Breakout 2023 LBs Earn Major Offers

In the state of Georgia, if you can’t tackle, you aren’t playing on defense. In an ear of high-passing attacks in Georgia, it’s important to have defenders who can also tackle well in space and help slow down the rushing attack. Some of the state’s best tacklers from the 2021 season came from linebackers in the 2023 class, and many of them are seeing their stock rise after their fantastic season. &nbsp; <strong>Jalen Smith – Grayson </strong> Just a junior, Smith tackled just about everything in sight this season, making 173 tackles, leading the team by a mile. He’s a quick-reacting linebacker who closes well on the ball carrier. He’s instinctive and has a true nose for the football. The 6-foot-2 205-pounder roams the field at middle linebacker and shows quickness and burst to the ball. He’s a sure tackler and can by physical in the run game. He’s also reliable in coverage, giving him an opportunity to make plays in a number of different ways. In addition to his 173 tackles, Smith has 14.5 TFLs, and 10 sacks. Like others in the 2023 class, his big season last fall is being noticed and he’s earned recent offers from Duke, East Carolina, and Texas. https://twitter.com/JalenSmith2023/status/1486113164379009027?s=20&amp;t=4Ka_dJBkHTbnc2uEuF--pg &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong><a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/shakai-woods/"><span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="34013" first="Shakai" last="Woods"]</span></a> – Douglas County</strong> Not only was Woods one of the more productive linebackers in the 2023 class, he was one of the most productive across the state last fall as a junior. A bigger, thicker middle linebacker at 6-foot-1 240-pounds, Woods is strong with great instincts who happens to be one of the surest tackles you’ll find across the state. He’s physical, delivers a big blow, and can stuff the run in the trenches. He’s a physical defender in the run game, totaling an impressive 180 tackles on the season, but he’s also great in coverage, earning two pick-6s this past season against the pass. He’s quick for his size, has natural instincts, and can make a play on the ball when it’s in his area. He’s as productive as any in the 2023 class across Georgia and should continue to see his recruitment take off. Woods has recently earned offers from UCF and Coastal Carolina. https://twitter.com/ShakaiWoods/status/1486071458270961674?s=20&amp;t=4Ka_dJBkHTbnc2uEuF--pg &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>Jayven Hall – LB/RB – Roswell</strong> The Hornets are coming off an excellent 2021 season and a deep 7A playoff run thanks for their stingy defense and play from linebacker Jayven Hall. A do-it-all athlete and overall football guy, Hall had a big junior season, making tackle after tackle on defense while helping out at running back. The athletic 6-foot-1 205-pounder was one of the top under the radar athletes in the region, making 153 tackles, 19 TFLs, 2 INTs, and over 200 total yards on the season on offense. He’s a sleeper recruit who has the talent, toughness, and instincts to play somewhere at the next level. Coaches are finally starting to notice, and he’s added offers this week from East Carolina, Austin Peay, and Memphis. https://twitter.com/hall_jayven/status/1487767438192259073?s=20&amp;t=4Ka_dJBkHTbnc2uEuF--pg &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="34062" first="Caleb" last="LaVallee"] - Whitefield Academy</strong> One of the fastest linebackers in the Atlanta area, LaVallee is quick, instinctive, and knows how to chase down the ball carrier. At 6-foot-1 220-pounds, LaVallee moves really well for his size and knows how to wrap up and tackle as well as anyone in the area. He’s a smart player with great instincts who finds his was into the backfield with ease. He can disrupt a play at any particular moment and knows how to kill a drive with a big play behind the line of scrimmage. He’s an excellent downhill linebacker who can shoot the gaps and stop a play before it starts. He’s also reliable when blitzing and can get after the quarterback. Last fall, LaVallee made 118 tackles, 16 TFLs, six sacks, one INT and one fumble recovery. He recently earned offers from East Carolina and Wake Forest. https://twitter.com/CalebLaVallee1/status/1486540671766994950?s=20&amp;t=4Ka_dJBkHTbnc2uEuF--pg &nbsp;