named to the 2025 All-UFL Team. Another former Broncos pass rusher, Andre Mintze, ranked fourth in the UFL with 5.5 sacks in nine games. He signed with Denver as an undrafted free agent out of Vanderbilt in 2021 and initially made the 53-man roster before landing on injured reserve. Mintze went to training camp with the Minnesota Vikings in 2022 and has been playing spring football since 2023 with the DC Defenders. Elsewhere in the UFL, running back Nate McCrary, who had a brief stint with the Broncos in 2021, rushed for 380 yards (fifth-most in the league) and two touchdowns this spring. Former Broncos quarterbacks Kevin Hogan and Case Cookus both started three games. Cookus totaled 546 passing yards and threw five touchdown passes. Hogan had 500 yards and two scores. Jarrett Guarantano only made one appearance with 29 yards and no scores. Advertisement Ex-Denver punters Colby Wadman (1,335 yards) and Marquette King (1,709 yards) played the full 10-game season. King averaged 47.5 yards per punt with a long of 69 yards and eight kicks downed inside the 20-yard line. Wadman averaged 46.0 yards per boot with a long of 68 yards and 11 kicks downed inside the 20. The UFL will hold conference final games on Sunday featuring the Michigan Panthers against the Birmingham Stallions, and the DC Defenders taking on the St. Louis Battlehawks. The winners of those matchups will face off in the UFL's final on June 14. Following the championship game, NFL teams will be allowed to sign UFL players. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans. This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Ex-Broncos pass rusher dominated the UFL this spring
USA Today
31 minutes ago
- USA Today
Retired Patriots WR believes he could return to NFL at new position
Retired Patriots WR believes he could return to NFL at new position If given the time to make the transition, former New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan believes that he could make an NFL comeback as a punter. Hogan, 37, worked in as a backup punter in college. So he has the legitimate skill to play the position. But could he do it at the NFL level? He seems to believe so. 'I can kick the ball. To this day, I believe I could've lasted in this league as a punter," Hogan said on the Patriots Report with Price & Hogan. "I promise you I could've. My confidence level of my athletic ability is far beyond probably a lot of other people's are. I was a punter in college, I was a backup punter in college.' Patriots fans didn't know Hogan for his kicking skills as much as they knew him for his receiving abilities. The two-time Super Bowl champion racked up 107 receptions for 1,651 yards and 12 touchdowns in three seasons with New England. His best year came in 2016, when he caught 38 passes for 680 yards and four touchdowns. It would be quite the comeback if Hogan returned as a punter. One would have to imagine he has the connections to get a look if he's serious. It would be incredible to see the wide receiver come out of retirement. There's no doubt that he is a solid all-around athlete, and his past experiences would undoubtedly work to his benefit. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
