LSU is becoming a haven for pro linebacker prospects, with Devin White, Kwon Alexander and Deion Jones going from Baton Rouge to the NFL in recent drafts. Queen is next in line. He got a chance to start four of the last five contests as a sophomore in 2018, once due to White's unavailability in the first half against Alabama due to a questionable targeting call. In 13 games overall, Queen made 40 tackles, five for loss, and one sack. He saved his best for last, leading the squad with nine tackles, two for loss, against UCF in the Fiesta Bowl. Queen continued that progress in the team's national championship campaign, starting 12 of 15 games played and posting 85 stops, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception and two pass breakups. The former four-star recruit and 2016 Warrick Dunn award finalist (top player in the Baton Rouge area) was the first player from his hometown of Livonia to receive an LSU scholarship offer. In his first year with the Tigers, Queen played in 12 games as a reserve (six tackles).

J'Kaylin "J.K." Dobbins was a four-star recruit but broke a bone in his right leg in the first game of his senior season at La Grange (Texas) High School. He enrolled early at Ohio State and managed to become a rare true freshman starter with the Buckeyes. Dobbins ranked seventh in the FBS with 7.2 yards per carry in 2017, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors (194-1,412, seven TDs rushing in 14 starts; 22-135-6.1 receiving) and winning the Most Valuable Player of the Big Ten Championship Game (174 yards vs. Wisconsin). He was a second-team all-conference pick again as a sophomore, starting 12 of 14 games played and rushing for 1,053 yards on 230 carries (4.6 per, one fumble) and scoring 10 times (26-285-11.0, two TDs receiving). Dobbins was in the Heisman race in his junior season (though he did not receive an invite to New York), garnering second-team Associated Press All-American honors and winning the Big Ten Running Back of the Year award. The first-team all-conference pick was one of three FBS backs with 2,000 rushing yards on the year (301-2,003-6.7). He was also among the nation's leaders with 21 rushing touchdowns while contributing in the passing game (23-247-10.7, two TDs) in 14 starts. Dobbins' father, Lawrence (who also played running back La Grange High) passed away from a stroke at the age of 33.

Madubuike (pronounced MAD-aye-boo-kay) became a force for the Aggies as a sophomore, earning the team's Defensive Most Valuable Player award after starting 12 of 13 games played and leading the squad with three forced fumbles and 6.5 sacks among his 40 tackles, 10.5 for loss. He topped his squad with 11.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 12 games (11 starts) as a junior; he also intercepted a pass, broke up two others and blocked a kick in 2019. He did not play in the team's bowl game, choosing to prepare for the draft. The former five-star recruit and all-state pick from McKinney, Texas played in all 13 games as a backup his freshman year, posting 20 stops, 2.5 for loss, and a forced fumble.

Duvernay was considered one of the top five receiver recruits in the nation in 2016, signing with Art Briles to play in the Baylor Bears' explosive offense. Briles was let go before Duvernay arrived, however, and Baylor never submitted his National Letter of Intent to the NCAA. So the first-team all-state pick in football and 2015 100-meter state champion moved on to Austin. Duvernay made an instant impact, starting two of 12 games played, tying for the team lead with three receiving touchdowns (20 receptions, 412 yards, 20.6 average), and contributing as a kick returner (12 returns, 257 yards, 21.4 average). He did not provide as much production in his sophomore campaign (nine receptions, 124 yards, 13.8 average; four returns, 88 yards, 22.0 average on kick returns in 13 games, one start) but bounced back as a junior with 41 receptions for 546 yards (13.3 per) and four scores in 14 starts. Duvernay saved his best for last, turning in a first-team All-Big 12 effort as a senior by finishing in the nation's top five with 106 receptions, which went for 1,386 yards (13.1 per) and nine touchdowns in 13 starts. Devin is a cousin of Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray. His twin brother, Donovan, plays defensive back for the Longhorns.

Harrison was a top-50 ATH recruit nationally after starting for three years at quarterback for Columbus' Walnut Ridge High School. He wanted to play receiver at his hometown school but moved to linebacker to get more playing time given the team's depth on offense. Harrison played in 12 games as a reserve his true freshman season (13 tackles), and then in 14 games with a start against Michigan State in 2017 (36 tackles, three for loss, 1.5 sacks). Big Ten coaches named him honorable mention All-Big Ten as a junior, tying for the Buckeyes' lead with 81 tackles (8.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, interception). Harrison again proved himself a playmaker for the Buckeyes as a senior, garnering third-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big Ten notice as the team's leading tackler (75 stops, 16.5 for loss, 4.5 sacks, four pass breakups in 14 starts).

Tyre (pronounced TYE-ree) Phillips grew up in Grenada, Mississippi, and then attended East Mississippi Community College for two years. He was considered one of the top offensive guard prospects coming out of junior college in 2017, but redshirted his first year in Starkville. Phillips played in 13 games as a reserve left tackle and on special teams in 2018. He stepped into the starting left tackle job for his senior season, beginning all 13 games for the Bulldogs.

Despite growing up less than an hour from Camp Randall and winning Wisconsin's Gatorade Player of the Year award and Joe Thomas Award as the state's top offensive lineman as a senior, Bredeson eschewed the Badgers to sign with Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh. His talent was too strong to keep off the field, and he earned Freshman All-American and honorable mention All-Big Ten notice after starting eight of 13 games played in 2016. Bredeson started all 12 games at left guard in 2017, garnering second-team all-conference honors. He was named a team captain in 2018, starting all 13 games at left guard and earning a second-team All-Big Ten nod. Bredeson was a team captain again in 2019 when he started all 13 games at left guard and received third-team Associated Press All-American and first-team all-conference notice. Ben's brother, Jack, played baseball at Michigan.

A three-time honorable mention All-Big 12 selection, Washington started all 37 games for Tech over his sophomore (44 tackles, two sacks), junior (41 tackles, seven for loss, three sacks), and senior seasons (39 tackles, 5.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups). The Longview, Texas, native started once as a freshman, as well, playing in all 12 games (14 tackles, one sack).

Proche (pronounced pro-SHAY) decided to keep his game in the Dallas area after being considered a four-star recruit out of nearby DeSoto High. He suffered a scare prior to the start of his senior year of high school, when he was diagnosed with acute kidney failure after a practice and spent two days in an intensive care unit. He returned to catch 18 passes for 335 yards and a score in seven games after missing a month. After a redshirt season, he started eight of 12 games for the Mustangs (57 catches for 709 yards, 12.4 yards per catch and six TDs) and returned kicks (15 returns for 273 yards and an 18.2-yard average on kickoffs; 12 returns for 47 yards and a 3.9-yard average on punts). In 2017, Proche displayed nice playmaking skills while starting nine of 13 games played (40 catches for 816 yards, 20.4 yards per catch and six TDs). He pushed his game to another level as a junior, being named first-team All-American Athletic Conference as SMU's leading receiver, grabbing 93 passes for 1,199 yards (12.9 yards per catch) and 12 scores. He again was the team's primary returner in 2018 (12 returns for 276 yards and a 23.0-yard average on kickoffs; 20 returns for 165 yards and an 8.3-yard average on punts). Proche helped the Mustangs achieve a 10-win season in 2019, again earning first-team all-conference accolades after starting all 13 games, tying for the national lead with 111 receptions (1,225 yards, 11.0 yards per catch), ranking in the top five with 15 scores and returning punts (17 returns for 164 yards and an average of 9.6 yards).

Stone was underappreciated as a high school recruit, as he never received a scholarship offer from his home-state Penn State Nittany Lions and had a visit canceled by Michigan State. Iowa grabbed him from his initial commitment to Kent State in the end, using him as a reserve in 11 games his true freshman season (17 tackles, one interception). Though Stone started just eight of 13 games as a sophomore, he made a number of plays. He racked up 39 tackles, broke up three passes, forced a fumble, and picked off four passes -- returning one of those for a 24-yard touchdown against Penn State. Stone was a team leader in 2019, garnering second-team All-Big Ten notice with 70 tackles, three for loss, one sack, one interception, four pass breakups and three forced fumbles in 13 starts.