Upstate LBs Bring Speed, Explosiveness

Photo: Prep Redzone

Jed Blackwell April 26, 2022 @ 10:21 PM

With Spring practice set to begin next week, there are currently 26 linebackers ranked by Prep Redzone in the 2023 class. A fifth of them are from the Upstate. Anderson, Greenville, Laurens, and Spartanburg counties are all home to a bunch of talented LBs, with five at the top of the class. Powdersville’s [player_tooltip player_id="89333" first="Jalen" last="Rambert"] is a monster, and helped the Patriots to their best season in school history. He stops the run, he rushes the passer, he pursues sideline-to-sideline, and he covers. Rambert absolutely stuffed the stat sheet last season, with 173 tackles, 53 tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, six pass break-ups, 18 hurries, and three defensive touchdowns. Greenville’s [player_tooltip player_id="89334" first="Luke" last="Schuller"] has a nose for the ball and a knack for finding the running lane, and more often than not when he gets there, he wins the matchup. Schuller notched 142 tackles a year ago, with nine tackles for loss, seven QB hurries, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and three pass break-ups. Though he’s listed at LB, Southside’s [player_tooltip player_id="91157" first="Kazi" last="Bland"] often plays with a hand in the dirt. Whether he’s interior or on the edge, Bland’s explosiveness and power almost demands a double-team. He recorded 50 total tackles last season, with 14 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. Laurens’ [player_tooltip player_id="202740" first="Gemire" last="Darden"] is a problem. He’s quick and powerful enough to play RB for the Raiders, and he shines on the defensive side of the ball as well. Darden squats 470 pounds, bench-presses 350, and used that power to record 108 tackles in just 10 games in his junior season. He’s got a great first step, changes direction well in pursuit, and is a high-motor player. Byrnes’ [player_tooltip player_id="204428" first="Miquel" last="Dingle"] is hard to classify. He does so many things well for the Rebels that it’s easier just to call him a football player, in the best sense of the word, than to try to define a position. From his spot at LB, Dingle provides both coverage and pressure, using his 4.45 speed to his advantage. That’s especially evident in open-field, one-on-one matchups with receivers in space, where Dingle does an exceptional job closing down on plays.