2023 NFL Draft Prospects for Vikings: Inside Linebacker

Lindsey Young

Ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, Vikings.com takes a look at prospects who have received a slew of attention from national outlets. The series will include rankings of these national stores, statistics and background information for several potential customers.

Vikings status at inside linebacker

The Vikings currently have the following inside linebackers on their roster: Jordan Hicks, Brian Asamoah II, Troy Dye, William Kwenkeu and recent free agent Troy Reeder.

Reeder signed with Minnesota last month, reunite with former high school friend Brian O'Neill. He began his NFL career in 2019, when he signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent. Reeder joined the Chargers for the 2022 season and played in all 17 games, contributing primarily on special teams.

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The Vikings parted ways with 2015 draft pick Eric Kendricks, who has since signed with the Chargers.

Hicks, a 2021 free agency addition, will return for a second season in Purple. He started every game for the Vikings last season, totaling 129 tackles (86 solo), 3.0 sacks, 10 passes defensed and one forced fumble. He also picked up his fifth career interception, picking off Jalen Hurts in Week 2.

Minnesota's inside linebackers were key contributors to creating turnovers in 2022. Hicks and Asamoah each forced a fumble, while Kendricks and Asamoah each had a fumble recovery.

Dye, who is entering his fourth season, recovered a fumble on special teams.

Asamoah and Kwenkeu both had nice moments as rookies last season.

Expert ranking

NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah currently has just two inside linebackers in his overall tally Top 50: 43. Trenton Simpson and 49. Jack Campbell.

ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr., did not include an inside linebacker in his overall Top 25.

Inside linebacker rankings by Jeremiah, his NFL Media counterpart Bucky BrooksKiper, analytics website Pro Football Focus and The Athletic's Dan Brugler are listed below.

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TICKETS DETAILS Prospects

Note: Height and weight are from each player's NFL.com profile (linked for each player's name).

Trenton Simpson

School: Clemson | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 235 pounds

The experts' position ranking

Daniel Jeremiah: LB1

Bucky Brooks: LB3

Mel Kiper, Jr.: LB1

Soccer Focus: LB4

Dane Brugler: LB2

2022 statistics: 12 games; 72 tackles (41 solo), 2.5 sacks, 4.0 TFL, 2 FF, 3 passes defensed

Son of a Major: Simpson is the son of Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy D. Simpson, who served 17 tours of duty from 1994-21 during his decorated career with the US Army Rangers.

Drew Sanders

School: Arkansas | Year: Junior | Ht: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 235 pounds

The experts' position ranking

Daniel Jeremiah: Not ranked in the top 50 overall

Bucky Brooks: LB1

Mel Kiper, Jr.: LB2

Pro Football Focus: LB2

Dane Brugler: LB1

2022 statistics: 12 games; 103 tackles (40 solo), 1 INT, 9.5 sacks, 13.5 TFL, 3 FF, 1 FR, 5 passes defensed

Impressed in prep football: Sanders was a 5-star prospect, top-15 overall recruit, No. 1 player from Texas and top-ranked athlete in the nation coming out of Ryan High School.

Jack Campbell

School: Iowa | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 249 pounds

The experts' position ranking

Daniel Jeremiah: LB2

Bucky Brooks: LB4

Mel Kiper, Jr.: LB3

Soccer focus: LB1

Dane Brugler: LB4

2022 statistics: 13 games; 128 tackles (60 solo), 2 INT, 1.0 sack, 5.5 TFL, 1 FF, 1 pass defensed

From court to plane: A day after Campbell's Cedar Falls High School football team fell in the state championship his senior season, he was at basketball practice. Campbell helped his hoops squad defend its state title and could have played Division I college basketball but chose the gridiron.

Henry To'oTo'o

School: Alabama (after Tennessee) | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 227 pounds

The experts' position ranking

Daniel Jeremiah: Not ranked in the top 50 overall

Bucky Brooks: LB5

Mel Kiper, Jr.: LB5

Soccer Focus: LB8

Dane Brugler: LB3

2022 statistics: 13 games; 93 tackles (44 solo), 2.5 sacks, 8.0 TFL

South Pacific Heritage: To'oTo'o's full name is Henry Moses Ito Iese To'oTo'o (TOE-oh TOE-oh). He is half Samoan, half Tongan and has seven siblings.

DeMarvion is shown over

School: Texas | Year: Senior | Ht: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 229 pounds

The experts' position ranking

Daniel Jeremiah: Not ranked in the top 50 overall

Bucky Brooks: Not ranked in top five LB

Mel Kiper, Jr.: LB7

Soccer Focus: LB5

Dane Brugler: LB6

2022 statistics: 12 games; 96 tackles (49 solo), 4.0 sacks, 10 TFL, 5 passes defensed

Proud Dad: Overshown welcomed their son, DeMarvion Germanic Lee Overshown, Jr., on September 13, 2022.

Daiyan Henley

School: Washington State (after Nevada) | Year: Redshirt Sr. | Ht: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 225 pounds

The experts' position ranking

Daniel Jeremiah: Not ranked in the top 50 overall

Bucky Brooks: Not ranked in top five LB

Mel Kiper, Jr.: LB4

Soccer Focus: LB3

Dane Brugler: LB10

2022 statistics: 12 games; 106 tackles (54 solo), 1 INT, 4.0 sacks, 12 TFL, 3 FF, 2 FR, 1 pass defensed

Transfer product: Henley played for Nevada from 2017-21 before opting out of Nevada's 2021 bowl game and transferring to Washington State, where he started every game during the season for the first time in his collegiate career.


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