2023 Looks Like the Year of the Linebacker in SEKY
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While this region seems to always produce a few standout linebackers who lead their units to stellar seasons each year, rarely have we encountered a year promising to feature as much depth, experience and sheer athleticism as we are poised…
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Continue ReadingWhile this region seems to always produce a few standout linebackers who lead their units to stellar seasons each year, rarely have we encountered a year promising to feature as much depth, experience and sheer athleticism as we are poised to encounter this fall. And notwithstanding the roles and accomplishments of any other essential defensive positions, let’s face it…when some of the best players on the squad are linebackers, the prospects for an exciting, entertaining and top-notch brand of football are enhanced that much more! In short, if the talent levels we anticipate seeing at the linebacker position this fall are any indication, then 2023 certainly promises to be a banner year that none of us football fans will soon forget!
Evan Baker
Evan Baker
As an outside linebacker, Baker clearly possesses the speed and athleticism to walk out and cover an inside/slot receiver, but perhaps even more impressive is his ability to play inside the tackles, where pound-for-pound, he proves himself to be one of the Redhounds’ most consistent and fundamentally sound run stoppers. With very disciplined eyes and quick reads, he demonstrates a very high football IQ and enlists very efficient footwork and pursuit angles which make him a consistent defensive presence from sideline to sideline. Equally impressive, his technique and patience on the backside of plays is exceptionally sound, as he displays no tendency to over pursue the football or allow cutback lanes for ball carriers. In 15 games last season, he generated 39 solo tackles, 29 assists, 4 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.
Playing primarily an outside linebacker position in the Jaguars multiple-front defensive look, Chappell exhibits the length, range and athleticism to cover underneath/intermediate routes effectively, as well as the strength and aggressiveness to walk up on the outsize shoulder of an offensive tackle or tight end and take on the interior power run game with equal success. Particularly in open field scenarios, he exhibits very active hands, exceptional blow delivery and the ability to get off blocks quickly. Likewise, his speed and inside-out leverage on ball carriers reflect a comprehension of team defensive concepts and negate the possibility of big plays resulting from poor positioning and/or flawed pursuit angles. Over the course of 11 games in 2022, Chappell compiled 15 solo tackles, 37 assists, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble. While also playing tight end in some offensive personnel groupings, he collected 22 receptions for 275 yards and 3 touchdown catches.
Treyshawn Holmes-Evans
Treyshawn Holmes-Evans
As a starting inside linebacker for the Jaguars in 2022, Holmes-Evans collected 35 solo tackles, 73 assists, 7 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble in 12 total games. Perhaps the most consistently positive trait in execution is his downhill step on initial reads and his tendency to meet/stuff inside runs at the line of scrimmage. An exceptionally strong athlete with excellent leverage skills, he rarely allows prospective blockers to reach or cover up his play side shoulder and exhibits the explosiveness to close distances quickly versus sweeps, outside zone schemes and other perimeter runs. When executing pass drops, he flips/opens his hips in order to generate depth quickly, and he can learn to more effectively use his hands to redirect and disrupt receivers’ routes with added repetitions and experience. Also a valued situational contributor on the offensive side of the football, he generated 376 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns last season on 47 carries.
While not yet a physically imposing presence as an inside linebacker in a defensive set consistently sporting a 4-man surface, Howard started as freshman inside linebacker for the 8-win Cougars, he performed at a high level consistently, and perhaps most impressively, his trajectory still projected upward even at the end of a grueling season competing against more experienced and physicaly mature opponents. Over his 12-game season, Howard’s intensity, athleticism and an unceasing motor when pursuing the football enabled him to collect assists, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble. While perhaps a more natural fit at outside linebacker, any current discussions of his ideal position are really secondary at this point. He’s a tenacious and tireless competitor…just get him on the field!
Koby Johnson
Koby Johnson
Johnson is a physically mature, thick and durable returning junior who produced defensively for his Cougars throughout their 12-game regular season and playoff run. Extremely comfortable and active within the tackle box, he quickly reacts to any downhill reads from an exceptional athletic position–ankles and knees bent, shoulders forward, feet square. Perimeter plays like screens and outside zones prove a bit more challenging, but his pursuit angles, understanding of play side leverage and active hands/escapes help ensure that he provides inside-out support, as evidenced by his considerable number of assisted tackles. As a sophomore, this starting inside linebacker compiled 19 solo tackles, 86 assists and 2 tackles for loss. He also exhibits quite a knack for ball-hawking, too, considering he forced 3 opponent fumbles and recovered 2 others. Keep an eye on this one, as he seems to always end up around the ball.
As a sophomore inside linebacker for the Class AAAA state runners-up, Neal firmly established himself as one of the top contributors to perhaps the best defense in this part of the state, and if his 2022 performance is any indication, Redhound fans will have plenty to cheer about over this young competitor’s remaining two seasons. Collecting 37 solo tackles, 24 assists and a fumble recovery in 14 games, he demonstrates very disciplined eyes/reads, as well as the physical demeanor to quickly play downhill and meet blockers and/or ball carriers at the line of scrimmage. And while meeting/stopping ball carriers in the tackle box clearly seems his forte, his speed and relentless motor make him equally effective versus perimeter runs and a consistent factor that must be accounted for when executing screens and/or intermediate passing routes.