HEROSPORTS
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
HEROSPORTS
No Result
View All Result

FCS: Top 25 Returning Linebackers In 2023

Sam Herder by Sam Herder
May 25, 2023
John Pius William & Mary

William & Mary Athletics

As we hit the preview portion of the 2023 FCS offseason, HERO Sports will rank the top returning players by position group.

While what happens on the field and how things finish at the end of the season is what really matters, preseason rankings give fans an idea of what players and teams they should keep an eye on.

Here are the top returning linebackers in 2023.

These rankings are formed by a combination of the author’s opinion/FCS knowledge (watching guys play, knowing what system they play in, strength of opponents, etc.), on-field production, pro potential, postseason accolades, how they perform against their toughest opponents, and PFF grades.

Best Returning FCS Linebackers

25. Mike DeNucci, Lehigh

24. Tyler Long, Austin Peay (transfer from Norfolk State)

23. Braden Gilby, Furman

22. Jason Freeman, South Dakota State

21. Isaiah Major, Florida A&M

20. Marco Olivas, Lafayette

19. Lewis Matthews, Grambling State

18. Stephen Hillis, South Dakota

17. Levi Janacaro, Montana

16. Brock Mogensen, South Dakota

15. Antoine Williams, Western Carolina (transfer from Austin Peay)

14. James Conway, Fordham

13. Isaac Dowling, Mercer

12. Armon Bailey, Sacramento State

11. William McRainey, Gardner-Webb

10. Rodney Dansby, Houston Christian

9. Colton Adams, Alabama State

8. Liam Johnson, Princeton

7. Bryce Norman, SEMO

6. David Hoage, Northern Colorado

The Top 5

5. Tristan Wheeler, Richmond

The prestigious Chuck Boone Leadership and Excellence Award goes to @Spiders_FB's Tristan Wheeler 👏

📰 https://t.co/XX9rqAYulW pic.twitter.com/KUDXRye9HG

— CAA Football (@CAAFootball) November 22, 2022

Wheeler has been a tackling machine for years. He has earned at least one All-American accolade in four seasons, and he is a four-time All-CAA selection with three straight First Team honors. A 2019 freshman All-American, Wheeler totaled 104 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. In the 2021 spring season, he had 38 tackles and 2.5 TFLs in only four games, getting All-American recognition from Stats Perform and Sophomore AA honors from HERO Sports. The 2021 fall season saw three different All-American honors as Wheeler totaled 114 tackles, six TFLs, one sack, and two interceptions. Last year, the 6-foot-2 and 228-pounder tallied 110 tackles, 11 TFLs, two sacks, two interceptions, and five passes defended to earn a couple more AA accolades. If his level of production stays the same in 2023, which there’s no reason to doubt, Wheeler could end his illustrious Richmond career with more than 450 tackles.

4. Winston Reid, Weber State

BIG stop for the ‘Cats! 😤@winstonreid43 showing why he’s one of the best in the nation this year 👏 #ExperienceElevated pic.twitter.com/4xAlhYsVND

— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) November 26, 2022

Reid is a flat-out beast on the field and was one of the top breakout players in the 2022 season. A First Team All-Big Sky selection with All-American honors from The Bluebloods, he racked up 112 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, four sacks, three quarterback hurries, one interception, two passes defended, and five forced fumbles. The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder makes his presence felt all over the field for a strong Weber defense. His 2022 PFF defensive grade of 90.1 is the third-highest for a returning FCS linebacker.

3. Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross

Year 1 ✅ shoutout to @highlight_higgy pic.twitter.com/ksqMlqEdhc

— Jacob Dobbs (@JLDobbs5) December 15, 2019

Dobbs played in only four games last year before being sidelined with an injury. He was granted a fifth year of eligibility in 2023 and is ready to remind the FCS just how dominant he is. The 6-foot, 237-pounder is an imposing figure, and his sideline-to-sideline play and thumping tackling ability make him a force on the field. As a true freshman and a HERO Sports Freshman All-American in 2019, he had 93 tackles, seven sacks, and 12 tackles for loss. As a Sophomore All-American in the 2021 spring, Dobbs recorded 41 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, and one sack in four games. The 2021 fall season saw him take it to another level. Dobbs racked up 137 tackles, 17.5 TFLs, 9.5 sacks, six quarterback hurries, and three pass breakups, getting recognition on several All-American teams.

2. Adam Bock, South Dakota State

Bock is a three-year starter at middle linebacker for SDSU’s elite rushing defense. In 10 games during the spring season, he totaled 74 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, and two sacks to earn Freshman All-American honors. Bock became a household FCS name in the 2021 fall season, racking up 125 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, eight passes defended, and two forced fumbles, earning a few different All-American honors. The 6-foot-1, 215-pounder made it back-to-back All-MVFC First Team accolades last season despite missing a few regular-season games due to injury. In 11 games, he recorded 76 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, four sacks, and one forced fumble. His 2022 PFF defensive grade of 86.4 is the fifth-highest for a returning FCS linebacker. SDSU has had some legendary middle linebackers, and Bock is as good as it gets in program history with his instincts, athleticism, and ability to play the run and the pass.

1. John Pius, William & Mary

The #CAAFB Defensive Player of the Year is @WMTribeFootball's, John Pius.

📰 https://t.co/XX9rqAGTuo pic.twitter.com/9WTPLGKWL4

— CAA Football (@CAAFootball) November 22, 2022

Pius torments defenses coming off of the edge. We’ll group him with the linebackers instead of the defensive line since he’s listed as an outside linebacker in W&M’s scheme and is recognized as a linebacker on All-American teams. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder was a breakout star in 2022. He absolutely wreaked havoc, totaling 72 tackles, 19 TFLs, 11.5 sacks, 12 quarterback hurries, and 12 pass breakups. Pius loaded up on postseason accolades. He was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year along with All-Conference First Team honors, he earned seven different First Team All-American honors, and he finished second in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award. Pius returns as the most disruptive defensive player in the FCS with his next-level talent. And he’s only a junior with plenty more games to play for W&M.

RELATED: Top 25 Returning FCS Running Backs

RELATED: Top 25 Returning FCS Quarterbacks

RELATED: Top 25 Returning FCS Tight Ends

RELATED: Top 25 Returning FCS Wide Receivers

RELATED: Top 25 Returning FCS Offensive Linemen

RELATED: Top 25 Returning FCS Linebackers

RELATED: Top 40 Returning FCS Defensive Linemen

RELATED: Top 50 Returning FCS Defensive Backs

Previous Post

Grayson McCall’s Return Alters Sun Belt Landscape

Next Post

2023 FCS Jersey Countdown: 89 — The Best Player Who Wears No. 89 Is EWU’s Efton Chism III

Next Post
EWU's Efton Chism III

2023 FCS Jersey Countdown: 89 — The Best Player Who Wears No. 89 Is EWU's Efton Chism III

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • Plot Twist for Sac State Football Independence + Updates On ASUN, WAC, Big Sky Movement
  • 2025 FCS Top 25: No. 7 Illinois State Football Preview
  • 2025 FCS Jersey Countdown: The Best Returning Player For Each Number

HERO Sports is the go-to website for FBS and FCS football news, analysis, and predictions.

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (Available in the US)
877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY)
1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR)

For new customer offers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. One New Customer Offer only. Add'l terms. For existing customers, Bonus Bets expire in seven days. Add'l terms.

21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. This promotional offer is not available in DC, Mississippi, New York, Nevada, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

Welcome Offer Bet $10, $150 in Bonus Bets

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (AVAILABLE IN THE US). 21+ ONLY. CO, MI, NJ, PA, WV ONLY. PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY. SEE BETMGM.COM FOR TERMS. THIS PROMOTIONAL OFFER IS FOR NEW PLAYERS ONLY. SUBJECT TO ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS. BONUS BETS ARE NON-WITHDRAWABLE. US PROMOTIONAL OFFERS NOT AVAILABLE IN MISSISSIPPI, NEVADA, NEW YORK, ONTARIO AND PUERTO RICO.

  • About HERO Sports
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • FCS
    • FCS Home
    • Big South-OVC
    • Big Sky
    • CAA
    • Ivy
    • MEAC
    • MVFC
    • NEC
    • Patriot
    • Pioneer
    • SoCon
    • Southland
    • SWAC
    • UAC
  • FBS
    • FBS Home
    • AAC Football
    • CUSA Football
    • MAC Football
    • Mountain West Football
    • Sun Belt Football
  • College Basketball
  • Register at BetMGM
  • BetMGM Promotions
  • More
    • About HERO Sports
    • Contact

© 2022 HERO SPORTS.