Top Returning Linebackers In The SEC Red Conference

Here is an early look at the top returning linebackers in the SEC Conference Red division. I love watching great linebacker play at the high school level. All of these guys had great seasons in 2021 and are primed to continue their great play next year in 2022. Gabe<strong> Johnson | Temperance Bedford | <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2G7rAV">Hudl</a></strong> Johnson made a massive play this year, getting a stop on a 2-point conversion to defeat Dexter in overtime. <strong>Gabe Johnson </strong>is one of the toughest football players I watched last year. He plays fearlessly and is not shy at coming up and making hits. Johnson’s play throughout the season was a big reason that Bedford’s defense was so good. I expect Johnson and the Bedford defense to be very tough once again next year. <strong>Michael Bailey | Ann Arbor Pioneer | <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GJF8w">Hudl</a></strong> Bailey does a great job of timing up blitzes and making plays in the backfield. He takes good angles at offensive players and wraps up well. I like that Bailey is not shy about taking on blockers. He can quickly engage them and then get off and make a tackle. Bailey also played wide receiver for Pioneer last year and was a play maker on that side of the football as well. <strong>De’Veion Mclilley | Ann Arbor Huron | <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/16147136/6180272b04284b04383259f4">Hudl</a></strong> Mclilley has tremendous short area quickness. He does a great job of using it to fly into the back field and make tackles for loss. He is a fearless pass rusher who fights his hardest to get to the quarterback every time he blitzes. Mclilley was one of several talented players on the Huron defense, him returning along teammate and star defensive back [player_tooltip player_id="30353" first="Torrence" last="Greene"] give them a chance to have another tremendous defense in 2022. <strong>Sullivan Mills | Saline | <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GRC76">Hudl</a></strong> Mills is great at shooting the gaps when he blitzes. He takes good angles to the quarterback and shows now mercy when he hits them. Mills has good size for a linebacker at 6-0, 200 lbs. Mills shows good football awareness and quickly can read where run plays are going. He can also time up when the quarterback is going to throw and get a hand up and deflect passes. Mills is a fundamentally sound tackler and does a great job of getting his head across and wrapping up. <strong>Andrew Gersh | Dexter | <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2G5A8G">Hudl</a></strong> Gersh is a hard hitting linebacker who makes opposing ball carriers pay for coming his way. He has a textbook tackling technique and finishing tackles by driving defenders into the ground. Gersh plays on special teams as well and does a great job flying down the field to make tackles on kickoff. Gersh was part of a very talented Dexter defense this past season. This is a Dexter team that not only has talent on defense, but they also have talent on offense as well. The return one of the best running backs in the state of Michigan in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="162655" first="Cole" last="Cabana"]. </strong>Gersh along with others on the dexter defense will have a big part in how far of a run Dexter makes next season.