2022 Linebacker Breakdown

<em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em> We’ve updated our 2022 prospect rankings with the Top 100 juniors in Oklahoma. You can check out the complete rankings <a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2022-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RIGHT HERE</strong></a>. Right now, we’re taking a look and putting a spotlight on five linebackers who have impressed us this season. Linebacker is currently the deepest group in the class of 2022 as we have 18 currently ranked in our top 100. Stay dialed into Prep Redzone Oklahoma as we finish our breakdowns for the class of 2022 and prepare to update the class of 2021! [player_tooltip player_id="101413" first="Chance" last="Clements"] <strong>- Stillwater (#88 Overall)</strong> The first LB on this list is a newcomer and one we’re excited about, [player_tooltip player_id="101413" first="Chance" last="Clements"]. Chance played all over a stacked Stillwater defense in 2020, so we really could project him as a DB as well. Clements did not wow us with his stats, he was a consistent tackler and made some big plays, but we were rather impressed with his athleticism and versatility. He was great against the run when playing in the box and out in the secondary covering the slot. Next season we will see more of where Stillwater likes him best after they lose a few key defenders from this year’s team. [player_tooltip player_id="55157" first="Jack" last="Puckett"] <strong>- Bixby (#74 Overall)</strong> Another newcomer was among Bixby’s breakout stars in 2020, [player_tooltip player_id="55157" first="Jack" last="Puckett"]. Puckett was among the best run defending LBs in 2020. He was excellent at fighting through traffic and blockers to get to the ball carrier time and time again. Bixby was stacked once again on defense so they did not need Jack to be a lockdown defender at the second level, however, with some refining and improvement in pass coverage, Jack could become one of the more complete LBs in the class. [player_tooltip player_id="61130" first="Jayson" last="Smith"] <strong>- Del City (#59 Overall)</strong> Surprise surprise, another defender from Del City, much less another LB. However, [player_tooltip player_id="61130" first="Jayson" last="Smith"] is not just another LB, he is one of the best in the state. Despite playing with both [player_tooltip player_id="38498" first="Rejhan" last="Tatum"] and [player_tooltip player_id="38497" first="Donovan" last="Stephens"], Smith is much different as a prospect. Smith is not as polished in pass coverage as those two but he is just as prolific, if not more, in the box against the run game and as a blitzer. With all of the attention some of his younger teammates have received on defense, it is a little head-scratching that his recruitment has not taken off, but we’re sure it will next season as he will be the star of the show at LB alongside a couple of other youngsters in Del City. [player_tooltip player_id="47299" first="Buddy" last="Mack"] <strong>- Broken Arrow (#20 Overall)</strong> Buddy played a lot of his sophomore year on the inside as a MLB and was one of the better brusiers inside in 2019. In 2020, he bumped outside quite a bit and has once again impressed us as he had little to no trouble running down some of the best backs in the state on the perimeter and in pass coverage. He has division 1 ready size, strength, and athleticism, he’s just waiting for the opportunity to showcase his abilities at the next level as he still does not have any major D1 offers yet. Broken Arrow will lose quite a few playmakers on defense including star LB [player_tooltip player_id="38511" first="Darryan" last="Moss"], so it will be fun to watch [player_tooltip player_id="47299" first="Buddy" last="Mack"] step up and become even more of a leader on this defense in 2021. [player_tooltip player_id="38676" first="Gabe" last="Brown"] <strong>- Stillwater (#13 Overall)</strong> Once again our top LB in the class of 2022 is Stillwater’s own and Oklahoma State commit [player_tooltip player_id="38676" first="Gabe" last="Brown"]. After having a breakout sophomore season that got him on the recruiting map, Brown had another stellar season as a Junior for Stillwater as he stepped up and became more of a leader on the Pioneer defense. From plugging holes at an elite rate on inside runs, to chasing down some of the best backs on the perimeter on outside runs, to locking down players in the slot in pass coverage, Gabe did a little bit of everything in 2020 and has solidified his spot as one of the best defenders in the state.