Top Kansas Linebackers: Class of 2024 Prospect Spotlight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linebackers need to have a strong combination of size and speed. They have to be unselfish ball players who play with grit and mean streaks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we draw closer to the start of the 2023 high school season here is a look at five of the top-ranked linebackers in the Kansas class of 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='262768' first='Justyce' last='Betts']</strong>, LB, 6'0”, 215, Bishop Miege(No. 20)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Betts plays like he has a special radar to detect the football. He is a fast middle linebacker who can stop the run and pressure the quarterback. He has a quick first step and wraps up on tackles. He is the type of athlete that a college program can build a defense around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='145518' first='JC' last='Heim']</strong>, LB, 6'3”, 220, Washburn Rural (No. 30)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have seen Heim this summer at a college camp and he just understands the game. He plays outside linebacker but has the size and speed to play as an edge rusher on the defensive line. Numbers back up just how fast Heim is as he has been clocked with a 4.6 second forty and a 4.2 shuttle. He can drop back and play in coverage, but his strength is bringing pressure from the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='545361' first='Teegan' last='Haines']</strong>, LB, 6'4”, 190, McPherson (No. 45)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Haines' favorite vocabulary word is turnover and it's not the apple or peach kind. Haines creates turnovers with his speed and wide wing span. He can intercept passes and knock the ball loose from ball carriers. Haines can also play tight end, but I am projecting that he will get more looks from college coaches to play defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='145513' first='Braylen' last='Hoobler']</strong>, LB, 5'11”, 195, Eudora (No. 64)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hoobler is a disrupter at the linebacker position. Eudora utilizes him on both sides of the ball. It's almost like since he plays such a large role on offense he is in the other coach's head when playing against them on defense. Size might hurt him in the eyes of some defensive recruiters. The bottom line with Hoobler is he is college-level talent, and more than likely has a future in coaching.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='263240' first='Spencer' last='Dohm']</strong>, LB, 5'11”, 210, St. James Academy, (No. 88)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dohm looks like a middle linebacker. He has impressive upper body strength and can bring the wood when he hits ball carriers. He was a first-team Eastern Kansas League linebacker for St. James Academy. He can lead a defensive unit and I would love to see him turned loose on a kickoff coverage team when he does pick a college to play at.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->