Futures Combine: PRZ Next Top Linebacker Performers

Not to be lost with all the FBU action going on in Naples, Fla. in late December, the Futures Combine saw north of 225 athletes from all over the country compete. Athletes from the classes of 2029 (5th grade) through 2025 (9th grade) competed for a host of awards, opportunities and invitations to national events. In addition to Prep Redzone Next, representatives from FBU, Under Armour and the All-American Bowl on NBC were in attendance checking out some of the brightest young stars in the country. With the exception of kickers/punters and long snappers, all the positions were on display. Athletes were put through the combine testing and one-on-one competitive drills, designed to allow athletes to show off what they can do. Without further ado, here’s a look at the linebackers that stood out. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Big Dog</strong></span> <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-259227 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/LandonSnyderCombine-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" />[player_tooltip player_id="209259" first="Landon" last="Snyder"]</strong>, out of Virginia, looked every bit the part of what I had seen of him on film leading up to the combine. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder played JV as an eighth grader this past year and it was easy to see why. At combines linebackers are often put at a disadvantage because they are put in a lot of pass drop situations, rather than attacking situation, but Snyder didn’t seem bothered by it. He plays with a great deal of physicality on the field. Snyder also possesses next-level open-field abilities to make plays in space. Walked away very impressed with his ability. &nbsp; &nbsp; <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Next Best</strong></span> <img class="alignleft wp-image-259236 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/LukeHillsCombine-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Washington state’s <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="212466" first="Luke" last="Hills"]</strong> was another athlete that verified what he can do to me in person. Hills played a rangy, athletic type of linebacker and was a constant pest for the offensive players he covered. He doesn’t yet have the size of Snyder, but they played somewhat similar. Hills is a tackling machine during the regular season and it’s easy to see why, as he trusts his physicality at the line of scrimmage. Quite easy to see that he likes to initiate the contact and blanket the receivers or running backs as they attempt to wiggle free. <img class="alignleft wp-image-259239 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/JaydenNordveit-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Hailing from North Carolina, <strong>Jayden Nordtveit</strong> had a nice showing at the combine. Nordtveit was a little shorter than ideal, but he played much bigger than his size. On the 8th grade level he can do everything you want a linebacker to do--in terms of covering backs out of the backfield, running with receivers up the slot or coming down to hill to secure tackles. &nbsp; <img class="alignleft wp-image-259241 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/JustinAbanquahCombine-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Another North Carolina kid that stood out was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="223038" first="Justin" last="Abanquah"]</strong>. In Abanquah you have a shorter, squattier middle linebacker with a great build for just being in the class of 2026. He plays a smart version of linebacker and sits back, waiting to see what the running back does before attacking. Showed great balance on his feet and stayed under control during the competitive drills. Also was impressed with the way he moved around. He seemed much more fluid and elastic than some the other linebackers at the combine. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The Young Pups</strong></span> <img class="alignleft wp-image-259250 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/JakeDavis-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Admittedly, I didn't spend much time watching the younger linebackers, due to the size of the rest of the combine. However, a pair of young linebackers that impressed were class of 2028 (6th graders) <strong>Jake Davis</strong> and <strong>Braylen Harley</strong>. Both have a long way to go in terms of development, but Davis played a throwback style of linebacker that is suited to stop the inside run. He's a stout kid who kept his feet moving at the point of contact, like a true mike linebacker would. <img class="alignleft wp-image-259252 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/BraylenHarley-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Harley was a bit of a longer, rangy outside linebacker for the class of 2028. Without knowing his exact measurements off the top of my head, he looks every bit the part of 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-9. You can tell he's going to grow into a nice-looking prospect that will have the option of standing up on the edge or playing with his hand in the dirt. &nbsp;