Every year at the NFL Draft and throughout the football season, college players boast about the strength of their position groups, while programs tout their success getting players drafted in order to help with recruiting. But which teams really deserve the bragging rights when it comes to developing players and preparing them for success in the league?
Welcome to our Position U series, where CBS Sports examines where NFL talent has come from over the last decade (2006-15).
It’s not simply getting players into the league that matters, though. How do those players perform once they're receiving big paychecks and playing in the NFL?
Our methodology places significant value on NFL starts (1 point per) because a pipeline of starters by position is the very definition of 'Position U.' Bonus points are provided for Pro Bowls nods at their main position (2 points per appearance), draft selections (2 points per) and first-round picks (3 points per). Many of the players who counted for this exercise were drafted before 2006. The point is to evaluate where all NFL players came from who played in the league between 2006-15.
In reality, the players themselves make their own way into the NFL on an individual basis. But along the way, they get help through coaching, training and exposure from their college.
We continue with the quarterbacks of the defense, the linebackers.
More Position U: DL | TE | OL | RB | WR | K | P | DB
5. Alabama: Based on college production in recent years, Alabama has arguably produced the best linebackers. That doesn’t totally translate to NFL success, though the Tide's current ranking at LBU could improve as Nick Saban’s linebackers go deeper into their NFL careers. Among the productive Alabama players to regularly play linebacker in the NFL: Dont’a Hightower, C.J. Mosley, Courtney Upshaw, Rolando McClain, DeMeco Ryans and Jarrett Johnson. Alabama edged Ohio State, Georgia and Purdue in a tight finish for teams 4-8 at Linebacker U.
| Alabama Linebackers: Points Breakdown | ||||
| NFL Starts | Pro Bowls | Draft Picks | First-Round Picks | Total Points |
| 477 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 506 |
4. Florida State: Since 2006, no school has produced more NFL draft picks at linebacker than FSU (14). Ohio State and USC are next at 13 each. What separates the Seminoles from the Buckeyes are slightly more NFL starts and Pro Bowl appearances. Geno Hayes, Ernie Sims, Nigel Bradham, Kamerion Wimbley, Lawrence Timmons and Derrick Brooks are among the Noles linebackers in the NFL over the past decade. Just since 2010, Florida State has had eight linebackers drafted, so its status at Linebacker U could improve in the future.
| Florida State Linebackers: Points Breakdown | ||||
| NFL Starts | Pro Bowls | Draft Picks | First-Round Picks | Total Points |
| 464 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 507 |
3. Michigan: Similar to Michigan's No. 1 ranking at Offensive Line U, the Wolverines are somewhat living in the past to reach No. 3 at LBU. The Pro Bowl appearances and draft picks have dried up at linebacker. But for the past decade, few schools had a list of linebackers like this in the NFL: LaMar Woodley, Larry Foote, David Harris, Dhani Jones and Ian Gold. Michigan’s future at Linebacker U resides with players like Jake Ryan, who started the last seven games of his rookie season with the Packers, including their two playoff games.
| Michigan Linebackers: Points Breakdown | ||||
| NFL Starts | Pro Bowls | Draft Picks | First-Round Picks | Total Points |
| 540 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 554 |
2. USC: The Trojans actually had fewer NFL starts at linebacker in the past decade than Michigan. But this was a case where Pro Bowls and NFL draft picks jumped the Trojans over the Wolverines. Clay Matthews, Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga were all drafted in 2009; all of them are still playing. USC has been so deep at linebacker that one of its seventh-round picks, Malcolm Smith, was MVP of Super Bowl XLVIII for the Seahawks. Other USC linebackers to get regular NFL action in the past decade include Lofa Tatupu, Nick Perry and Keith Rivers. Matthews, Cushing and Tatupu have been Pro Bowlers. Only Penn State -- once considered Linebacker U -- has more Pro Bowl linebackers since 2006 than USC and Miami. The Nittany Lions fell short based on NFL starts.
| USC Linebackers: Points Breakdown | ||||
| NFL Starts | Pro Bowls | Draft Picks | First-Round Picks | Total Points |
| 527 | 8 | 13 | 4 | 581 |
1. Miami: Home of Ray Lewis, The U is Linebacker U based largely on old Hurricanes who had long and successful careers. Besides Lewis, Jon Beason, Jonathan Vilma, D.J. Williams, Leon Williams and Rocky McIntosh were also NFL starters. There is some new blood for Miami linebackers in the NFL. Denzel Perryman started nine games for the Chargers last season as a rookie. Sean Spencer, a third-round pick in 2012, now plays for the Titans. Miami has the most Pro Bowl appearances at linebacker over the past decade with 10 from Lewis, Beason and Vilma.
| Miami Linebackers: Points Breakdown | ||||
| NFL Starts | Pro Bowls | Draft Picks | First-Round Picks | Total Points |
| 553 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 591 |
| Linebacker U Comparison | |||||
| Team | NFL Starts | Pro Bowls | Draft Picks | First-Round Picks | Total Points |
| 1. Miami | 553 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 591 |
| 2. USC | 527 | 8 | 13 | 4 | 581 |
| 3. Michigan | 540 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 554 |
| 4. Florida State | 464 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 507 |
| 5. Alabama | 477 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 506 |
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