Under the Radar: Breakout Linebackers To Know
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If you want to win football games in Georgia, you have to have strong linebacker play. If you don’t have a defender who can control the middle of the field, you won’t be stopping many of the high-caliber offenses in…
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Continue ReadingIf you want to win football games in Georgia, you have to have strong linebacker play. If you don’t have a defender who can control the middle of the field, you won’t be stopping many of the high-caliber offenses in today’s game. Linebackers need to be strong enough to help stop the run, but have enough athleticism to cover the middle of the field against the pass.
There are quite a few linebackers who are seeing their stock take off, and they could see some major offers come their way this spring.
Isaac Hubert – Creekview
The 2023 linebacker is coming off a big sophomore season last year where he showed his natural instincts and toughness. Hubert made 58 tackles last season, 15 TFLs, 8 sacks, 12 QB pressures and 3 forced fumbles. He also had 9.5 sacks as a freshman in 2019. The 6-foot-2 230-pounder is also a standout in the weight room for Creekview, setting the schools record recently with a 535-pound squat. He’s also been pressing 365-pounds. As a sophomore, Hubert’s best football is still ahead of him, and he will be one of the drop defenders in all of North Georgia this fall.
“His biggest strength is how hard he works,” Creekview head coach Trevor Williams told Prep Redzone. “He wants to be great. He asks great questions and leads by example. We do expect him to take on a leadership roll this year.”
Joshua Josephs – North Cobb
Up in Kennesaw is where you’ll find one of the top pass rushing edge-defenders in the state. The long, athletic 6-foot-4 215-pounder is lightning quick off the edge but knows how to set the edge against the run as well. He does a great job of cording runners inside where they get swallowed up by the rest of the North Cobb defense. He’s made his name as an athletic pass rusher so far where he’s earned offers from Arizona State, Duke, Boston College, Georgia Tech, among others.
“We think he’s going to have a monster year,” North Cobb assistant coach Jesse Lynch told Prep Redzone. “He’s already put on 20 lbs this offseason and will continue to grow. He will continue to be a big part of our defense and we will find ways to get him the ball on offense too. He’s just a great athlete that can do freakish things most others can’t. His speed and length separate him.”
Olan Robinson Olan Robinson 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Newton | 2023 State GA – Newton
The Newton Rams are always producing talent, and they have a young linebacker with SEC potential. 2023 LB Olan Robinson Olan Robinson 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Newton | 2023 State GA is an impressive athlete with good size at 6-foot-2 220-pounder who is developing more and more each day. As a sophomore last season, playing on a loaded defense, Robinson showed he can play with the big boys in one of the toughest regions in the state. He played with a physical presence and will look to get even bigger/stronger/faster this offseason. He’s a good tackler and showed good instincts for someone his age. If he’s not blocked, he’s going to sniff out the ball carrier in a hurry. He’s a linebacker who is expected to have a big junior season this fall.