Sleeper Spotlight: Five 2023 Inside Linebackers

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The recruiting process is a grind for everyone involved. High school athletes work hard to earn their place on a program’s prospect board while college staff members search diligently for potential roster additions.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Success for either party tends to boil down to being in the right place at the right time. This article will highlight five senior linebackers you didn’t know you needed to know. </span> &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="150073" first="Ezran" last="Rice"] | Cherry Creek | 5’9”, 200lbs | MLB</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Rice is a highly underrated inside linebacker with a massive amount of potential. He plays with excellent pad level, and his initial movements are explosive. He does a fantastic job of reading his keys and playing against the run. His speed and football IQ make a vital component of the pass defense. Rice is a three-time state champion whose extensive big-stage experience has given him excellent composure, making him a big-time sleeper.</span> https://twitter.com/EzranRice/status/1518020482980892672?s=20&amp;t=S7_rKORlgzNhj--L2Yrmgg &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="256288" first="Isaac" last="Engle"] | Highlands Ranch | 6’1”, 195lbs | MLB</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Engle is a prospect whose stock has been rapidly increasing. He has good size and outstanding athleticism. He does a fantastic job maintaining his leverage while closing the distance to the ball carrier. Engle has been showcasing his talents at various camps this summer, securing his place on the radar.</span> https://twitter.com/IsaacEngle1/status/1460826360352436226?s=20&amp;t=S7_rKORlgzNhj--L2Yrmgg &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>[player_tooltip player_id="247206" first="Maddox" last="Leggett"] | Skyline | 6’0”, 190lbs | MLB</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Leggett is a true sleeper as an interior linebacker. He has good size and speed, pairing perfectly with his impressive instincts. His outstanding athletic abilities help to make him a disruptive defender against the pass. He gains depth quickly when getting into his zone drops, and he does a great job at reading the field and making plays on the ball. Engle is a budding prospect with serious potential, making him a player to watch this season.</span> https://twitter.com/Hyped22/status/1463168566442799112?s=20&amp;t=S7_rKORlgzNhj--L2Yrmgg &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Ellis Williams | Cherokee Trail | 6’0”, 200lbs | MLB</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Williams is a recent radar pop-up who has been raising his stock value during this offseason. He has an excellent first step, followed by explosive acceleration to close a gap or drop back into coverage to defend against the pass. Williams is an impressive athlete who has begun to find himself on the radars of a few college programs.</span> https://twitter.com/EllisWilliams13/status/1454954586016346115?s=20&amp;t=S7_rKORlgzNhj--L2Yrmgg &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Payton Walker | Castle View | 6’0”, 185lbs | OLB</b></span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Walker is an impressive newcomer to the prospect radar who lines up as an outside backer with a versatile skillset. He has a solid frame with good size and strength. His physicality helps to make him a disruptive defender with strong tackling techniques. He does an excellent job at dropping back into coverage and defending against the pass. Walker is a low-flyer with significant potential who can line up as an outside backer or play from the interior.</span> https://twitter.com/walkerpaytonn/status/1498774938114740230?s=20&amp;t=S7_rKORlgzNhj--L2Yrmgg