Best Available ILBs From The 2023 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As recruiting season heats up, here are some of the top Inside linebackers in the 2023 class with open recruitment. These are five potential difference makers at ILB from around the state for colleges to consider while they still can.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["584008"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":624520,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"After exhibiting strong leadership qualities and incredible play from the middle of the field during the Cleats V Cancer game, Watkins recruiting has finally began to heat up. He exhibits excellent on- and off ball qualities, proving twitchy and flexible enough to get low when blitzing, and staying incredibly disciplined in his reads and footwork to allow his hands to make plays in coverage. He's as vocal and intense of a leader as you'll find in the middle of the defense and could inspire the most u0022chillu0022 players. Has narrowly shown up on recruiting radars, but high-profile teammates at the same position made his season at Garfield difficult to evaluate. Watkins received his second offer from Montana State Northern over the weekend and remains one of the top players available in the state.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["584101"],"_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":"Castro was a 4 year starter for Anacortes at ILB. He plays extremely light and strong for his 6'0u0022 200 lbs. current frame, which shows up in his ability to close ground and wrap up any ballcarrier. He makes good reads and reacts to them quickly, and is surprisingly fleet-footed to fly sideline-to-sideline. He stays with receivers over the middle in pass coverage with good lateral movement. Could unlock further potential by strengthening lower half; upper body is beastly and footwork and hips provide great frame. His recruitment is still open.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["584060"],"_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":"Thomas is a big, strong inside backer with good instincts. He plays ferocious for his 6'2u0022 230 Lb. frame and hits with certainty. He reacts quickly with good footwork that allows him to play OLB and cover TEs or inside WRs. Can also line up as a 4 Technique DE due to anu003cspan style=u0022font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serifu0022u003e excellent get off and explosive first step. He times his blitzes well and is great after walking up to the edge or sitting in the A gap. His good hands make him easily wrap up and give him fundamental ball skills. Dubbed u0022The Boy with the Golden Footu0022 by Central Valley fans for his prosthetic leg. Intense and serious football player and passionate teammate who's handled national media attention humbly. Holds several offers from Linfield, Whitworth, and Central Washington so far and is still open for recruitment as of this release.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["616969"],"_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":"Ware has an explosive first step and plays extremely strong at 165 lbs. He utilizes his leverage advantage in a variety of ways when tackling and has a keen eye for turnovers. He constantly looks for big plays on defense by getting hands in the QBs face or just blitzing the A gap as quick as possible from a variety of depths. He has a penchant for knocking the ball loose, punching violently any chance he gets and surprising any ballcarrier with a loose grip. He also jumps on loose fumbles extremely often, as he did to win the Cleats V Cancer 5:00 Game for the South. He closes ground quick, but decides to ankle bite or wrap when he's not in position to lay a big hit or force a turnover. Was extremely hard to tackle on offense as a violent, small RB and could be great on any special teams unit. Ware just received his first offer so far from Graceland and is still open for recruitment at the time of this writing.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Jayvon Atkins","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2023","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"East Valley","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Atkins is a smart and physical linebacker. He gets the most out of his quickness and speed by taking good pursuit angles. He has an ideal frame at 6'0u0022 200 lbs. and could keep adding muscle. In coverage over the middle, he's desperate to get his hands on the ball and can cause incompletions and turnovers, as well as making heads-up plays to finish them. His good hands also make him a sure tackler, and although he wraps up high with his strong upper body, he wears opposing backs down. His style of sticking with plays benefits him; he is patient enough to avoid his own mistakes and exploit others and could be maximized in the right scheme. His recruitment is still open.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63d7c7ebe03b0"} /-->