Hitmen: Linebackers to watch in 2022

Every team has linebackers, but not every linebacker is a hitman. I’ve seen smaller players give up their bodies and hit anything that moves like a cruise missile and I’ve seen big guys sit back and wait to give the running back a hug. The guys on this list are talented, relentless and wake up every day and choose violence. Just like I like it! <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Zack Chostaka, Jr., Norther Highlands</strong></span> Zack led all juniors in the state of NJ in tackles with 163 total tackles, 112 solos and 19 tackles for loss. So first of all…Respect. Incredible as it sounds though, I don’t think the numbers do him justice. Zack plays smart in a way that shows he studies his opponents very well. Multiple times on his film I see him blowing up screen plays before they have time to develop. He’s decisive in his movements and closes quickly to the ball carrier, and as 112 solo tackles would imply, Zack finishes plays. With that many solo tackles and TFLs, imagine how many extra yards and big plays were averted.  Zach has drawn interest to play at the next level from Forham and Ithica. Looking forward to his senior campaign. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10246270/Zach-Chostaka/about">https://www.hudl.com/profile/10246270/Zach-Chostaka/about</a> &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="366499" first="Luca" last="Gemma"], So., Ramsey</strong> </span><img class=" wp-image-369711 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/06/LucaGemma1-231x300.png" alt="" width="203" height="264" /> Having watched his film multiple times and met him in person, it’s really hard to believe this young man is only a sophomore. At 6’2, 200 pounds Luca is a smooth an athlete as I’ve ever seen at linebacker. Everything looks effortless and unhurried, yet he’s incredibly fast off the edge and gets into plays that he really shouldn’t be able to get to. He flies past lineman to blow up screens and runs RB’s down from the backside of plays for TFLs, 12 of them to be exact. He had 82 tackles and 5 sacks as a sophomore with only 8 games played! Luca already has an offer from Central Michgan, and that offer list is only going to grow from here. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14600577/Luca-Gemma/about">https://www.hudl.com/profile/14600577/Luca-Gemma/about</a> &nbsp; <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="146681" first="Malachi" last="Mercer"], Jr., Bergen Catholic</span></strong> Unlike most High school linebackers, he runs through tackles and has the talent to bring all the velocity with him. He’s not sitting back and waiting for backs either. Malachi plays with great discipline but when he goes he fires into gaps, closing quickly and causing collisions in the hole. When Malachi hits you, you come to a jarring stop. He can be equally effective at middle or outside linebacker, taking great pursuit angles and making 84 or his 103 tackles solo. That’s a huge number, meaning he prevents a lot of yards after contact for his defense. Malachi has already earned D1 offers from Temple, Towson, Bryant, Akron and West Point. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12829192/Malachi-Mercer/about">https://www.hudl.com/profile/12829192/Malachi-Mercer/about</a> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="218718" first="Dante" last="Vernieri"], Jr., Donovan Catholic</strong></span> Dante had 4 sacks and 5 interceptions last year and had the nerve to run 4 of them back for touchdowns. One of them was for 98 yards.  If I had 4 pick 6’s as a middle linebacker I would talk more trash than a gold plated garbage can. You would just have to be sick of me. As 5 interception would indicate, Dante plays great in space getting into passing lanes and cleaning up quarterbacks that get ideas about scrambling. Also he had 132 total tackles on the season, which was 5^th among all positions in his class. Dante is a true closer, hitting ball carriers up high or making shoestring tackles on the edge, he gets you down by any means necessary. Dante has garnered interest from D1 programs like UMass, Monmouth and Marist. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14852336/Dante-Vernieri/highlights">https://www.hudl.com/profile/14852336/Dante-Vernieri/highlights</a>