2025 Rankings Newcomers: Linebackers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Looking at the 2025 linebackers across the desert, who are some new names that entered our ranks and what does their 2022 film look like? Find out below!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["704779"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6419d6f0acba1"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Harris is a terrific young linebacker that is a no brainer college caliber kid and checks into our latest rankings update as the number four linebacker in his class. He is a true inside guy and is a downhill plug in the middle while reading plays quickly and can close in space while taking good angles in the open field backside. Still working on short area twitch and COD abilities, his throwback, high motor and physical style of play make him one of the regions best. </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["704782"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6419d6f0acbf6"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The 2025 prospect plays a lot bigger than he appears and is a physical and tough plug that excels at tackling in the box and quickly filling holes between the tackles. He plays with a low hat when scraping over the top, shows solid lateral movement abilities and explodes through contact at the POA. A seemingly high IQ kid, he has tons of potential and will only continue to grow and develop through his final two years at the Varsity level. Currently, he checks in as our number seven linebacker in the 2025 class. </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["704787"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6419d6f0acc3a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Palmer is coming off a very impressive second season for Independence, and was all over the field making plays both in the box and out in space. He tallied up 70+ tackles and a impressive 20 TFL's on his way to averaging just over 7 tackles per game. He cracks our most recent top ten at the linebacker position and will be one of the breakout Juniors to watch out for in 2023. </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["704788"],"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6419d6f0acc79"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The rising Junior is a well built Mike backer that plugs and plays quickly while bringing a thump at the POA and flying around with a low hat and quickly shooting gaps. He is a sure tackler that takes good angles in the open field, has a knack for getting the ball out and creating turnovers while able to apply pressure from various different angles. He is a high motor kid that can get off blocks in the box and shows some cover abilities as well. He is very deserving to enter into our rankings, and could see his position move up a bit in the coming months as well. </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["522674"],"_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":718826,"_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6419d6f0accd2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Mitchell is another long and rangy outside linebacker that is athletic enough to cover in the slot, while very physical and violent in the box when filling and shooting gaps on the edge. He shows good long speed, quick COD in the short area and takes accurate angles into the backfield while able to close quickly and run through contact. He is fluid in space, shows good hips in coverage and excels when coming off man to trigger against the run while having a high enough IQ to help in zone coverage as well. He should draw Division I interest as he moves through his final two seasons for Brophy and has some real upside. </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->