Class of 2022 Breakdown: Top North Georgia Linebackers

The Atlanta area is one of the best in the country as it relates to overall high school talent, and year after year we see major D1prospects from Atlanta and the surrounding area doing great things at the next level. The 2022 class is deep across the board, especially at the linebacker spot. The state is home to multiple linebackers with major offers, and many of them are North Georgia residents. Here are some of the top 2022 linebackers to know about for the upcoming season... &nbsp; <strong>CJ Washington – Cedartown </strong> One of the top overall athletes Northwest Georgia, Washington is an excellent RB/LB who has dominated so far in his first three years at Cedartown. He’s a punishing running back at 6-foot-0 220-pounds who bounces off tackles with ease in his region. Washington rushed 73 times for 698 yards (9.6 ypc) and 15 touchdowns last season and will be asked to run the rock again as a senior. He’s also a standout linebacker and that’s where he’ll be playing at the next level. Washington is committed to play football for the Georgia Bulldogs and is expected to get a look at both inside and outside linebacker once he gets to campus. He runs well, can dissect plays before they happen, and is extremely physical. He doesn’t miss a ton of tackles, and he’ll leave a bruise on the ball carrier when he meets them. He’s one of the top linebacker prospects in the state, but he’s also one of the best two-way players that you’ll find. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="33863" first="Daniel" last="Martin"]- Marietta</strong> One of the better two-way players in the state, Martin is a 6-foot-3 190-pounder who holds offers to play linebacker, but happened to be one of the region’s leading receivers last year on offense. Defensively, Martin has length, he’s physical, and he knows how to tackle. One of the hardest hitters in the state, Martin played outside linebacker at Marietta, but he’ll likely start off at nickel/safety at the next level. He has the length and quickness to play in the secondary, and he has the physical tools to play closer to the line and help in run support. As a sophomore, Martin recorded 74 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. He forced one fumble and recovered another. He also broke up five passes in coverage. &nbsp; <strong>Carlton Madden Jr. - Cedar Grove </strong> The Cedar Grove standout earned multiple offers this spring and has quickly become one of the state’s hottest prospects over the last two months. He has extremely limited film, but that hasn’t stopped him from earning offers from Georgia, Colorado, Georgia Tech and Ole Miss. His length, frame, and overall athleticism have made him a major recruit, along with his length and size at 6-foot-3 230-pounds. He’s a versatile player who has a lot of strengths physically, and he’s improving as a player more and more. He’s put on a lot of weight over the last few months, but he still looks lean and quick for his size. There’s a lot of raw potential, and he has the size and athleticism to possibly play both inside and outside at the next level. If he continues to add weight, look to see Madden Jr. playing more on the edge. Right now, he appears to be one of the top linebackers in the Atlanta area going into the season.