By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports
Linebackers need to be the Swiss Army knives of the defensive unit.
Big enough to attack ball carriers, agile enough to drop into coverage, fast enough to create havoc in the backfield, and smart enough to set up the coverage packages and blitz schemes on the fly.
The players in the middle of the defense are called upon to make a lot of things happen.
Today, we look at some of the best linebackers in the West ahead of the 2025 season.
1. Bryce Boettcher, Oregon
The two-sport star for the Ducks has already been drafted by the Astros and will most likely add NFL Draftee to his resume next April.
He had a breakout season on the gridiron last fall, leading the Ducks in total tackles. This spring, he concentrated on football and added 10 pounds to his frame for spring practice.
He will be the anchor of the UO defense this fall.
2. Isaiah Glasker, BYU
Glasker was an honorable mention All-America selection last season and is coming off an Alamo Bowl defensive MVP performance.
A force off the edge, he finished his sophomore season with 15 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks and tallied three interceptions to go with 70 total tackles.
Glasker is a versatile playmaker who, along with Jack Kelly, gives the Cougars a formidable one-two punch at OLB.
3. Keyshaun Elliott, Arizona State
Elliott had a productive 2024 for ASU with 65 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two sacks.
He was also very good dropping into coverage, with an interception and two passes defended. With New Mexico State in 2023, Elliott ended the season with seven total passes defended.
The Sun Devils are among the favorites to win the Big 12 title this year, and Elliott will spearhead the defensive unit.
4. Jack Kelly, BYU
Kelly was the Big 12 defensive newcomer of the year in 2024, earning First Team All-Conference honors.
In his first season at the FBS level, Kelly made 51 tackles, including ten tackles for loss and five sacks.
A big hitter with a nose for the football forced a pair of fumbles in 2024.
5. Jordan Pollard, San Jose State
A tackling machine, Pollard averaged 8.8 stops per game last season, ranking 25th in the nation and third in the Mountain West.
His 115 tackles were the most in a single season for a Spartan since 2021. Pollard was a force in the backfield with 14 stops behind the line of scrimmage last fall.
The first team All-Mountain West performer should once again rack up the numbers in 2025.
6. Lander Barton, Utah
Barton led Utah with 72 total tackles last season, averaging a half dozen per outing.
He also picked off a pair of passes, taking one back 87 yards for a pick six; it was his second interception return for a TD in the last two seasons.
Barton’s 104 total return yards on his two picks last year were the 14th most nationally and second most among Big 12 defenders.
7. Eric Gentry, USC
A series of concussions cut the 2024 season short for Gentry, but he is back with the Trojans for a fifth year of eligibility and should be ready to make his mark in the middle of the USC defense.
In just five games of action last season, he averaged 6.6 tackles per game and collected a pair of sacks and seven total tackles for loss.
A big hitter, he has forced four fumbles in his career, and can drop into coverage or rush off the edge.
8. Raesjon Davis, Oregon State
Raesjon Davis will man the middle linebacker spot for Oregon State this fall.
He saw action in just three games last season with USC to preserve his redshirt and transfer season.
Davis should thrive in the middle of the Beavers’ defense and will be a playmaker on that side of the football for OSU.
9. Cade Uluave, Cal
The former Pac-12 Freshman of the Year continued to produce in the ACC for the Golden Bears.
Uluave averaged 7.9 tackles per outing in 2024 with three stops behind the line.
The middle linebacker can create havoc in the backfield or drop into coverage and make plays.
10. Buom Jock, Cal
Assessing what Cal will look like on the football field this season, one thing is certain: The middle of their 3-4 defense will be solid.
Jock comes from Colorado State and will team up with Uluave in the middle for the Bears. Jock was a tackling machine for the Rams in 2024, finishing the campaign with 100 stops.
He is athletic and has the size to match up with any tight end. Bock has a nose for the ball, recovering a pair of fumbles last season and picking off a pass.
11. Tano Letuli, San Diego State
An athletic linebacker who gets to the football, Letuli ended last season with seven tackles per game and had four tackles for loss.
He can drop into coverage or be a run stuffer. Production should go up in Year Two of the Aztecs’ 4-2-5 scheme.
At 240 Pounds, Letuli will be the stopper in the middle of that defense.
12. Randolph Kpai, New Mexico
Kpai started the final ten games for the Lobos, and the momentum from the end of last season should carry into 2025.
He ended his junior season with 80 tackles and 4.5 TFLs, ranking third for UNM in both categories.
A true run stopper on the outside, Kpai should be one of the surest tacklers in the Mountain West this fall.
writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
