They’re the run stoppers of the defense, the tough guys who man the interior, mostly. They take the licks, but more importantly, they administer them.
While the list you see below has players who could also play outside, this list is made up of players who scouts see as more of an interior prospect at linebacker. It’s an impressive and accomplished group.
So take a look, conference by conference, at some key players returning to the FCS level as ILB prospects.
RELATED: Top 25 Returning FCS Linebackers Nationally
BIG SKY
Will Leota, Sacramento State, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: At Utah Tech: 75 tackles, 4 TFLs
Leota is a Utah Tech transfer who picked up All-UAC honors last year. He turned heads early in the year when he posted nine tackles and a TFL against FCS national powerhouse Montana early in the year. Many of the Big Sky’s top interior linebackers from 2023 have moved on, and Leota could fill that void when it comes to postseason accolades.
BIG SOUTH-OVC
Bryce Norman, SEMO, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 87 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 5 sacks, 1 INT
Norman, an in-state product, led his team in tackles last fall in 10 games. He also posted 119 tackles as a sophomore in 2022 and 66 as a freshman in 2021 – so he’s no stranger to being productive and also has 22.5 career tackles for loss to prove it. He’s also a legacy, as his father Brandon was a two-time All-OVC selection at SEMO.
CAA
Shane Hartzell, Villanova, Jr.
2023 STAT LINE: 91 tackles, 6 TFLs, 4 sacks, 1 INT
Hartzell, an in-state product, is considered one of the top FCS products at inside linebacker in the 2026 class by Draft Scout, and he’s been recognized as one of the top overall players in the FCS at the ILB position by several media outlets. He’s been a key contributor for the Wildcats for the past two seasons. The CAA is loaded with good ones this year.
IVY
Anthony Roussos, Columbia, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 93 tackles, 10.5 TFLs
Roussos, a Florida native, was selected a First Team All-Ivy League performer by several outlets last year and was second in the Ivy League in tackles (93 in 10 games). Considering that pace, he ended up being a top 10 performer in the nation in the FCS by averaging 5.7 solo tackles per game, while also standing out as one of the nation’s top inside/middle linebackers when it came to negative yardage plays (10.5 tackles for loss). His older brother Mike Roussos also has played at Columbia.
MEAC
Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 75 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 2 INTs, 3 sacks
Hunter was a member of several HBCU All-American teams in 2023, and he comes into 2024 at No. 10 in the school record books with 188 career tackles. He is an in-state product of Capitol Heights, Md., and is one of the Bear’s top individuals coming into this fall. South Carolina State’s Aaron Smith is also very special.
MVFC
Adam Bock, South Dakota State, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 65 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2 sacks in 10 games (due to injury)
Bock, an Iowa native, dealt with injury issues in both of the last two seasons, but when it comes to his play during the postseason – he’s been stellar. In both national championship seasons, he’s made plays through the FCS playoffs that were absolutely critical to the Jackrabbits’ finishes. Indiana State’s Garret Ollendieck and Illinois State youngster Tye Niekamp should also impress, among several good ILBs returning to the MVFC.
NEC
Gianni Rizzo, Duquense, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 68 tackles, 10 TFLs, 3.5 sacks, 2 FF
Rizzo, a Scond Team All-NEC selection with multiple media outlets, is an in-state product out of North Huntington, Pa. He started all 12 games last year, including the first-round FCS playoff game where he recorded 11 tackles against the MVFC’s Youngstown State.
PATRIOT
James Conway, Fordham, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 129 tackles, 6 TFLs, 2 FF
Conway may be playing football in New York City for the Rams, but he’s a Nebraska native. It turns out he was the perfect fit for the Patriot League as he set a freshman record at Fordham with 131 tackles in 2021. He comes into 2024 with 386 career tackles – good for third all-time on the school list. He had 12 solo tackles with a TFL and a fumble recovery in the Rams’ win over FBS Buffalo. Keep an eye on Lehigh’s Mike DeNucci, too.
PIONEER
Alex Herriott, Presbyterian, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: 118 tackles, 9 TFLs, 2.5 sacks
Herriott, an in-state product out of Hanahan HS in South Carolina, is now fifth in school history for total tackles with 272 accumulated already with one year to go. He was a First Team All-Pioneer Football League selection. A starter since his freshman season in the fall of 2021, he posted back-to-back 16-tackle contests last fall against Marist and Davidson in conference games.
SOCON
Noah Martin, Samford, Grad.
2023 STAT LINE: 109 tackles, 14.5 tackles, 3.5 sacks
Martin, a Tennessee native of the prestigious Baylor School in Chattanooga, led the Bulldogs in tackles – by 40+ over the next player last year (Jaden Mosley with 61). He was the man in the middle. When he played against Auburn, he had five tackles, a TFL, and a QB hurry in the game, and against playoff-bound Mercer? He posted 14 tackles, a TFL, and a hurry. Mercer’s Isaac Dowling and Ken Standley and ETSU’s William McRainey are also good ones in the SoCon.
SOUTHLAND
Micah Davey, McNeese, Jr.
2023 STAT LINE: 153 tackles, 7 TFLs
If Davey’s name seems familiar, it’s because he’s the son of former LSU and NFL quarterback Rohan Davey. Micah has a fiery style of play and exploded onto the scene last year after turning heads as a freshman in 2022. He has flat-out turned out to be one of the nation’s top machines at interior linebacker and could very well turn out to be McNeese’s next pro draft pick – and he has two years of eligibility left.
SWAC
Rico Dozier, Alabama State, Sr.
2023 STAT LINE: At Arkansas-Pine Bluff: 128 tackles, 6.5 TFLs
Dozier, an Alabama native, has come home to complete his college career after spending three seasons at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, where he finished with 210 tackles and 17.5 sacks during that duration. He was named a First Team All-SWAC linebacker with the Golden Lions last year, and racked up 17 tackles in one game against Alabama A&M. Overall he had 10 or more tackles in nine of UAPB’s 11 games in 2023.
UAC
Kohner Cullimore, Southern Utah, Jr.
2023 STAT LINE: 73 tackles, 10 TFLs, 5 hurries
Cullimore, an Arizona native, is expected to be a key component of what makes the Thunderbirds’ defense work in 2024. He was an All-UAC performer as a sophomore last year, making the first team with some outlets.
