2021 LB’s To Watch

There are some highly talented LB’s across Oregon that are uncommited or without a ton of offers. With the season approaching, these guys have the potential to rise their stock and utilize their potential to the fullest. Take a look at 5 LB’s to watch this season: [caption id="attachment_69700" align="alignright" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-69700" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/11/Bryan-Cuthbertson-Pic-300x179.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="179" /> Reigning Conference POY [player_tooltip player_id="28712" first="Bryan" last="Cuthbertson"] of Sherwood HS[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="28712" first="Bryan" last="Cuthbertson"], 6’1" 245lbs, Sherwood HS Cuthbertson in an instinctual player with excellent reaction and play recognition. He is very strong at the POA with a good striking ability, and did a good job his junior year meeting ball carriers at the LOS. He takes good pursuit paths to blow up plays on the edges or by the numbers. He does a good job overall shedding blocks to make plays. Cuthbertson has also shown to be an effective open field tackler, preventing speedy ball carriers from bustling loose for big plays. He does an excellent job timing his blitzes to create a quickness disadvantage against opposing linemen. He is a very aggressive player and plays with a mean streak, and is a definite player to get on your radar. [player_tooltip player_id="28765" first="Riley" last="Keppel"], 6’3" 195lbs, Westview HS Keppel has good length and does a good job using it to his advantage. He has good instincts all around, and has proved to be a balanced LB overall. He shows good lateral mobility and does a good job wrapping up ball carriers. Keppel’s best trait on film is his ability to creep up and time blitzes. He is lethal off the edge and frequently makes his way into the backfield. He can be a solid coverage LB as well, as he has shown to read QB’s very well with a good break on the ball to force PBU’s. He has room to put on wight, and is just scratching the surface of his potential. [player_tooltip player_id="28730" first="Sabastian" last="Peffier"], 6’2" 225lbs, Gladstone HS Peifier does an excellent job filling alleys and meeting ball carriers at or behind the LOS. He has solid play recognition and is able to get skinny and shoot through small gaps on blitz packages to blow up plays in the backfield. He shows good range at MLB and takes a good track to make plays on outside runs or screens. He gets off blocks well using athletic hands to quickly shed, or just power his way head on through a block. Peffier is a fundamental tackler with strength at the POA, and is a fly around player for Gladstone.<img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-24525" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/06/Generic-Featured-Image-4-300x187.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="187" /> [player_tooltip player_id="28812" first="Dustin" last="Kunze"], 6’2" 200lbs, South Salem HS Kunze is an instinctual player with good play recognition. He usually tackles with a low pad level, and has shown to be a very effective open field tackler. He takes a good track to make plays on faster ball carriers. In coverage, he reads the QB well and identifies crossing concepts. He did a good job overall closing on pass catchers to initiate immediate contact or force PBU’s his junior year. Kunze could be a sleeper to get on your radar. [player_tooltip player_id="28817" first="Jamal" last="Naghiyev"], 6’3" 205lbs, Churchill HS Naghiyev has a big frame with solid length, with room to put on weight. He has position versatility at LB and along the DL at the high school level, and uses his size well to swallow up ball carriers. He could improve flexibility, but mauls his opponents. His shows solid pursuit, as he’s made plays on bubble screens 10 yards downfield as an edge rusher or down DE. He’s shown athletic hands to disengage from OT’s, and is just scratching the surface of his potential. Given the long offseason, Naghiyev could have a massive senior campaign.