Small-Town 2024 Linebackers On The Rise

Photo: Prep Redzone

Matt DeBary February 19, 2023 @ 02:36 PM

It may be tough to get noticed by college coaches if you live in rural areas, but at the end of the day, if you can really play, coaches at the next level will find you. There are plenty of small-town linebackers on the rise in Georgia and a few of them could see their stock rise later this off-season.   Let's take a look at three of them...   Nicholas Pace – Colquitt County   The leading tackler in Georgia last year for the 2024 class, the South Georgia linebacker from the small town of Moultrie was all over the field last season as a junior. Pace is a smart and instinctive defender, while bringing the classic South Georgia toughness and physicality to the position. He has the ability to dissect plays before they start and shows quickness and a great motor in pursuit of the ball-carrier. As sure a tackler as there is in the area, Pace dominates the middle of the field and has enough speed to get sideline to sideline as well. As a junior last fall, Pace made an eye-opening 162 tackles and 10 TFLs. He showed he's an excellent run defender, but can get after the quarterback as well, adding three sacks to his season total in addition to two INTs in coverage. The 5-foot-11 195-pounder made 10+ tackles in ten games this season, proving to be one of the more consistent and productive linebackers across South Georgia.   <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ga/mt-vernon/montgomery-county-eagles/athletes/darius-wells/football/stats/?careerid=1i9f67cda82sc">Darius Wells</a> - Montgomery County   Montgomery County isn't a large one, but it's home to one of the more underrated linebackers across Southeast Georgia. An active linebacker with big-play ability, Wells has a knack for shedding blocks and getting after the ball-carrier. He plays hard and he's a physical tackler, but his quickness and quick reactions allow him to wreck a play before it gets going. He's active and will flash on a pretty consistent basis. He's a natural middle linebacker coming off an impressive junior season where he was named 1st-team All Region and made 120 tackles. He was constantly around the football and never shied away from contact. He made 10+ tackles in six games while making 20 tackles in a game against nearby Telfair County. He's put together well from a physical standpoint at 5-foot-10 205-pounds and works hard in the weight room. Wells has the potential to have a monster 2023 season as a senior and possibly see some D1 interest come his way.   <a href="https://www.hudl.com/athlete/17824569">Noah Classen</a> - <a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ga/rabun-gap/rabun-gap-nacoochee-eagles/">Rabun Gap-Nacoochee</a>   A tough, hard-hitting linebacker from the northern-most part of the peach state, Classen was a tackling machine last year who knows how to leave a bruise when he meets thee ball-carrier. At 6-foot-0 225-pounds, Classen is big, physical, and brings an imposing presence the  Rabun Gap School defense. If you come into the middle of the field, the impressive junior is going to pop you. He reacts quickly, understands his role, and does a great job of securing tackles. He made plenty of them last year, ending his junior season with 130 total tackles. He lived in the backfield, making an impressive 16 tackles behind the line of scrimmage.. In addition to being consistent against the run, the playmaking linebacker also showed he can get after the quarterback, making nine sacks on the season. He's a breakout linebacker candidate to know in North Georgia for the 2023 season.

It may be tough to get noticed by college coaches if you live in rural areas, but at the end of the day, if you can really play, coaches at the next level will find you. There are plenty of small-town linebackers on the rise in Georgia and a few of them could see their stock rise later this off-season.