The college football season is creeping closer and closer which means it is time to start ranking draft prospects. These rankings will be subject to change throughout the season. Each week the players will either help or hurt their draft stock impacting the position ranking. Don't forget that someone always emerges and becomes a surprise top prospect, like Nick Fairley.
The middle linebackers are fighting the cornerbacks for the most talented position in the 2012 draft. This group has good depth and tons of talent. The past few drafts didn't have a lot of good middle linebacker prospects but this class will make up for that void. Anybody in my top 5 could easily be ranked #1 but I feel that Manti Te'o has the most impact potential.
Dove’s 2012 NFL Draft Rankings: Inside Linebacker
After the jump, check out my preseason inside linebacker rankings for the 2012 NFL Draft.
| Rank | Player | School |
| 1 | Manti Te'o | Notre Dame |
| 2 | Vontaze Burfict | Arizona State |
| 3 | Luke Kuechly | Boston College |
| 4 | Don'ta Hightower | Alabama |
| 5 | Courtney Upshaw | Alabama |
Sleeper: Shayne Skov- Stanford, Audie Cole- North Carolina State
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