Five 2024 LBs with D1 Talents
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As one class graduates, the next senior class becomes the primary recruiting target from college programs. The class of 2024 has previewed elite talent among its ranks with players who have proven themselves as legitimate college prospects capable of playing at the highest level.
This article will briefly examine five linebackers from the 2024 class who should be high on the recruiting boards, especially for the in-state programs.
Petrides is one of the best linebackers in the state and has been for the past two seasons. He is a well-rounded athlete with the versatility that allows him to line up inside or outside and defend against the run and the pass. He does an outstanding job at filling against the run and closing to the ball carrier while maintaining his leverage. His zone drops are so quick that some quarterbacks struggle to recognize the coverage at the snap, giving him ample opportunities to make plays on the ball in the air. Petrides currently holds offers from Colorado, Charlotte, Nevada, and Kansas.
Nick Long
Nick Long
Long is a player that instantly standouts out on the field by consistently putting on dominant performances. He is a high-IQ player with excellent awareness, explosive acceleration, and outstanding speed. He is slippery when rushing off the edge and does a fantastic job at flying past offensive tackles to get in the backfield and disrupt the play, which explains his 14 sacks–5th in the state–last season. His athleticism and size make him a viable candidate for a D1 program in search of a box safety. Long is an athlete who plays as if he studies film and hits like a Mack truck, making him a player to invest in now.
Bursey is a head-turning linebacker whose stock value as a recruit has rapidly increased during the last year. He initially popped up on the radar at a camp because of his uncanny ability to quickly read his keys and fly downhill to initiate contact with the ball carrier in the backfield. His ability to defeat blocks and finish the play with power and bad intentions is nothing less than impressive. Bursey’s ability to secure the interior of the box by being able to move laterally just as efficiently as he flies downhill has helped to earn him an offer from Lindenwood, the first of many.
Highlights
Anetone is a very talented inside linebacker with a high ceiling. He shows an ideal balance of explosiveness, strength, aggression, and play recognition. He does an excellent job of scrapping over the top and shooting his gaps to get the ball carrier. He can secure his gap responsibilities and force the ball carrier toward his help or initiate contact and finish the play. Anetone has received some attention from programs, putting him on track to become a breakout recruit very soon.