AYF Nationals: Western 2027 Linebackers That Excelled Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a great week of football at the AYF Nationals in early December. Teams and athletes from all over the country earned their way to play for an AYF National title in Kissimmee, Florida. Here's a look at some of the class of 2027 Linebacker prospects from the West side that stood out to me with what I saw on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283615"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Su'a put a stamp on an insane youth football career with a great showing at AYF Nationals. After reclassing from the 2026 class to the 2027 class, he received offers from both Maryland and Louisville this year. A very active Linebacker, he should quickly pick up where his older brother, 2023 prospect Leviticus Su'a (a four-star with nearly 20 offers) leaves off.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["549602"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Your traditional big, thick Mike Linebacker that plugs up the A-Gaps and lives to make tackles at the line of scrimmage or in the backfield. Bartholomew is one of those bigger, quick kids that play Linebacker and Running Back at this level but will likely end up just playing Linebacker as he progresses. Much better fit.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["549640"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Didn't wow with overall athleticism, size or speed but that's why the game is played. Throughout my time watching the Phoenix All-Stars play, he was in on a ton of tackles u002du002d I'm talking consistently around the football. Likely wouldn't test off the charts in a combine setting, but when chinstraps are buckled, he's a sure-tackler.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["557052"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"A cousin of Ohio State Linebacker Palaie Gaoteote and Michigan State Linebacker Ma'a Gaoteote, that last name has become synonyms with Linebacker play in Nevada for the last decade. A quick, aggressive Linebacker who thrives off making big sticks in the backfield. Won't hesitate for a second to take somebody out.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["557058"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Another Linebacker off the Vegas Strong 14U team, Lutu plays a very similar style to Gaoteote in the fact that they are always aggressive and always attacking. He's a little thicker right now than his counterpart in the middle, but the duo was possibly the best one-two combination in the country at the position.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["559734"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"A really good looking prospect at 6-foot-3 and 215-pounds, with an athletic build. Passed the eye test right away and looks significantly older then a 13U player. One of those prospects that you can move anywhere: Linebacker, Defensive End, Tight End, Wide Receiver even some Running Back if you want to shake some things up. There's a ton of time left, but he's a 2027 kid that certainly looks like he's going places.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["559743"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Will certainly not be the last time I write about Poyer when looking back at his performance(s) at the AYF National tournament. A strong, thickly built kid, he played with a lot of power and leverage. Did a good job of meeting Running Backs in the hole and dropping them where they stood. Also ran extremely hard himself, as a Running Back.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63a220868f75f"} /-->