The Top 10 Linebackers Who Played 7v7 Football of All Time Brought the Heat Without the Pads
The Top 10 Linebackers Who Played 7v7 Football of All Time didn’t just drop into zones — they turned every rep into a highlight. Linebackers with feet like DBs and the IQ of coordinators, these boys weren’t just catching screens — they were catching bodies… without the pads.
From the Florida swamps to the Texas turf, these dudes showed out in shorts and cleats, calling out plays, locking up tight ends, and flexin’ like they already had NIL deals in high school. They weren’t just filling gaps — they were erasing plays.
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Want more clamps and lockdown energy? Check out the Top 10 Cornerbacks Who Played 7v7 Football of All Time — the DBs who made QBs think twice and WRs disappear.
10. Noah Sewell
Linebacker, 6’2”, 253 lbs
High School 7v7 Team: Pala 7v7, 2017–2020
College: Oregon
NFL: Chicago Bears
Noah Sewell brought a whole lotta violence to a non-contact game. With Pala 7v7 out of Utah, the big man ran with backs and tight ends like he was built for it — and at 250+, that shouldn’t even be legal. He wasn’t just out there to play — he was out there to disrupt.
At Oregon, Sewell became the hammer in the middle, with sideline-to-sideline range and a nasty streak that showed up on every snap. Now in Chicago, he’s building off that foundation, looking to carve out a spot next to some of the league’s best hitters.
Accolades:
– 2020 Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year
– 2023 NFL Draft, 5th Round Pick (Bears)
9. Henry To’oTo’o
Linebacker, 6’2”, 228 lbs
High School 7v7 Team: KT Prep, 2016–2018
College: Tennessee / Alabama
NFL: Houston Texans
Henry To’oTo’o wasn’t just a linebacker on the 7v7 field — he was a defensive coordinator in cleats. With KT Prep, he barked out coverages, anticipated routes, and snatched INTs like he had the playbook. His leadership and quick-twitch instincts made him a chess master in a checkers game.
In college, he balled out at Tennessee before transferring to Bama, where he became the heartbeat of Nick Saban’s defense. Now with the Texans, he’s climbing the ranks as a heady, fast-flowing linebacker with sideline range and veteran-level awareness.
Accolades:
– 2022 First-Team All-SEC
– 5th Round Pick, 2023 NFL Draft (Texans)
8. Tremaine Edmunds
Linebacker, 6’5”, 250 lbs
High School 7v7 Team: Virginia Thoroughbreds, 2012–2015
College: Virginia Tech
NFL: Buffalo Bills / Chicago Bears
Tremaine Edmunds looked like a power forward playing linebacker in 7v7 — but don’t get it twisted, he had fluid hips and breakaway burst. At nearly 6’5”, his catch radius made QBs think twice, and he could cover underneath like a nickel corner with linebacker size.
He dominated at Virginia Tech before becoming a first-rounder and defensive anchor in Buffalo. Now in Chicago, Edmunds remains one of the few LBs who can line up in the box, drop 20 yards deep, or spy a QB and erase his game plan.
Accolades:
– 2018 NFL Draft, 16th Overall Pick
– 2× Pro Bowl (2020, 2021)
– 100+ tackles in 5 straight seasons
7. Shaq Thompson
Linebacker, 6’0”, 230 lbs
High School 7v7 Team: TMP Elite, 2009–2011
College: Washington
NFL: Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills
Shaq Thompson was the ultimate Swiss Army knife with TMP Elite. You’d see him at linebacker one play, safety the next, and maybe even catching passes on offense. He was pure athlete energy, with fluid transitions and a nose for the ball.
At Washington, Shaq’s versatility turned into production. In Carolina, he’s been a defensive staple, known for his range, motor, and ability to lock down tight ends. He’s the type of linebacker every DC dreams about — because you can build the whole scheme around him.
Accolades:
– 2014 Paul Hornung Award Winner (Most Versatile)
– 2015 First-Round Pick (25th overall)
6. Jaylon Smith
Linebacker, 6’2”, 240 lbs
High School 7v7 Team: Indy Select, 2011–2013
College: Notre Dame
NFL: Dallas Cowboys / Green Bay Packers / New York Giants / New Orleans Saints / Las Vegas Raiders
Jaylon Smith was different from the jump. With Indy Select, he looked like a cheat code in 7v7 — dropping into coverage, breaking on throws, and gliding with the fluidity of a DB in a linebacker’s body. Even without pads, he was the most physical presence on the field.
At Notre Dame, he became a household name and the Butkus Award winner before a devastating injury in his final college game. But Smith bounced back and made the Cowboys’ starting lineup, earning a Pro Bowl nod and proving that heart and hustle still matter in this game.
Accolades:
– 2015 Butkus Award Winner (College)
– Consensus All-American (2015)
– 2019 NFL Pro Bowl Selection
5. Devin Bush
Linebacker, 5’11”, 234 lbs
High School 7v7 Team: South Florida Express, 2013–2015
College: Michigan
NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers / Seattle Seahawks / Cleveland Browns
Devin Bush didn’t just rep South Florida Express — he put receivers on notice. Undersized on paper? Maybe. But his burst, field awareness, and attitude were built for chaos. He tracked backs in space like a heat-seeking missile and broke on routes like a safety with a vendetta.
At Michigan, Bush became the tone-setter on one of college football’s nastiest defenses. In the NFL, he exploded as a sideline-to-sideline presence with range and aggression. The game was fast — but Bush stayed faster.
Accolades:
– 2018 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year
– 2019 NFL Draft, 10th Overall Pick
4. Devin White
Linebacker, 6’0”, 237 lbs
High School 7v7 Team: Louisiana Bootleggers, 2012–2015
College: LSU
NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers / Philadelphia Eagles / Houston Texans / Las Vegas Raiders
Devin White was built like a truck but moved like a Tesla. With Louisiana Bootleggers, he wasn’t just a run stopper — he was a 7v7 disruptor, covering backs in the flat, jumping hitches, and talking that talk between every rep. Dude was part linebacker, part lightning bolt.
At LSU, he became the heart of DBU’s front seven. In Tampa Bay, he was a game-wrecker — and a Super Bowl champ. Now in Philly, White still flashes that same violent burst and alpha mentality that made him a 7v7 menace.
Accolades:
– 2018 Butkus Award Winner
– 2019 NFL Draft, 5th Overall Pick
– 2021: Pro Bowl Selection
3. Nakobe Dean
Linebacker, 5’11”, 225 lbs
High School 7v7 Team: Mississippi Grind, 2016–2018
College: Georgia
NFL: Philadelphia Eagles
Nakobe Dean was that 7v7 linebacker who knew your route before you did. He dissected plays like a surgeon, read QBs like Kindle books, and covered tight ends like it was personal. With Mississippi Grind, he led with IQ and an internal motor that never downshifted.
At Georgia, he captained one of the greatest college defenses ever. In Philly, injuries slowed his start — but the tape don’t lie. Dean is still one of the smartest, twitchiest backers in the league, and once he’s healthy? Book it.
Accolades:
– 2021 Butkus Award Winner
– 2021: CFP National Champion (UGA)
– 2022 NFL Draft, 3rd Round Pick (Eagles)
2. Roquan Smith
Linebacker, 6’1”, 236 lbs
High School 7v7 Team: Hustle Inc., 2012–2015
College: Georgia
NFL: Chicago Bears / Baltimore Ravens
Roquan Smith repped Hustle Inc. like a field general with a grudge. In 7v7, he covered like a nickel corner, diagnosed like a vet, and flew to the ball with bad intentions. Nobody ever questioned who the alpha was — because Roquan never gave ’em a chance to.
At Georgia, he was everywhere at once. With the Bears, he racked up stats. With Baltimore? He’s found home — and he’s running that Ravens defense like Ray Lewis 2.0.
Accolades:
– 2017 Butkus Award Winner (College)
– 5× NFL seasons with 100+ tackles
– 2023 First-Team All-Pro (Ravens)
1. Micah Parsons
Linebacker, 6’3”, 245 lbs
High School 7v7 Team: PA Swag, 2015–2018
College: Penn State
NFL: Dallas Cowboys
Micah Parsons was built like a tank but moved like a slot corner — and in 7v7 with PA Swag, he made it look unfair. He played with a chip on his shoulder, jumped routes like a safety, and closed space like a heat-seeking missile. Even in a non-contact setting, he brought that game-wrecker energy every snap.
At Penn State, he dominated the Big Ten with raw athleticism and a sixth sense for the football. In Dallas? He’s become one of the most feared defenders in the league, a true hybrid who can rush the passer, spy the QB, or drop into coverage without blinking.
Accolades:
– 2019 Butkus–Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year
– Consensus All-American (2019)
– 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
– 2× First-Team All-Pro (2021, 2022)
– Fastest player in Cowboys history to 30 career sacks
Think these linebackers brought the heat?
Then you gotta check out the Top 10 Wide Receivers Who Played 7v7 Football of All Time — because every great stop needs a great route runner to match.
