Trait Rankings Series: Linebackers

This class may not have the star power of the 2022 class, this is a group loaded with nasty, smart and physical backers. If there is a recurring theme to be found among this group, it is indeed their football IQ, as these kids can all fill the "QB" role and be the heartbeat of a defense. Coaches looking for linebackers that can get their guys lined up and be the coach on the field, as well as set the tone with their physicality would do well to take a long hard look at this group.   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Athleticism</td><td></td><td>Pass Defense</td><td>Run Defense</td></tr><tr><td>Range</td><td></td><td>Footwork</td><td>Footwork</td></tr><tr><td>Burst</td><td></td><td>Instincts</td><td>Instincts</td></tr><tr><td>Agility</td><td></td><td>Transition</td><td>Defeating Blocks</td></tr><tr><td>Fluidity</td><td> </td><td>Ball Skills</td><td>Tackling</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   Best Athlete   [player_tooltip player_id='244924' first='Kenton' last='Simmons'] – Lawrence High School, 6'3 225   Range is the name of the game when you switch on [player_tooltip player_id='244924' first='Kenton' last='Simmons']' film, as the Lawrence High backer can fly sideline-to-sideline. Simmons eats up ground in a blink, with a long, smooth stride. What makes him even more dangerous against outside run plays is that he has the hip fluidity to flip and immediately accelerate, allowing him to destroy outside zone angles and generally wreak havoc in the run game. With excellent agility, Simmons can use his length to suddenly uncoil and rip down ball carriers in the open field, adding to his ability to effect plays all over the field. Simmons' agility also allows him to “get skinny” and shoot gaps in the run game, routinely slipping past opposing blockers before they can get their hands on him.   [player_tooltip player_id='87678' first='Miles' last='Wash'] – Derby High School, 5'11 210   The first D1 signee of this group at Southern Illinois, [player_tooltip player_id='87678' first='Miles' last='Wash'] is an explosive, twitched up prototypical run and hit mike linebacker prospect. Wash's explosiveness is his strongest athletic trait, and it shows up in a big way when he closes on the football, as well as on A and B gap blitzes from the mike position. Wash flashes sideline to sideline range when he can utilize his explosive first step to gain the angles, and has sufficient straight-line speed to chase down plays once he gets into his stride. Wash uses his twitchiness to operate in traffic, as coupled with his low center of gravity, he is too active and quick for opposing blockers to get clean contact. This allows him to stay clean, and he only needs a fraction to square his pads and trigger downhill, with the ability to make tone setting hits when he finds his target.   [player_tooltip player_id='35664' first='Ty' last='Weber'] – Washburn Rural High School, 6'3 240   Starting with the fact that Weber is about to enter his senior season in high school looking like a grown man that can scare other grown men, it's not a surprise to find him on this list. Weber is an explosive athlete, with lower body development far beyond his years, and the agility to drop his 6'3 frame in a blink, Weber makes big hits look routine. Despite his impressive size, he is quick and agile enough to use his footwork to evade blockers. Despite average fluidity for the position, Weber uses his stride and surprisingly smooth acceleration to effect plays outside the tackles, with the agility to uncoil and rip down ball carriers in their path.   Best Run Defender   [player_tooltip player_id='35664' first='Ty' last='Weber'] – Washburn Rural High School, 6'3 240   Back to PRZ's senior LB1. This is the area in which Weber's game just has no business being as advanced as it is, as he checks every box when it comes to what makes a ferocious run stopping mike linebacker. Instincts do not always jump out on film, but in Weber's case it is plainly apparent early on that he just has a feel for stopping the run that can't be coached. His eyes always seem to be a step ahead of what the offense is trying to do, and he plays with excellent patience and anticipation, trusting his keys and rarely taking false steps while the play develops. Weber also does an excellent job taking on blockers, with perpetually moving feet and a strong core, he can absorb contact and recover body position efficiently. Weber's feet also allow him to scrape across the LOS efficiently and be in position to make a play on the ball carrier before he can get downhill. A disciplined tackler, Weber's pads are always low to the ground, and as he never stops moving his feet, he is always in position to drive his legs through the tackle to devastating effect.   [player_tooltip player_id='126738' first='Zach' last='Darche'] – Blue Valley West High School, 6'2 205   As a former QB, and a prospect that has drawn interest from a handful of Ivy League schools, Darche's diagnostic ability and overall football IQ come as no surprise. Indeed, there are quite a few plays on his highlight reel on which Darche beats his blocker to a landmark, and on one pick 6, beats the receiver to his spot and takes a middle screen pass the other way. Darche also shows excellent contact balance when taking on much bigger blockers, and he takes them on with some tenacity to boot. Darche has the necessary burst to effect angles when chasing down zone plays and looks to have a natural feel for timing his triggers. While his speed will top out quickly, he has long legs that cover a good amount of ground, and he has enough fluidity to go sideline to sideline. Darche is a mike linebacker prospect with tenacity and a sneaky closing burst, as well as bucket loads of football IQ, and could find himself starting for an Ivy League school at some point during his college career.   Best Pass Defender   [player_tooltip player_id='126738' first='Zach' last='Darche'] – Blue Valley West High School, 6'2 205   As mentioned, Darche has some of the best instincts of any defensive player in his class in the state of Kansas, and this aspect of his game shone the brightest when he was asked to drop back in coverage. In zone coverage, the former QB shows up in a big way, showing excellent understanding of route concepts, allowing him to anticipate and break on the ball early. Darche's length allows him to cover ground deceptively in zone coverage, as well as disrupt passing lanes. [player_tooltip player_id='126738' first='Zach' last='Darche'] is a true defensive QB and has the smart and length to be a thorn in the side of opposing QBs when he's roaming the middle of the field in pass coverage.   [player_tooltip player_id='254425' first='Roman' last='Boden'] – Derby High School, 6'0 190   Boden gets a bit lost in the shuffle in Derby's front seven, with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='123081' first='Samuel' last='Same'] and Myles Wash grabbing the headlines as early D1 signees, but Boden is a very good prospect in his own right, and one of the more complete linebackers in his class. The standout in Boden's game when it comes to coverage is his footwork and hips, as he has a short, choppy shuffle, and does a good job sinking his hips, allowing him to stay close to receivers when he's asked to open his hips and go. Additionally, Boden does a good job finding the football, and stays calm when the ball is in the air, with the savvy to read the receiver and make a play on the ball without getting handsy.   [player_tooltip player_id='244924' first='Kenton' last='Simmons'] – Lawrence High School, 6'3 225   This is somewhat of a projection, as Simmons does not have too many coverage reps on film, but he has all the tools to be an asset in pass defense. Despite being all of 6 foot 3, Simmons has no problem sinking his hips, with his footwork that should allow him to stay with backs and tight ends on short to intermediate routes. Moreover, his length should allow him to close out passing lanes and cover ground in zone coverage, and he has the closing burst to and awareness to punish receivers going over the middle.

This class may not have the star power of the 2022 class, this is a group loaded with nasty, smart and physical backers. If there is a recurring theme to be found among this group, it is indeed their football IQ, as these kids can all fill the "QB" role and be the heartbeat of a defense. Coaches looking for linebackers that can get their guys lined up and be the coach on the field, as well as set the tone with their physicality would do well to take a long hard look at this group.