LB Rankings: A Closer Look At #1 LB Mike Rose

With the off-season upon us we will be removing the players that have moved on to the NFL from our player rankings and re-ranking for the 2021 season. Before we jump into Mike Rose being ranked number one, here’s a few reminders about the rankings themselves:

• The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
• Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
• Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
• We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the College Football LB rankings here.

Iowa State linebacker, Mike Rose moves in to the top spot in our rankings to start the 2021 season. Rose was a leader and playmaker for the Cyclones defense and excelled in every way during the 2020 season. He has always been a reliable player but took his game to another level last season. Rose has plenty of experience and production and will lead a dangerous Iowa State team into 2021.

Three Years of Strong Play

Mike Rose arrived in 2018 as part of an excellent recruiting class that included Brock Purdy, Greg Eisworth and Will McDonald. He cracked the rotation as a true freshmen and became a top contributor immediately, including an 11 tackle performance in the first game of his career against rival Iowa. Rose proved to be a volume tackler who was able to find the ball carrier but also showed some big play ability in the opposing backfield. He finished his freshman season with 75 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups and 5 QB hurries.

In 2019, Rose picked up where he left off after his freshman season. He continued to be a reliable and steady contributor for the Cyclones as a sophomore. He finished the season with a strong performance against Notre Dame in the Bowl Game, he recorded 8 tackles with a sack and a QB Hurry. Rose was good again, finishing 2019 with 77 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 3 pass breakups, a fumble forced and 3 QB hurries, but he would add to his game and be even better in 2020.

The 2020 season was certainly not ideal because of the uncertainty but Mike Rose made the most of it. He was all over the field again, recording double digit tackles in five of the team’s twelve games, but also became a big play guy in coverage. Rose recorded a career high and Big 12 leading five interceptions during the season. His ability to perform against the run and pass was a key part of Iowa State’s 9 – 3 season that saw them finish with a New Year’s Six Bowl win. Rose accounted for 96 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 5 interceptions, 2 pass breakups and 6 QB hurries during the Covid shortened season.

Rose’s Game

At 6’4″ 245 lbs, Rose has the size and length to be a force in the middle of the defense. He has the size and physicality to take on blockers at the point of attack and fight through blockers to get to the ball carrier. He has very good instincts and the play recognition to get to the right spot efficiently. Rose plugs holes effectively up front and is a good tackler who delivers the hit and gets the ball carrier to the ground. He plays the run effectively in the box but can also chase down plays on the perimeter.

Rose is not a big lumbering linebacker, but instead shows good feet and athleticism when pursuing plays in space. He plays with good balance and has the quickness and burst to close on plays quickly. Rose has a high motor and is effective in pursuit from sideline to sideline. He has a good combination of power, speed and size that makes him difficult to block in space. Rose has good athleticism and gets the most out of it because he is rarely out of position.

Rose has always had an advanced feel for the game, but his preparation shows itself on a weekly basis. Rose is disciplined and recognizes plays quickly showing he has studied his opponent and understands their tendencies. His intelligence and instincts help him diagnose plays accurately and efficiently so he can flow to the football and make the play. Those instincts and athleticism also show up in coverage, where Rose is able to cover good ground and make plays on the football regularly.

Mike Rose is a complete linebacker who can impact the game in all facets. He has the size and physicality to play in the box, the range and instincts to play in space and the coverage ability and ball skills to defend the pass. Rose is a premier linebacker who makes big plays for his defense on a weekly basis.

Another Leader Returning To An Experienced Team

Iowa State has a lot of veteran star power returning in 2021. Mike Rose will be joined on the defensive side of the ball by fellow stars, Greg Eisworth and Will McDonald. The trio will be the leaders of a defensive unit that returns nine starters from a historically successful 2020 season. With strong leadership and plenty of talent back Rose will lead one of the most talented defenses in the country.

In addition to all of the talent on defense, Iowa State returns most of their key contributors on offense as well. Brock Purdy is back to lead the offense and has his top two weapons back in Breece Hall and Charlie Kolar. The offense should have no problem scoring points and will allow the defense to be aggressive and loose. Mike Rose and the Cyclones are positioned well to build on the success they had last year and take the program to new heights again.

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ISU vs. OSU 2019-10-26 image taken by Daniel Hartwig is licensed under CC BY 2.0.