2025 Rankings Release: Linebacker

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we are headed into the 2023 high school football season, it is time to release some new class rankings. After updating the 2023 and 2024 rankings, we have now released our initial rankings for the class of 2025. Over the next couple weeks, I will be breaking these rankings down by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I have now turned my attention to the top defensive prospects in the class. With the defensive line taken care of, I will now focus on our top linebackers in the class of 2025 in Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["735552"],"_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_tooltip player_id='735552' first='Brock' last='Driver'] is a linebacker who truly started to make a name for himself this past season. He played a key role in Boyle County's 4A State Championship run, finishing with 52 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, one sack, and three fumble recoveries. Driver lines up at outside linebacker and does a great job of reading his keys and flowing to the ball against the run. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he does a great job of running his feet to secure the tackle. He is also a very dangerous pass rusher, using his speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles off the edge. Brock currently holds offers from Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more to come his way as he is a Power 5 caliber prospect.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["422907"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='422907' first='Hunter' last='Adams'] is a player that has been high on our radar for a while now that continued to impress this past season. Adams had a strong sophomore year, finishing with 55 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and a fumble recovery. He is an athletic linebacker that does a great job of reading his keys and flowing to the ball quickly against the run. Once he gets to the football, he is a very reliable open field tackler. He has also shown the ability to rush the passer, using his speed to beat opposing offensive tackles off the edge while also showing that he has the strength to fight through blocks on his way to the quarterback. Adams has also shown that he is reliable in coverage, finishing this past season with one interception. Hunter currently holds offers from Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more come his way soon as he is a Power 5 caliber prospect at linebacker.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["735604"],"_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":"Another linebacker that had a strong sophomore season is [player_tooltip player_id='735604' first='Logan' last='Busson'] from Frederick Douglass. Busson played a key role in the Broncos' 5A State Championship run, finishing with 32 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and one fumble recovery. He plays outside linebacker for the Broncos and is very reliable against the run, showing the ability to read his keys quickly and take good angles to the ball. Once he gets to the ball carrier, Busson explodes through contact to secure the tackle. He is also very reliable in pass coverage, showing the ability to drop into zone coverage and also play man coverage against tight ends and slot receivers when asked to do so. Busson finished this past season with two interceptions and several pass breakups. Logan currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Miami (OH), and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Division I caliber prospect.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["586098"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='586098' first='Brenden' last='Anthony'] is a player that jumped onto our radar with a very impressive sophomore year. Anthony finished this past season with 120 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, and one fumble recovery. He lines up at outside linebacker and is a force against the run. Anthony does a great job of reading his keys and flowing to the ball quickly. On his way to the ball, Anthony has shown the ability to fight through blocks with ease. Once he gets to the ball carrier, Brenden explodes through contact and finishes his tackles with a ton of physicality. Brenden doesn't currently hold any official offers but he has received some college interest and definitely has the talent to play somewhere at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["373081"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Wrapping up our top five linebackers in the class of 2025 is [player_tooltip player_id='373081' first='Solomon' last='Conley'] from Male. Conley played a key role in the Bulldogs' run to the 6A State Championship Game, finishing with 101 tackles and two tackles for loss in just ten games. Conley is an athletic inside linebacker that does a great job of reading his keys and flowing to ball. On his way to the ball carrier, Conley does a great job of using his hands to shed blocks quickly. Once he gets to the football, Conley is a very physical tackler in the open field. Conley doesn't currently hold any offers but he has received some college interest and has the talent to be a productive linebacker at the next level when the time comes.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-642748a9160ef"} /--> <!-- wp:heading {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-medium-font-size">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 150):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='373075' first='Ian' last='Williams'] (Mayfield)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='735605' first='Davion' last='Sturgis'] (Woodford County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='735603' first='Kaden' last='Clay'] (Frederick Douglass)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='311506' first='Preston' last='Williams'] (Madison Southern)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='735611' first='Josh' last='Lainhart'] (Collins)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='735607' first='Drew' last='Inabnitt'] (Pulaski County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='735610' first='Garrett' last='Lanham'] (Bethlehem)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='735601' first='Aiden' last='Dowds'] (Campbell County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. [player_tooltip player_id='373785' first='Dereon' last='Crowe'] (Owensboro)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15. [player_tooltip player_id='373800' first='Mikey' last='Neal'] (Corbin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16. [player_tooltip player_id='735606' first='Ethan' last='Reynolds'] (South Warren)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17. [player_tooltip player_id='331755' first='Jeremiah' last='Parker'] (Atherton)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18. [player_tooltip player_id='373040' first='Tucker' last='Roth'] (Pleasure Ridge Park)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19. [player_tooltip player_id='373035' first='Jimmy' last='Mooney'] (Paducah Tilghman)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>20. [player_tooltip player_id='735565' first='Braydon' last='Underwood'] (DuPont Manual)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21. [player_tooltip player_id='673546' first='Brady' last='Cornell'] (Bullitt East)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>22. [player_tooltip player_id='735608' first='Logan' last='Clayton'] (Great Crossing)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>23. [player_tooltip player_id='735609' first='Jackson' last='McCool'] (Warren East)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->