Ranking the Big Ten: Outside Linebackers
As the 2022 college football season quickly approaches, it is time to look at the top players in the Big Ten Conference.
We continue our Ranking the Big Ten series by rating the top five returning outside linebackers in the conference.
Related: QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | OG | C | DE | DL |
1. Nick Herbig, Wisconsin
Let’s be honest. Wisconsin’s Nick Herbig could have topped both this list and last week’s pass-rusher ranking.
The 6-foot-2, 227-pound junior is coming off a 2021 that was far from a sophomore slump. Herbig burst onto the Big Ten scene a year ago and quickly established himself as one of the leagues best defenders and pass rushers. He tallied 41 tackles, nine sacks and 26 quarterback hurries.
Each of those stats ranked in the top ten of Big Ten defenders, and are the highest among defenders returning to the conference in 2022. Herbig received All-Big Ten honorable mention from the media following the 2021 season.
Herbig, a Kauai, Hawaii native, is the highest rated defensive player returning to the Big Ten according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). His grade for overall defense sits at an 83.6 and is compiled of four league-leading grades for returning players. Herbig scored a 81.8 in run defense, 86.1 in tackling, and his top grade came as a pass rusher at 91.4.
His pass rush win rate is by far his most impressive stat. Herbig won 27.3% of his 2021 rushes. That’s over 2% better than Heisman Trophy runner-up Aiden Hutchinson and a top-ten rate nationally.
All of that has led to a lot of preseason attention. In Lindy’s, Herbig is preseason All-Big Ten First-Team, second-team All-American and the No. 4 outside linebacker nationally. He is also the No. 6 outside linebacker in Draft Bible’s 2023 sneak peek.
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2. Curtis Jacobs, Penn State
Curtis Jacobs is ready to take the reins of the Penn State defense.
The Nittany Lions had five players drafted off last season’s defense and two were second-round picks in Arnold Ebiketie and Jaquan Brisker. Penn State has had plenty of NFL talent on its roster in the last few years, and Jacobs hopes to be the next in that line.
Jacobs, who stands at 6-foot-1 and 227 pounds, earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention selection from the conference’s media in 2021. In 2022, Lindy’s placed the sophomore on its second-team All-Big Ten.
Of the Big Ten’s returning linebackers, Jacobs has the fourth best defensive grade according to PFF. His freshman season saw 48 tackles, two sacks and an interception. PFF gave Jacobs a 72.2 grade in run defense, a 66.7 tackle grade and a 78.3 as a pass rusher. That added up to a 65.9 defensive grade overall.
Jacobs will get the chance to step into a leading role for the Nittany Lion’s linebacking core in 2022.
3. Jalen Graham, Purdue
Jalen Graham had a breakout season with Purdue in 2021. His junior campaign saw a massive increase in snaps and production as Graham over doubled his career tackles.
The coverage linebacker made 55 stops and added two picks to his stat line along with six pass breakups. Both of his interceptions and his highest graded game according to PFF came in the 28-23 win over Nebraska.
For his efforts, Graham received 2021 All-Big Ten honorable mention honors from conference media.
Now as a senior, PFF has Graham in the top ten for returning linebackers in overall defense (60.8) and tackling (71.0) as well as the top five for pass rush (75.5) and coverage (73.4). Lindy’s sees the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Graham as a preseason All-Big Ten second-team selection for 2022.
4. Bryce Gallagher, Northwestern
Northwestern linebacker Bryce Gallagher is a big piece of a defense with a lot of pressure on it in 2022.
The 6-foot-2, 223-pound junior had 89 total tackles throughout his redshirt-sophomore season in 2021. But despite that production, the Wildcat defense was one of the worst in the Big Ten a year ago. Northwestern was 13th in the Big Ten in total defense (429.5 YPG), 12th in scoring defense (29.0 PPG) and 14th in rush defense (213 YPG).
Gallagher’s PFF grades reflect the general depravity of the Wildcat defense. His overall defensive grade of 41.3 is the worst on this list. In fact, every grade is the lowest of the players on this list.
However PFF grades aren’t gospel, and when it comes to Gallagher what can’t be ignored is the production from last season in addition to his playing circumstances. He accumulated the most total tackles of any linebacker on this list a year ago.
In the last four years, head coach Pat Fitzgerald and the Wildcats have bounced back and forth between 3-9 seasons and appearances in the Big Ten Championship. While Northwestern almost certainly won’t be making a trip to Indianapolis in 2022, improvement from last year’s debacle is almost inevitable.
Gallagher will be called upon to step up and deliver. If he can become “the Dude” for the Wildcats, he will be one of the best in the Big Ten this season.
5. Caleb Tannor, Nebraska
Unlike a few of the names on this list that have already had their breakout seasons, Nebraska’s Caleb Tannor is a guy who feels poised to catch fire this year.
Older, wiser Caleb Tannor has raised expectations for himself, Nebraska’s defense in 2022
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior is fresh off a year in which he had 33 tackles, 5.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and a forced fumble. A year ago, he was forced to be one of the Husker’s primary pass rushers. Tannor now has an opportunity to be a threat beside Ochaun Mathis and Garrett Nelson. That could take some pressure off his shoulders.
Tannor didn’t earn any postseason honors in 2021 or any preseason honors this year. But, that doesn’t mean he hasn’t turned some heads.
The bull rush will certainly be in play for Tannor this season. But, the Stone Mountain, Georgia native has had a mentality change this season. He’s taken on a leadership role, upped his game in the weight room and hopes to bring a ton of added versatility to the Nebraska defense in 2022.
