Five Underrated 2024 LBs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Football has seen a shift from being a run-heavy game to a pass-first game, requiring defenses to evolve with the times.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the positions that has seen significant change in how to play the game is the linebacker position. As box defenders, they are tasked with playing downhill to combat the run but are also expected to be athletic enough to add strength and power to the pass coverage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This article will look at five senior linebackers who have been outstanding through the first four weeks of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='251215' first='Holden' last='Wright'] </strong>| Palmer Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wright is a disruptive defender with the size and athleticism needed to make plays around the ball. He leads the team with 36 total tackles and six tackles for loss while adding a pair of quarterback hurries and one forced fumble to his stat line. His 6-foot-3, 213lbs frame makes him an unstoppable rusher coming off the edge. Wright is an athlete with plug-and-play abilities on either side of the ball, making him a must-know prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595715' first='Blake' last='Branham']</strong> | Ponderosa </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Branham exploded onto the scene this summer when he earned the positional MVP at the Stock Up Showcase in California. The 5-foot-11, 200lbs backer brings tone-setting physicality and head-turning speed to the defensive side of the ball. He leads the team with 58 total tackles, 31 solo, which almost doubles that of his teammates. He also has nine tackles for loss, one pass deflection, and one interception. Branham has started to receive attention from college programs, but the outstanding backer is still under the radar as a prospect.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Eli Frakes</strong> | Legend&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Frakes is a phenomenal player with an incredible story of resilience and perseverance. His instincts and motor have helped him rack up 22 total tackles with three tackles for loss, one QB hurry, and one interception. His size, explosiveness, and physicality make him the ideal downhill defender who does an excellent job stuffing gaps and form-fitting tackles. Frakes is an under-the-radar player, making him a defensive sleeper with a high ceiling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Noah Biller</strong> | Broomfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Biller is one of the Eagles' more reliable defensive leaders who brings experience and tone-setting physicality to the box. He is a versatile backer who can fly downhill to stop the run or drop into coverage and defend against the pass. He leads the team with 48 total tackles, 38 solo, and one tackle for a loss. Biller is a defensive difference-maker worthy of a closer look by college scouts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1010910' first='Trevor' last='Nordstrom'] </strong>| Regis Jesuit&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nordstrom is a standout linebacker with outstanding toughness and power. He does a fantastic job of scraping over the top of the line before initiating contact with the ball carrier in the backfield. The sure-tackler leads the team with 57 tackles, three tackles for loss, one QB hurry, one sack, and two forced fumbles. Nordstrom is a multi-sport athlete with the potential to be a difference-maker at the next level, making him a must-watch player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->