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B1G lands 3 stars on PFF’s list of top returning LBs for 2023 college football season
By Paul Harvey
Published:
The B1G is no stronger to elite linebacker play, producing a number of elite defenders at the position over the years. That includes 2022 Butkus Award winner Jack Campbell of Iowa.
With Campbell moving on to the NFL, the conference will have a number of players vying for the top LB spot in the league. According to PFF, the B1G also has some of the top returning LBs in the country for next season.
In his list of top 10 LBs returning for next season, PFF’s Max Chadwick had Tommy Eichenberg at No. 3 overall. The leader of the Buckeyes thrived in Jim Knowles’ defense, posting career-high marks with 120 tackles, 12 TFL and 2.5 sacks.
Here’s what Chadwick had to say about Eichenberg’s return:
The redshirt junior is a dominant run-stuffer, as his 49 run-defense stops in 2022 ranked second among all linebackers in the country while his 20 tackles for loss/no-gain were tied for third.
Eichenberg was not the only B1G star to land on the list. Penn State’s Abdul Carter checked in at No. 8 while Wisconsin’s Maema Njongmeta landed at No. 9.
As a true freshman, Carter led the Nittany Lions with 6.5 sacks while adding 10.5 TFL and 56 total tackles. Njongmeta led the Badgers with 95 total tackles while also adding 12.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks in 2022.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.