NW Indiana Commanding Linebackers

As we prepare to look at different parts of the state, we come back to Northwest Indiana to look at some of the elite linebackers in the area. These prospects are set to marshal their defenses this upcoming season. [player_tooltip player_id="252449" first="Troy" last="Marshall"], 5’8, 180 pounds, Middle Linebacker, Portage [player_tooltip player_id="252449" first="Troy" last="Marshall"] leads the Portage defense from his middle linebacker position. Marshall can push a little bit wider in his alignment and rush off the edge with purpose. When he plays the run to the opposite side, Marshall does a great job of staying tight to the line-of-scrimmage and hustling down the line. Marshall gets in the backfield quickly and disrupts plays. When he gets to the ball, it is safe to say that he will make the tackle. Marshall is sound in that aspect of the game. Even the best efforts of the offensive line are frequently not enough. Marshall is excellent at fighting off of blocks to make the play. With two years of high school ball still ahead of him, [player_tooltip player_id="252449" first="Troy" last="Marshall"] has a high ceiling. [player_tooltip player_id="364837" first="LeBarron" last="Burton"], 6’4, 220 pounds, Outside Linebacker, Gary West Side [player_tooltip player_id="364837" first="LeBarron" last="Burton"] can line up in a couple of different roles. But wherever, he does appear, he gives maximum effort and makes an impact. From his outside linebacker spot Burton does well reading the play and chasing it down. He goes full-throttle to chase down run plays to the edge. When he rushes, Burton gets great pressure and helps collapse the pocket. He can also start the play with his hand in the dirt as a defensive end. From that three-point stance, he still manages to apply heat on the quarterback. Last year, Burton recorded 54 tackles with five tackles-for-loss. Jeremiah Ruth, 5’10, 160 pounds, Outside Linebacker, Hammond Central Jeremiah Ruth plays with tenacity and physicality- two traits that are necessary to be a successul linebacker. When tasked with applying pressure off the edge, Ruth does so in an attacking manor. He initiates the conatct with the offensive tackle and can reset them behind the line-of-scrimmage. Ruth uses his hands and power well. He is great at disengaging with the blocker and getting to the ball. He does a nice job of staying tight to the line and running down the ball-carrier. Giovani Bailey, 5’6, Middle Linebacker, Hammond Central Giovani Bailey is a linebacker prospect on the rise. Bailey will be a sophomore this fall, giving fans plenty of reason to be excited for his future. Last year, Bailey recorded 20 total tackles. He added one tackle-for-loss and one fumble recovery. Giovani Bailey has shown plenty of promise early in his high school career. He is a prospect to watch closely in the seasons ahead.