Ranking the Big Ten: Inside Linebacker
As the 2025 college football season quickly approaches, it is time to look at the top players at each position in the Big Ten.
We continue our annual Ranking the Big Ten series today with the inside linebackers. Production, instincts, and skill once again define this year’s quarterbacks of the defense.
Previous Ranking the Big Tens: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | OLB | DT
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1. Aiden Fisher, Indiana
Aiden Fisher enters the 2025 season as one of the Big Ten’s top inside linebackers after a standout 2024 campaign. He led Indiana with 118 tackles and was a key reason the Hoosiers finished first in the nation in run defense.
Fisher’s production earned national recognition, including first-team All-Big Ten honors and a first-team All-America nod from the FWAA, making him the first Indiana linebacker to earn that honor since 1944. He was also a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, cementing his place among the country’s elite at his position.
Fisher’s leadership and experience give him an edge. He’s played under the same coaching staff since his days at James Madison and serves as the defensive signal-caller on the field. Known for his discipline and commitment to constant improvement, Fisher enters 2025 as one of the most complete and dependable defenders in the Big Ten.
2. Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
Bryce Boettcher boasts impressive football production and a rare two-sport background. A standout on the diamond as well as the gridiron, Boettcher played multiple seasons for Oregon baseball before choosing to focus fully on football. That dual-sport athleticism shows up in his game, as he brings quick instincts, sharp footwork, and fluid movement that make him a natural in both run support and pass coverage.
In 2024, Boettcher broke out as a star, leading the Ducks with 94 tackles while adding eight tackles-for-loss, two sacks, and an interception. His play earned him the Burlsworth Trophy as the nation’s best former walk-on, as well as second-team All-Big Ten honors. PFF rated him among the top linebackers in the conference with elite grades across the board.
Boettcher chose to step away from baseball and return for a final season of football this fall. As both a leader and a playmaker, Boettcher’s unique athletic background and proven production make him one of the most dynamic inside linebackers in the Big Ten entering 2025.
3. Dariel Djabome, Rutgers
Dariel Djabome firmly established himself among the Big Ten’s top inside linebackers after a breakout 2024 campaign. In his first year as a starter, the Québec native averaged 8.5 tackles per game for Rutgers. He also totaled over 100 stops, becoming the first Scarlet Knight to hit triple digits since 2020.
Beyond volume, Djabome brought a disruptive edge to Rutgers’ defense. He finished tied for the team lead with 7.0 tackles for loss, along with three sacks and two forced fumbles. That helped Rutgers rank among the conference’s best in red‑zone stops and run defense.
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Djabome was named a finalist for the Jon Cornish Trophy, awarded to the top Canadian NCAA football player. His play also earned him third‑team All‑Big Ten honors. As the Scarlet Knights look to build defensive momentum in 2025, Djabome should be an anchor as one of the Big Ten’s elite inside linebackers.
4. Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
Jaishawn Barham earned a reputation as a “physical specimen” after a breakout 2024 campaign. He started all 13 games for Michigan, registering 66 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, a sack, five quarterback hurries, and two PBUs.
Barham’s play lived up to his preseason hype, as PFF listed him among the top five returning linebackers nationally. Having started at Maryland before transferring, he provides both conference experience and adaptability.
Barham’s comfort in Michigan’s system has only continued to increase. His ability to fill gaps, blitz, and cover makes him a true three-phase linebacker. With his rare blend of size, physicality, and football IQ, Barham is poised to lead Michigan’s defense in 2025.
5. Marques Watson-Trent, Nebraska
When Nebraska added Marques Watson-Trent out of Georgia Southern, the expectations for his role were fairly clear. The 2024 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year racked up 120 total tackles last season, including 7.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two QB hurries, and a pass breakup.
While he came in a bit undersized at 5-foot-11, 225 pounds, his potential, experience, and intangibles at the position were obvious. Watson-Trent has 2,502 defensive snaps and 363 career tackles under his belt. To put that number into perspective, that total would rank No. 2 all-time at Nebraska behind only Barrett Ruud (432). Watson-Trent also posted GSU’s highest overall defensive grade per PFF at 79.6.
Even though he’s only been on campus for a few months, NU quickly handed Watson-Trent the responsibility of becoming a leader of its young, yet talented, linebacker room. A player who built his career on proving people wrong, Watson-Trent’s new task this season will be proving Nebraska right.
