Recruiting U series! Inside Linebackers

[tsweezy]

As we are nearing the end of the third sim recruiting cycle let's take a walk down memory lane and see which teams are leading at recruiting each position. This week we move to outside linebackers

Methodology: So I have a "score" for every recruit in the sim thus far. It is basically my (educated) assumption of their starting overall + 2.5 years of progressions. So these player scores are my rough estimate for how good a player will be as a ~RS JR / Senior. Of course this is not precise, some will over-perform or under-progress but I think it's the best metric there is. In any case, for offensive line we are taking the top THREE recruits for each school at OLB and simply adding them together and then ranking the schools. 

Without further Ado:

 

Honorable mentions:

 

Stanford - 90.58

2021 ILB Mikal Cingrani - Coverage 5*, B overall, C potential - 53.3414583333333 overall  (4th best ILB)

2022 ILB Brian Neumann - Run Stopper 3*, C overall, C- potential - 37.239029584881 overall  (298th best ILB)

San Diego State - 91.49

2022 ILB Ernest Brunache - Field General 4*, B overall, B+ potential - 48.3188541666667 overall  (11th best ILB)

2021 ILB Koda Burks - Run Stopper 3*, C overall, B+ potential - 43.1790911985391 overall  (107th best ILB)

Bowling Green - 92.05

2022 ILB Bahman Downs - Coverage 4*, C overall, A- potential - 46.7940481722427 overall  (14th best ILB)

2022 ILB Kenneth Buchanan - Speed 4*, C overall, C+ potential - 45.2556280978933 overall  (27th best ILB)

Texas A&M - 92.17

2022 ILB Steven Adams - Coverage 3*, C overall, A+ potential - 47.5078957558855 overall  (13th best ILB)

2022 ILB Edward Brooks - Speed 4*, C overall, C- potential - 44.6693269826518 overall  (48th best ILB)

Alabama - 93.19

2023 ILB Clemens Papafinkel - Field General 4*, B overall, B+ potential - 50.76 overall  (9th best ILB)

2023 ILB Richard Peterson - Field General 3*, C overall, A- potential - 42.43421 overall  (123th best ILB)

 

 

#5: FAU - 93.73

2022 ILB Matthew Azab - Field General 4*, B overall, C+ potential - 52.4969791666667 overall  (8th best ILB)

2022 ILB William Avalos - Speed 3*, C overall, B- potential - 41.2381931536539 overall  (163th best ILB)

 

It's rare to see an AI program in the top-5 but this is a position they have crushed it on. The combo of Azab and Avalos is a top-3 haul for one year and Azab is already the best player as a true freshman and should be a 4-year starter for the Owls.

 

#4: Missouri - 94.02

2021 ILB Michael Cabinda - Speed 4*, B overall, C potential - 49.5434815880349 overall  (10th best ILB)

2022 ILB Rafael Osorio - Run Stopper 4*, C overall, C+ potential - 44.4796057930601 overall  (59th best ILB)

 

Missouri has quite a bit of talent already, and recruited Cabinda before going AI. He and Osorio will continue a good tradition of ILB for the Tigers, although Mejri is still their stud in the middle for another year.

#3: Texas State - 94.21

2021 ILB Kaleb Cavanaugh - Run Stopper 5*, B overall, C+ potential - 53.89515625 overall  (2th best ILB)

2021 ILB C.J. Upshaw - Run Stopper 3*, C overall, C potential - 40.3126867364208 overall  (216th best ILB)

 

Texas State has already had 2 Heisman finalists, and frankly Kaleb Cavanaugh could be another one. A dominant run stopper, he's an absolute star up the middle and I think he can keep TXST at the top of the sun belt.
 

#2: Houston - 98.2

2023 ILB Quinn Riley - Field General 5*, B overall, C+ potential - 52.735 overall  (6th best ILB)

2022 ILB Bryon Oremland - Run Stopper 3*, C overall, B+ potential - 45.472263785625 overall  (22th best ILB)

2021 ILB DeMar Taylor - Coverage 3*, C overall, A potential - 44.6846574246166 overall  (47th best ILB)

 

Houston missed out on the top spot but would have it if we took top-3 signees. Quinn Riley was this year's superstar and going to be the highlight of @mahrowkeen life / program. They also signed a pair of top-50 guys in extremely high potential 3 stars the last 2 years.
 

#1: Baylor - 107.4

2021 ILB Kevin Cole - Coverage 5*, B overall, C+ potential - 53.89515625 overall  (1st best ILB)

2022 ILB John Kwiecien - Run Stopper 5*, B overall, C+ potential - 53.5396875 overall  (3th best ILB)

2021 ILB Tashaun Phillips - Run Stopper 3*, C overall, B potential - 42.0865210262939 overall  (147th best ILB)

 

Taking the number one spot is Baylor with consecutive years signing a 5-star best ILB in the class. Cole and Kwiecien are the top-2 LBs in the program and will be starters their whole career as Baylor is going to be extremely stout up the middle. They can coast another class or 2 before signing their backups as well.