2024 NFL Draft Prospects: Inside Linebacker



The top 2024 Inside Linebacker prospects available for the 2024 NFL Draft. * – denotes 2025 prospect. ** – denotes 2026 prospect.

This page was last updated Sept. 22, 2023. Follow Walter @walterfootball for updates.

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2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

1. North Carolina image Cedric Gray, ILB, North Carolina
Height: 6-2. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2024): 1-3.

9/23/23: Gray has 27 tackles and 1.5 sacks so far in 2023.

9/2/23: Gray was one of the best linebackers in college football in 2022, and he was super productive for the Tar Heels. On the year, Gray recorded 144 tackles, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, six passes broken up and one sack. In 2021, he totaled 99 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble and three pass breakups.



2. Clemson image Barrett Carter*, ILB, Clemson
Height: 6-1. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2024): 1-3.

9/23/23: Carter has 15 tackles thus far this year. He had a strong 2022 season with 73 tackles, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and eight passes broken up. Carter has a good skill set with big-play ability and upside. If he stays consistent to his 2022 production, he should be a riser for the 2024 NFL Draft.



3. Clemson image Jeremiah Trotter Jr.*, ILB, Clemson
Height: 6-0. Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2024): 1-3.

9/23/23: On the year, Trotter has 17 tackles and a forced fumble.

8/30/23: Trotter had a superb 2022 season, making a lot of plays for the Tiger defense. He recorded 92 tackles, 13.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, six passes broken up, one forced fumble, and one interception returned for a touchdown. It was only his first seasons as a starter, so he could be even better now that he has some experience. His father Jeremiah Trotter Sr., played 12 seasons in the NFL and was a four-time Pro Bowler whose his best seasons came with the Eagles and the Redskins.



4. Georgia image Jamon Dumas-Johnson*, ILB, Georgia
Height: 6-1. Weight: 245.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2024): 2-3.

9/23/23: Dumas-Johnson has six tackles so far this season.

9/2/23: Dumas-Johnson had an impressive debut as a first-season starter in 2022 with 70 tackles, four sacks, one forced fumble and three passes broken up. He has a good skill set and could rise now that he has more experience.



5. Northwestern image Bryce Gallagher, ILB/OLB, Northwestern
Height: 6-2. Weight: 240.
Projected 40 Time: 4.79.
Projected Round (2024): 2-4.

9/23/23: Gallagher has 37 tackles and an interception so far in 2023.

8/19/23: Gallagher is a tough linebacker who has produced well for the Wildcats over the past two seasons. In 2022, he recorded 100 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and one pass broken up. Gallagher totaled 90 tackles and a sack in 2021.



6. Oklahoma image Danny Stutsman*, ILB/OLB, Oklahoma
Height: 6-4. Weight: 240.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2024): 2-4.

9/23/23: In 2023, Stutsman has 30 tackles, a sack, an interception and a touchdown.

8/19/23: Stutsman had a good 2022 season for the Sooners, recording 124 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and five passes broken up. He is a big linebacker who displayed good instincts as a sophomore.



7. Texas image Jaylan Ford, ILB, Texas
Height: 6-2. Weight: 238.
Projected 40 Time: 4.69.
Projected Round (2024): 2-4.

9/23/23: This season, Ford has 17 tackles and an interception.

8/19/23: In 2022, Ford played well for the Longhorns, totaling 119 tackles, two sacks, four interceptions and two pass breakups. It was an outstanding junior year for Ford, who had recorded 53 tackles in the previous season.



8. Ohio State image Tommy Eichenberg, ILB, Ohio State
Height: 6-2. Weight: 239.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2024): 2-4.

9/23/23: This year, Eichenberg has 20 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.

9/2/23: Eichenberg broke out in 2022, recording 120 tackles, 2.5 sacks, one interception and three passes broken up. He is a solid run defender with a strong build. Showing pass coverage skills would help Eichenberg rise for the 2024 NFL Draft.



9. Notre Dame image Jack Kiser, ILB, Notre Dame
Height: 6-2. Weight: 227.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2024): 2-4.

9/23/23: In 2023, Kiser has recorded 26 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.

9/2/23: Kiser flashed some ability as a sophomore in 2021 with 45 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and four passes broken up. Those splash plays in pass coverage are very intriguing for the passing-driven NFL. He made less of an impact in that phase in 2022. If Kiser can come back to produce well in coverage while displaying tough run defense in 2023, he could really rise for the 2024 NFL Draft.



10. Missouri image Ty'Ron Hopper, ILB, Missouri
Height: 6-2. Weight: 221.
Projected 40 Time: 4.73.
Projected Round (2024): 3-5.

9/23/23: Hopper has 14 tackles with three passes defended so far in 2023.

9/2/23: Hopper was a solid linebacker for Missouri in 2022, recording 74 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, one interception and two passes defended. Prior to 2022, Hopper played at Florida, seeing a few starts while mostly rotating as a backup and special teams contributor. Hopper needs to show improved pass coverage and production in 2023.



11. Georgia image Smael Mondon Jr.*, ILB, Georgia
Height: 6-3. Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2024): 3-5.

9/23/23: Mondon has 10 tackles thus far this season.

9/2/23: Mondon played well in 2022 in his first season of playing time, recording 76 tackles, one sack, one pass breakup and one interception.



12. Michigan State image Cal Haladay*, ILB, Michigan State
Height: 6-1. Weight: 235.
Projected 40 Time: 4.69.
Projected Round (2024): 3-5.

9/23/23: So far this season, Haladay has 22 tackles, an interception and two passes broken up.

8/19/23: Haladay was a productive defenders for the Spartans during the past two seasons, notching a lot of stops on ball-carriers. In 2022, Haladay amassed 120 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Showing good pass-coverage ability with movement skills and speed will be critical for Haladay to rise in 2023.



13. BYU image Ben Bywater*, ILB, BYU
Height: 6-3 Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.77.
Projected Round (2024): 3-5.

9/23/23: Bywater has 22 tackles thus far this year.

9/2/23: Bywater totaled 98 tackles, one sack, three interceptions and two passes defended in 2022. He had a solid 2021 campaign with 102 tackles and a sack. Bywater has good size for the NFL and needs to elevate his play as a junior.



14. Alabama image Deontae Lawson**, ILB, Alabama
Height: 6-1 Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.68.
Projected Round (2024): 3-5.

9/23/23: On the year, Lawson has 25 tackles and two sacks.

9/2/23: Lawson flashed some ability as a redshirt freshman in 2022, recording 51 tackles and four passes broken up. He has a skill set with upside, so he has the potential to be a fast riser in for his NFL draft.



15. Miami (Ohio) image Matthew Slopek*, ILB, Miami (Ohio)
Height: 6-1. Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.68.
Projected Round (2024): 4-6.

9/23/23: Slopek has 35 tackles and a sack this year.

9/2/23: Slopek was impressive in 2022, making a lot of plays for the RedHawks. On the year, he racked up 124 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass defended. In 2021, he totaled 112 tackles, a forced fumble and six passes defended. Showing pass-coverage skills will be vital for Slopek to rise.



16. Nebraska image Luke Reimer, ILB, Nebraska
Height: 6-1 Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.75.
Projected Round (2024): 4-6.

9/23/23: In 2023, Reimer has 12 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

9/2/23: Reimer was a solid linebacker for Nebraska during the past two seasons, recording 90 tackles in 2021 and 86 stops in 2022. In each season, he notched an interception and five passes defended. Reimer could stand to have a jump in production as a senior.



17. Alabama image Trezman Marshall, ILB, Alabama
Height: 6-1 Weight: 230.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2024): 4-6.

9/23/23: Marshall has 18 tackles thus far this year.

9/2/23: Marshall was a backup at Georgia in 2022, recording 19 tackles and an interception before transferring to Alabama. He is expected to start for the Crimson Tide and has the potential to rise.



18. Nebraska image Nick Heinrich*, ILB, Nebraska
Height: 6-3 Weight: 225.
Projected 40 Time: 4.77.
Projected Round (2024): 6-FA.

9/23/23: In 2023, Heinrich has two sacks and five tackles.

9/2/23: Heinrich flashed in 2021 with 99 tackles and .5 sacks. He was off to a solid start in 2022 before going down with a season-ending knee injury in the middle of October.



19. Washington image Edefuan Ulofoshio, ILB, Washington
Height: 6-1. Weight: 235.
Projected 40 Time: 4.79.
Projected Round (2024): 7-FA.

9/23/23: Ulofoshio has 18 tackles and a sack in 2023.

9/2/23: In 2019 and 2020, Ulofoshio looked like he had some upside and ability to grow into a playmaker, but that did not happen in 2021 and 2022, with injuries costing him the majority of those seasons. Ulofoshio has to have a healthy and productive senior year to rise.



2023 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2024 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P

2025 NFL Draft Position Rankings:
QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | NT | 3-4 OLB | 3-4 DE | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K | P