2023 Linebackers to Watch Out For

The 2023 class is starting to take shape and becoming a talented group at certain key positions. The linebacker position in the state of Arkansas is always a position 2023 class has several prospects to examine and familiar with. Now, is a good time to start to get familiar with names we will be hearing called a lot over the next few years. <strong>Kyrone Sims Jr.- Watson Chapel</strong> Sims Jr. is a versatile player for Watson Chapel. He has played the defensive end and the linebacker spots for the Wildcats. Sims Jr. uses his speed well to fight off blocks and just live in the opposing offensive backfield. He does a terrific job of being able to diagnose the play. Sims Jr. rushes the pass and reads the running game with equal effectiveness. He has the potential to play the defensive end spot or at the linebacker spot at the next level. Scouts will like how quick he is, not only with his speed, but also with how quickly he diagnosis a play. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138187" first="Rhett" last="Marrell"]- Prairie Grove</strong> Marrell is a linebacker that is always around the football. He is quick and uses his speed well to get into the backfield. Marrell is a hard hitter, and he has the talent to separate the ball from the ball carrier. He does a good job of fending off the blocks and getting into the backfield. Marrell is an impressive player from the offensive and the defensive side of the ball. From the running back and the linebacker positions Marrell has done an impressive job for the team. Marrell is going to be a player to watch this season, he has tremendous potential and I only see it growing. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="135256" first="James" last="Whitley"]-Maumelle</strong> Whitley is a solid piece of the linebacking corps for the Maumelle Hornets. He will use his speed to defeat blockers and get to the ball carrier. An underrated part of Whitley’s game is that he does a great job watching the quarterback’s eyes and making a play on the football. Scouts will take notice of the fact that Whitley does not give up on a play. He is pursuing the football continuously and will not stop until he makes the tackle. Whitley will be a player to keep an eye on over the next two years. He has excellent potential and will only continue to get stronger. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="138880" first="Caden" last="Mimms"]-Cabot</strong> The Cabot Panthers have a linebacker that has the potential to make scouts sit up and take notice. At 6-3 and 220-pounds, Mimms is a nightmare for the opposing offensive line to attempt to account for. Mimms has the rare mix of power and speed and will live in the opposing offensive backfield, when given the opportunity. He is impressive when it comes to fending off of blocks and still being able to make the tackle. Mimms has the potential to become a division one recruit over the next few years. The 2021 season will serve as a nice exploding on to the scene type of season for Mimms. <strong>Quincy Rhodes Jr.- Jacksonville</strong> The central part of Arkansas is producing the linebacking talent for the class of 2023. Rhodes Jr. is a powerhouse at the linebacker spot for the Jacksonville Titans. At 6-5 and 250-pounds, Rhodes Jr. is a great athlete, and he uses that athleticism well in getting into the backfield to bring down the ball carrier. He does not give up on a play and will recover to make the tackle. Rhodes Jr. has shown that he can be effective in pass coverage. He is a player that has the potential to play the linebacker position as well as the defensive end spot at the next level.