Five MAIS LB’s to Watch in the 2022 Season

In my opinion, the linebacker position is one of the most dynamic and challenging positions to play. For a player to succeed as a linebacker, he needs to think quickly, read plays in an instance and offer direction for the rest of the defense. Below I have listed five talented linebackers to be on the lookout for in the MAIS in 2022. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Adams Kennedy | 6’1" LB | Jackson Academy</strong></span> Kennedy is 6’1" tall and 200 lbs; In 2021, Kennedy was one of Jackson Academy’s lead tacklers, with the Parklane game being his standout game. Kennedy wreaked havoc on the Pioneers in the backfield all night long, where he finished the night with 11 tackles and three sacks. The Jackson Academy defense will look a lot different in 2022, but with Kennedy returning for his senior season, I expect the Raiders to have one of the top defenses in the MAIS in 2022. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Jeffery Polk | 5’11" LB | MRA</strong></span> Polk is 5’11 tall and 205 lbs; In 2021, Polk finished with 112 total tackles, four sacks, and a third straight State Championship. He was all over the field in two games against Hartfield, racking up 16 tackles, with 10 of those tackles occurring in the State Championship game. With another offseason in the weight room under his belt, Polk will be more than ready to close out his career with the Patriots by making a run for a fourth straight State Championship. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Aden Dedeaux | 6’3" LB | Presbyterian Christian </strong></span> Dedeaux is 6’3" tall and 225 lbs; 2021 was just a glimpse of what is to come for Dedeaux. As a Sophomore, he completed 74 tackles and two sacks helping the Bobcats finish the 2021 season with a 7-5 record. He showcased his young talent the best against Lamar when he finished the night with ten tackles. Look for Dedeaux to continue developing and putting pressure on opposing offenses in 2022. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="120029" first="Matthew" last="Adcock"] | 6’2" LB | Simoson Academy</strong></span> Adcock is 6’2″ tall and 240 lbs; He was the heart and soul of the Cougar defense in 2021. Adcock is the type of player who takes control of a defense and is one of the better open-field tacklers in the MAIS. Adcock possesses a high football IQ and he is not afraid to lay the boom on anyone that comes across his path. The Cougar’s defense will go as Adcock goes in 2022. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="119614" first="Carson" last="Graham"] | 6’1" LB | St. Joeseph Catholic School </strong></span> Graham is 6’1″ tall and 200 lbs; Graham helped lead the Fighting Irish to the state semi-finals in 2021. Graham is a playmaker who always finds himself around the ball and can direct traffic like the quarterback of the defense. He has a good swim move but an even better bull rush. Graham will have an opportunity in 2022 to make a statement for The Fighting Irish.