Even before its recent streak of national championships, the Big 10 built a reputation of toughness, grit, and defensive dominance. The finest representations of that level of defensive tenacity often appear at the second level of the defense, so next up in Last Word’s ranking series is the Big 10’s best returning linebackers.
Although we’ve already covered quarterbacks and receivers, it’s quite a challenge to whittle down any position list in an 18-team conference with so much high-end talent. Consequently, we thought we should mention a few linebackers outside of the top three who didn’t make the cut. Let’s look at who made our honorable mention players.
Big 10’s Best Returning Linebackers
Honorable Mention
- Cam Buffington, Iowa: We readily admit that this selection is based almost solely on potential, but Buffington appears to be the next in the line of home-grown linebacker recruits who develop and flourish at Iowa. At 6’-3” and 240 pounds, the sophomore has prototypical size to play inside. We believe in his tools and maturity enough to project a big 2026, even if he hasn’t nailed down a starting job.
- Tony Rojas, Penn State: Rojas could easily make us regret leaving him out of the top three. He was starting to make a name for himself with 25 tackles in only four games before going down with a torn ACL in 2025. Now a redshirt junior, the new regime in Happy Valley will look to him as a key cog of its defense.
- Payton Pierce, Ohio State: It’s easy to get overlooked while playing with athletic freaks and first-round picks in the same position room, but Pierce is no slouch. The former four-star recruit is next up in the middle for the Buckeyes. We think Pierce has what it takes to play his way out of “honorable mention” status by the end of the season.
- Devon Jackson, Oregon: The Nebraska native came to Oregon at 200 pounds and is now a 6’2, 235-pound senior. Now that the Ducks’ leading tackler in 2025, Bryce Boettcher, is now off to the NFL, Dan Lanning needs players to step up in terms of leadership and production, and Jackson is a prime candidate for both. He has the desired size, range, and speed for the position. A source close to program reported to CBS Sports that he’s run a 4.3 40-yard dash. The production hasn’t exactly been eye-popping to this point with 41 total tackles in 2025, but we expect a considerable jump in an expanded role in 2026.
The Top Three in the Big 10
#3 Isaiah Jones, Indiana
Isaiah Jones returns for his senior season, along with a veteran linebacker group for Indiana. He excelled in multiple ways for the Hoosiers, finishing with 15.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in 2025. Indiana used him all over the field, and there’s no glaring weakness to his game.
Jones is explosive off the edge when rushing the quarterback. He grades out better against the run than the pass, with PFF grades of 66.8 compared to 55.7, respectively. But he doesn’t look out of his element in pass defense. As expected with an Indiana prospect, the motor never stops for the 230-pound thumper.
#2 Rolijah Hardy, Indiana
Rolijah Hardy is somewhat of a microcosm of Indiana as a program. Overlooked, not overly impressive getting off the bus, yet focused and productive. The 5’11” junior had over 100 tackles and a staggering 15 tackles for loss in 2025. Hardy’s production would justify not only an all-Big Ten selection, but All-American consideration.
Despite his size, Hardy is a physical and effective tackler in the open field. He consistently times the snap well, making him harder to block when blitzing. In the age of spread offenses and nickel-heavy offenses, he’s good in coverage. Hardy is an all-around linebacker and would likely be a bigger name in draft circles if he were a few inches taller.
#1 Daniel Wingate, Maryland
Ok, we know what you’re thinking. And we’ll tell you how a Terrapin reached the top of a position ranking in the Big 10. Daniel Wingate simply produces. He’s improved every year, going from 11 tackles as a freshman to 102 as a junior. The scary part is that we think he can be better.
Wingate is listed at 6’-5” and is now up to 230 pounds. While not a blazer, he displays adequate game speed while running plays down from behind. The rangy senior returned an interception for a touchdown in 2025 but also had 6.5 tackles for loss on the year. Although he doesn’t wear the colors of a blue-blood program, Wingate will be a household name in the conference in 2026.
Main Image: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
