Who are the Best 2024 LBs in Missouri?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 class has an intriguing group of linebackers. While all of these prospects are some of the best LBs in Missouri, I don't know if they all play a true middle linebacker position at the next level. Still, these six guys should be contributing to a college defense in no time. </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":"Alijah Jackman","_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":"6'2u0022","_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":"Battle 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":"Alijah Jackman is a fast-rising prospect out of Columbia. Alijah holds offers from Benedictine and Central Methodist University. Watch for the good-sized linebacker to receive more offers before his senior season ends.rnrnAlijah's explosiveness shows chasing down outside runs for losses from a backside outside linebacker alignment. Coaches like seeing Alijah's upper-body strength drop lead blockers with his knockout punch at the point of attack. Good instincts and power show getting downhill with urgency and running through ball carriers at the line of scrimmage.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"D'Ante Wells","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Park Hill South ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"D'Ante Wells played his first year at defensive back in 2022. What is more impressive is how natural D'Ante looked in the $AM linebacker role Parkhill South had him playing. D'Ante holds offers from Central Missouri and William u0026amp; Penn University. Look for more offers to come D'Ante's way as coaches realize he is a natural fit as a hybrid linebacker in nickel or dime packages.rnrnD'Ante's instincts show jumping crossing routes in underneath zones. Good change of direction shown covering smaller receivers in the slot have college coaches dreaming of D'Ante being their speedy WILL at the second level. Good power and shed technique suggest a natural transition into the box. D'Ante's length, awareness in pass coverage, and urgency in the run box increase his value as a three-down backer in college.","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1112445' first='Grayson' last='Cutchlow']","_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":"6'3u0022","_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":"Rock Bridge 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":"Since I last wrote about [player_tooltip player_id='1112445' first='Grayson' last='Cutchlow'], I think it is a safe bet to say he has risen up coaches' rankings. Since February, Grayson has visited North Dakota State and received an offer from Illinois State. Expect his list of offers to keep growing before he graduates next summer.rnrnGrayson's rare combination of size, quickness, and instincts get displayed in his fast change of direction and dissection of run plays inside the box. Grayson's reactive athleticism and awareness in underneath zone coverage highlights his three-down value at the next level. Grayson's closing speed, tackling ability, and natural instincts have defensive coordinators imagining the possibility of him being their leader in the middle.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["254474"],"_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='254474' first='Keylan' last='Mitchell'] is a versatile linebacker from Parkway North who projects to multiple positions in college. Keylan has had multiple visits to FBS schools, but I am surprised to see his social media so quiet this offseason. I am excited to see who offers Keylan and what position the talented player lines up at in college.rnrnNext level power shows as a lead blocking H back who punishes outside linebackers on kickout blocks. Coaches like Keylan's combination of instincts, hand usage, and strength shown attacking the line of scrimmage u0026amp; blowing up lead blockers. Good athleticism shows intercepting tough catches that were not intended for his zone. Good pass rush versatility shows blitzing from depth as a middle linebacker or pressuring the quarterback off the edge.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["668864"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='668864' first='Bleyne' last='Bryant'] is a decorated running back, linebacker, and track champion out of Bowling Green, Missouri. Bleyne holds thirteen offers at my last count with the most recent one coming from Valparaiso. The LB prospect has the ideal tools for a modern-day middle linebacker and should continue to be a heavily recruited player up until graduation next summer.rnrnBleyne shows good power and long speed blasting through lead blockers on kickoff or returning kicks for touchdowns as a returner. Bleyne's natural instincts show altering course as a blitzer and finding ball carriers in the backfield. Decisiveness and good burst show attacking the line of scrimmage with urgency in the run game. Good hands, toughness, balance, and vision give Bleyne a chance to be recruited as a running back as well.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["172304"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='172304' first='Melvin' last='Laster'] committed to UNLV on May 25th. Melvin is a top front seven prospect in Missouri's 2024 class. Melvin holds thirteen other FBS offers so expect the calls to keep coming in before he graduates.rnrnMelvin's rare combination of size u0026amp; speed gets displayed shooting windows and completing tackles for loss against zone stretch plays. Rare power and good instincts show finding the ball quickly in the box then flattening ball carriers without much buildup speed. Coaches love Melvin's pass rush potential; Melvin displays good versatility as a pass rusher in a powerful bull rush and good bend u0026amp; closing speed that allows him to dip under tackles off the edge.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-647958e4ceef5"} /-->