Georgia Future Stars Breakdown: 8th Grade Linebacker (2027)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since 2011 the Georgia Future Stars has been an institution in the middle school football space, where many of the best kids from the Peach State have put an exclamation point on their pre-high school careers. Household names such as former No.1 overall NFL draft pick and current Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, have made this team and event a special one. The evaluators and coaching staff that put together the Georgia Future Stars do a great job of balancing skill sets and showcasing what the future of football will look like. Here's a look at the Linebackers on this year's eighth grade (class of 2027) team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["416465"],"_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":"I've personally watched Stoker close to a half dozen times over the last two years and his ascension has been great to watch. Unreal potential and ability for a kid that's a verified 6-foot-2, 195 pounds and was hand-timed at a 4.65 in the forty yard dash. I think the jury is still out just where this athletic specimen fits on the football field, but playing Outside Linebacker could just be the answer. He can play running back, tight end, wide receiver, defensive end, etc. at a high level and watching him continue to develop will be a treat over the next four years.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["378417"],"_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":"Having Menzie back on this eighth-grade Georgia Future Stars team is a big blessing. A year ago Menzie made the team as a running back, but with an insanely talented and crowded u003ca href=u0022https://prepredzone.com/2023/04/georgia-future-stars-breakdown-8th-grade-running-back-2027/u0022u003erunning back groupu003c/au003e, this year the 5-foot-9, 170-pounder will be playing as a linebacker. Fresh off a season where he ran for over 1,000 yards, led in tackles (unofficially) and earned team MVP at Richmond Hill Middle School. Also a tireless worker in the weight room. Menzie has a lot of potential on both sides of the ball and will be a great piece for Georgia.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["378408"],"_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":"Speaking of valued returners, linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='378408' first='Jace' last='Murray'] is back as a monster of the midway for the eighth grade Georgia Future Stars. Murray is taller, has more muscle and has gotten his 40 time down to a hand-timed 4.97 this spring. In addition to bringing experience to this group, he also brings some athleticism and versatility. He plays on his toes and is constantly in attack mode, swarming to the football quickly. He's fast enough to play at sam or will, but he could be a game-changer at the mike position.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["633257"],"_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":"Thompson is yet another linebacker that is returning after being named to the team last year, as a seventh grader. In full disclosure, Thompson was not a player I wrote down or even remembered seeing at last year's event. However, after he attended our PRZ Next camp this winter and came home with Linebacker MVP, he not only caught my attentionu002du002dbut the attention of many others. A unique talent in the fact that he looks like a natural at middle linebacker, but at 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds is also strong enough to bump down and play defensive end.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["699890"],"_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":"Any other year, kids like [player_tooltip player_id='378417' first='Caeylin' last='Menzie'] (listed above) and [player_tooltip player_id='699890' first='Kalani' last='Robertson'] would be slam-dunks at the running back position. But when two of the five backs listed already have verbal offers, prospects show just what kind of athletes they really are by playing on the defensive side of the ball. Robertson is a nice piece at linebacker and reminds me a lot of Menzie and [player_tooltip player_id='633257' first='Trey' last='Thompson'] (also listed above). He's naturally strong and has a thick, sturdy lower half that made him tough to knock off his feet as a running back during the regular season. He, like the other guys listed above, are all already on the 2027 PRZ Next National Watchlist.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-643fea520ec2a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The linebacker position on this eighth-grade Georgia Future Stars team is extremely deep and talented. While the five prospects listed above are already on the 2027 PRZ Next National Watchlist, there are four other players that will have every opportunity in the world to show out and earn exposure at this tremendous event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Out of this group of four, I think I'm most excited to see what <strong>Jamarion Keyhea</strong> brings to the table in person. His film shows some good things in terms of his ability to read his keys and stay patient while the play develops. At 5-foot-8 and 176 pounds, he has a muscular build and obviously spend a great amount of time in the weight room. Watching his film, I have some questions about speed and taking proper pursuit/tackling angles, but a lot can change from October to June.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At just 5-foot-5 and 160 pounds, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='708613' first='Trevon' last='Williams']</strong> brings speed and quickness to the position. Watching him play he's obviously undersized but he makes up for it with positioning and speed to the ball. Probably more of a strong safety as he continues to grow taller. I drew an instant comparison to former 1st round pick and current New England Patriot safety, Jabrill Peppers. Peppers is listed at 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, and like Williams, is somewhere between that defensive back and linebacker position. Peppers is proof that there is room on the field for a tweener. We'll see how Williams plays in June.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rounding out this quadrant is <strong>Ja'Mare Tolliver</strong> and <strong>Devaughn Smothers</strong>. While both are new to the Future Stars event, both bring some clout. Tolliver is a thick, compact middle linebacker that is built like a fire hydrant at 5-foot-6 and 175 pounds. He was a battering ram for the Trail to the Title Championship-winning, Stephenson Jaguars. With his build and size he was often used in short-yardage situations as a running back, exemplified by his four two-point conversions and one touchdown in Stephenson's championship game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking at the linebacker group and roster as a whole, Smothers is one of the bigger questions marks to me. I have never seen him play live and don't know too much about the Crisp County student-athlete. He's listed at 5-foot-8 and 154 pounds and was hand-timed at a 5.06 in the forty. My gut says he'll see time at outside linebacker, but I'm excited to evaluate him in person.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->