Best LB classes: Reviewing 2011
The Rivals100 class of 2016 was historical in many ways and with 10 five-star linebackers, it became the best year for the position in Rivals.com history. We are currently looking at the other best linebacker classes in our history and how they panned out. Today we look at the class of 2011, which had five.
The skinny: Ohio State, Virginia, Florida and North Carolina jumped to the forefront for Grant and after his official visit to Columbus in December, the Buckeyes were solidified as the heavy favorite. Despite a late push from North Carolina, Grant signed with the Buckeyes on National Signing Day. At Ohio State, Grant struggled to live up to expectations, with his most impressive moments coming in the National Championship 2014 season when he had 13 tackles and 2 tackles for a loss against Virginia Tech and then 10 tackles during the Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama. After going undrafted in 2015, he had stints with both San Diego and Atlanta, but did not make an active roster as a rookie.
Farrell’s take: This one I can’t figure out. Grant was the best linebacker I have ever scouted in high school. He had size, he could cover a ton of ground and he was a big hitter. He wasn’t the best in camps or in solo coverage, but as an inside linebacker, I expected him to be a tackling machine in college and beyond. I saw him make 20+ tackles in a game once on a bum ankle and he had a great U.S. Army All American Bowl. Whatever happened between then and when his college career started puzzles me.
The skinny: Steward took official visits to Clemson, Florida State and UCLA before committing to the Tigers on National Signing Day. In Death Valley, Steward had a rough start, as he tore both ACL’s before finally getting on the field full time in 2013. His best season came in 2014, his final at Clemson, when he finished with 58 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks. He was drafted by Buffalo in the sixth round in 2015, where he made the roster but finished with only three tackles after seeing playing time in three games.
Farrell’s take: Steward was a dynamic athlete and played for a school that didn’t produce a ton of talent. The recruiting battle between Clemson and FSU was epic and it’s a shame that Steward’s college career started off with two different knee injuries. He never recovered fully and never became the same quick-twitch guy we saw out of high school.
The skinny: Frost trimmed his list to Auburn and Michigan and took official visits to both schools before committing to the Tigers a couple of weeks before National Signing Day. Frost had three productive seasons at Auburn, saving his best for last in 2015 when he finished with 96 tackles, three tackles for a loss and two interceptions. Injuries slowed Frost’s productivity at the recent NFL Combine, but he is still being predicted as a mid-round draft selection.
Farrell’s take: The knock on Frost was a lack of great size, but we looked beyond that to his athletic ability, his work in space and his ability to cover. He was athletic and covered a ton of ground and he was a physical tackler. Injuries are a bit of a question mark, but he will get drafted and likely start off on special teams in the NFL while hoping to carve out a niche.
The skinny: It was down to an in-state battle between Ole Miss and Mississippi State for Johnson, who took official visits to both schools in January before committing to the Rebels. At Ole Miss, Johnson showed great potential during his first two seasons before an ankle injury cut 2013 down to four games. After that, his productivity plateaued and another injury slowed him down again last fall. Johnson decided to forego his final season in Oxford and showed off his athleticism at the NFL Combine. He is predicted to be a mid-round draft selection.
Farrell’s take: Johnson was a late discovery as a five-star talent, dominating a couple of late all-star games after a very good career. A big inside linebacker who could take on blockers and plug the run, he was also surprisingly quick in coverage and to the outside. Injuries slowed him down after showing that five-star potential early in his career and he will need to prove his durability and quickness can measure up to NFL standards after being drafted.
The skinny: Anthony took January official visits to Clemson, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia Tech before committing to the Tigers on National Signing Day. He lived up to his lofty rankings at Clemson, where he totaled 221 tackles, 24 tackles for a loss and 6.5 sacks during his last two seasons. He was selected with the 31st pick in the first round by New Orleans last spring, where he had a tremendous rookie season. He led all rookies with 112 tackles, plus chipped in with two forced fumbles, one interception and one sack.
Farrell’s take: A tackling machine in college who did everything well, Anthony was a bit upright at times but overcame that with his explosive speed to the ball and instincts. He had a great career at Clemson, earned that first-round tag and led rookies in tackles this season, so he’s a home run in the rankings department.