If he had entered the 2009 NFL Draft, Spikes would have likely been a first-round selection. Spikes is a great athlete who has optimum size. What sets him apart from just about any defender is college football is his recognition ability. He'll be an immediate starter.

Lee is only this low because of a knee injury that knocked him out of the 2008 season. How he looks his senior year will determine his draft stock. His athleticism and tackling ability could push him up to second on this list.

A top recruit out of high school, Johnson was somewhat of a disappointment his first couple years at Kentucky. Last season, he showed he has the skill to get after the ball carrier. He's a plugger who can fit in a 3-4 or a 4-3. He had 93 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two passes broken up as a junior.

Write-up coming soon!

Pawelek burst onto the scene early in his career, making 86 tackles as a freshman, captaining the team his sophomore year and make first-team all-conference last season. He's a gritty player and deceptively adept in coverage. He had an incredible year in 2008 with 128 tackles, six tackles for loss, seven passes broken up and six interceptions.

He's not making the big interceptions like last year, but that seems to just be a matter of luck as I've seen medium to deep middle passes barely escape over his fingertips many times this year. The tackling was sloppy from all the linebackers early in the year, but has tightened up since with Angerer doing a good job holding down the middle in the run game.

Carter is an aggressive linebacker, which sometimes gets him into trouble. However, more often than not, he's in a position to make a play. He has good instincts and will be back in the middle this season.

A tackling machine, Lee has led the Trojans in that category the past two seasons. He had 126 last season to go with 9.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and two interceptions. He has the athleticism to line up inside in the 3-4 or outside in a 4-3.

Chaney has earned this ranking based on the potential he showed in 2007. He sat out all of 2008 rehabbing an injury. Before that, he started 27 of the Bulldog's 29 games. He's played both outside and inside.

After struggling with injuries during the 2007 season, Sharpton looked pretty good last year totaling 66 tackles, six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He doesn't have great size, but he's very fast.

Benoist is beginning to put together quite the career for Vanderbilt after topping 100 tackles last season. Although he is undersized, Benoist is tough and is adequate in coverage. He's a solid one-gap player.

Write-up coming soon!

Players aren't supposed to have McClain's size and speed. It's a scary combination for opponents. He closes with ferocity and gets after the ball. He'll only get better and could unseat Spikes as the top overall midddle linebacker. In 2008, McClain had 95 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks and six passes broken up.

Write-up coming soon!

Jones was clearly Michigan State's best player on defense last season, totaling 127 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and two sacks. He was a Big Ten first-team player. If he can add some bulk, he could rise up boards end up being a first-round pick.

The 2008 national leader in unassisted tackles with 87, Sturdivant can make just about any play asked of a linebacker. Sturdivant played on the weak side last season and moves to the middle to make way for highly athletic sophomore Zach Brown.

Write-up coming soon!

Wilson is an athletic player who hasn't put it all together for Illinois. He's out for the season.