Tennessee High School Football: Top Linebackers in 2024

<!-- 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":"Lenzy Smith","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_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":"Overton High School ","_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":"Explosive, rangy athlete with the speed to play sideline to sideline. Generally plays with a patient approach but can be decisive. Good suddenness to knife through congestion and into the backfield. Gets good extension to play off of blocks. Able to chase down runners in backside pursuit. Impressive athleticism gives him considerable potential as a coverage linebacker; typically shades over in zone and closes fast when delivering a hit on an underneath throw. Gets out to the boundary quickly to defend the screen game. Can also spy the quarterback, showing his burst downhill when opposing passers flee the pocket.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["149383"],"_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":"Very much a player built for the modern game. Excellent athlete with sideline-to-sideline range; works hard to pursue opposing ballcarriers. Great suddenness to sift through traffic and get to the ball. Typically able to run around blockers, but shows good extension and a better-than-anticipated anchor when taking on opposing linemen. Has quick feet and is rangy when making drops in zone coverage. Can stick with opposing receivers/tight ends down the seams. Easily athletic enough to carry opposing backs into the flats. Closes quickly when working as a spy. Has been able to find lanes to the quarterback.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Matthew Ratcliffe","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Franklin County High School","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Anchors better than expected for an undersized edge defender, with at least average lower-body strength. Uses his length to keep opponents out of his pads and shows the ability to stack and shed in a run defense which often uses two-gap principles. Burst and length give him an impressive tackling radius. Rushes the passer with an excellent motor and plenty of physicality/tenacity. Quick enough out of his stance to threaten outside or inside; would be a good fit in a scheme that features a lot of stunts. Keeps his shoulders low, which, combined with his suddenness, gives opponents difficulty lining up punches. Has active hands and does a good job of varying his rush approach to generate pressure. Some ability to convert speed to power relative to his size (active feet.)","_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":"Chris Sanders","_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":"Haywood Highschool","_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":"Excellent athlete with superior flexibility/fluidity and a ton of range; has the movement skills to handle almost any responsibility, most frequently took snaps as more of a slot defender as a sophomore before playing more of a traditional linebacker role this past year. Engages with bent knees, a solid base, and is active with his hands to shed. Gets good extension when taking on blocks, continuing to locate the ball. A homing missile with outstanding closing burst when he has a lane to the ball. Able to chase down opposing runners from the backside.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["287770"],"_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":"Plays the game with toughness and physicality. Reads keys quickly and flows to the ball well, with discipline in his run fits; seemingly always around the ball. Avoids getting washed out too far or over-pursuing and creating cutback opportunities. Some short-area quickness to work through congestion or slip by blockers. Excellent contact balance. Bends his knees, gets extended, and can dig in at the point of attack when taking on blockers in the run game; lower-body strength is very good, and flexibility is at least adequate. Has some thudding power to help set the tone.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644b3e927885e"} /-->