CFN 2020 All-America Linebackers
CFN 2020 First Team All-America Linebackers
1. Micah Parsons, Jr. Penn State
It’s a little bit unfair to a great all-around Penn State defense to give too much credit to one guy, but the 6-3, 245-pound Parsons deserves the recognition. The one-time super-recruit more than lived up to the billing so far, coming off a huge year with 109 tackles with five sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles. He can do it all.
2. Dylan Moses, Jr. Alabama
If it seemed like the Alabama defense was missing its normal thump last year, that’s because it was missing its thumper. The 6-3, 233-pound Moses missed the season with a knee injury, but now he’s back with something to prove. He made 86 tackles with 3.5 sacks and ten tackles for loss in 2018.
3. Nick Bolton, Jr. Missouri
While he’s not a national name, and it’s tough to stand out as a defensive player in the SEC, the 6-0, 235-pound Bolton is about to blow up as the veteran who’ll fit in nicely on the weakside under the new coaching staff. He made 107 tackles with a sack and 7.5 tackles for loss, and he’s fantastic in pass coverage with two picks and eight broken up passes.
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CFN 2020 Second Team All-America Linebackers
4. Antjuan Simmons, Sr. Michigan State
Undersized, the 6-0, 216-pound Spartan leading tackler will be the main man for new Mel Tucker defense. He can get all over the field, making 90 tackles with 3.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. The athleticism and speed are there to do a whole lot more.
5. Monty Rice, Sr. Georgia
The 6-1, 235-pound senior might not do a whole lot in the backfield – he didn’t come up with a sack, but he did apply a ton of pressure – but he’s a tough hitter in the middle of the great Bulldog defense with 89 stops last season.
6. KJ Britt, Sr. Auburn
Yeah, he and the rest of the linebacking corps got to work behind one of the best defensive fronts in America, but the 6-0, 236-pound Britt did his share to clean things up with 69 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and ten tackles for loss. He should flirt with close to 100 stops this year.
CFN 2020 Honorable Mention All-America Linebackers
7. Chazz Surratt, Sr. North Carolina
8. Garret Wallow, Sr. TCU
9. Nate Landman, Sr. Colorado
10. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Sr. Notre Dame
11. Rayshard Ashby, Sr. Virginia Tech
12. Treshaun Hayward, Sr. Western Michigan