KY Linebackers Promising to Shine in 2023

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One could argue that the modern linebacker position has become a role demanding the most varied and extensive array of athletic skills in order to succeed on a consistent basis. Particularly at the high school level, the ability to stop the opposing team's running game remains THE most essential trait defining a championship-caliber defensive unit, and with the widespread popularity of spread formations and diverse approaches to the passing game, gone are the days when these players could focus exclusively on downhill reads, meeting blockers and/or ball carriers at the line of scrimmage and considering pass drops or zone responsibilities only in obvious passing situations. Instead, today's linebackers must hone a wide variety of skills in order to truly excel against today's multiple offensive attacks, and the following second-level defenders comprise some of Kentucky's top returning performers at this increasingly challenging position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Hayden Fletcher","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Estill County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Primarily playing an outside linebacker spot in the Engineers' 4-3 defense, Fletcher displays the fundamentals and aggressiveness needed to counter the run game along with the athleticism to align outside of the tackle box and effectively cover inside/slot receivers when opponents opt to pass. Over the course of 11 games last year, he collected 28 solo tackles, 27 assists, forced 1 fumble and recovered another. Given his skill set, he tends to play more frequently to the two-receiver side where he can align slightly inside the slot to play both pass and perimeter runs. However, he seems most effective when a safety walks up to cover the slot, thus allowing him to align more tightly in the tackle box and focus more intently on run reads. With two full high school seasons left to play, his developmental ceiling remains quite high and next-level scouts will find him well worth following.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["381933"],"_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":"A big, athletic and explosive physical anomaly, Hardge remains somewhat of an unknown quantity after missing all but 6 games over the past two seasons due to injury, but with a clean bill of health entering his senior year, he likely will waste no time in making his presence known when he takes the field this fall. With his large, thick frame, he has the physique of an inside linebacker or even an interior defensive lineman, but he clearly possesses the agility, speed and fast-twitch mechanics to play in space as an outside linebacker in the Indians' 4-3 defensive system. After sustaining a season-ending injury in the first game of his junior season, the bulk of his viewable performances come from a handful of contests during his sophomore season, but even in those, he displays the strength, aggressiveness and fundamentals to make plays from sideline to sideline. Likely projecting more favorably as an inside linebacker at the next level, scouts will certainly want to follow Hardge's progress this fall as he prepares for an injury-free and eye-opening high school farewell tour.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["381935"],"_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":"An athletic and fundamentally sound inside linebacker, Kiser displays an excellent initial downhill/read step that enables him to quickly and explosively contact opposing players at the line of scrimmage and/or scrape over defensive linemen with exceptional balance and leverage. While the most prominent attribute of his game currently appears to be his speed and agility, he also possesses the strength and power necessary to stalemate blockers and square up on ball carriers with sound, balanced technique. In 9 total games last season, his high motor and ability to run sideline-to-sideline enabled him to contribute 25 solo tackles, 40 assists, 4 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. Listed at 195 pounds on last season's roster, some might deem him a bit undersized to play his current interior defensive position, but his quickness, aggressiveness and u0022hit-abilityu0022 enable him to play much larger than one might initially assume.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Parker Mullins","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Madison Central","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"As an outside linebacker for the Indians, Mullins displays the skill set to excel when aligning to the wide side of the field and/or to the offensive passing strength, as he enlists disciplined eyes/reads and intelligent paths to play primary contain responsibilities versus perimeter runs. With sound leverage skills and balanced fundamentals, he proves particularly effective at keeping his outside shoulder/leg free and establishes good positional depth to ensure that he funnels the ball carrier or receiver back inside to the bulk of defensive pursuit. In 12 games last fall, he confirmed his knack for making big plays by generating 26 solo tackles, 29 assists, 3.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and 3 interceptions. His ball skills also translate well to the offensive side, where he contributed 202 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns on only 27 carries, in addition to hauling in 3 receptions for 29 yards and another touchdown.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Leo Sotelo","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Madison Central","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The top tackler for the Class AAAAAA Indians in 2022, Sotelo returns to an outside linebacker spot for his senior season on a team that many anticipate will prove to be one of Madison Central's deepest and most talented squads in recent memory. A durable, physical defensive presence with a nose for the football, in 13 games last year, he collected 37 solo tackles, 43 assists, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. Playing on the balls of his feet from a balanced, athletic position, his quick and efficient footwork enable him to effectively attack running plays to either side, but his skill set becomes most evident when he aligns wide versus slot or trips formationsu002du002deven outside the hash marks to the wide side of the field. His speed, high pursuit motor and consistently intelligent pursuit angles combine to make him a defender that opposing offensive coordinators dismiss or disregard at their own peril.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"Cameron Thompson","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Berea","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Manning an outside linebacker spot in the Pirates' 3-5 defense, Thompson typically plays to the wide side of the field whereu002du002dmore often than notu002du002dhe aligns on a slot or u0022holeu0022 receiver and displays exceptional fundamentals that enable him to remain an active and effective defender versus the run. In addition to his consistently high motor in pursuing the football, he enlists good forward lean and accurate/aggressive blow delivery on blockers, making it difficult for them to sustain their fits in the open field. Given his primary position, he also employs consistently sound leverage skills, keeping his outside arm-and-leg free, never running too deep and thus not providing perimeter runs too much daylight underneath/inside him. In 9 total games last fall, he contributed 33 solo tackles, 24 assists and 3 tackles for loss. His nose for the football also is evidenced by his 1 forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries and 1 interception.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64209d4033b3f"} /-->