CJ’s Big Board: 5 Underrated LB’s

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The linebacker position is a crucial role. Linebackers are responsible for various tasks, including defending against the run, covering receivers in pass defense, and rushing the quarterback on blitzes. This scouting report is aimed to provide an in-depth assessment of underrated linebacker's in Alabama physical attributes, football IQ, technical skills, and overall performance on the field.</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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1115961' first='Hezekyah' last='Avery']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_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":"Valley 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":"Avery plays downhill between the tackles, rushes from the edge, and drops into coverage. Decisive linebacker who reads keys quickly and plays fast; brings a desirable level of intensity. Rangy, high-motor player who can pursue out to the sidelines; overall speed and explosiveness is very good. Has impressive suddenness to slip blocks and work through traffic. Gets good extension with his arms to keep blockers out of his frame. Surprisingly effective pass-rusher who can generate push with his bull-rush. Takes advantages of opportunities to rush from zone when a lane opens. Closes fast when he has a chance to finish.","_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":"Jes'Ius Ragland","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_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":"Ashford High School ","_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":"Ragland 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. Conservative, patient approach in zone. Has a tight, violent spin move when rushing off the edge. Has the ability to be a effective quarterback spy who was frequently used in that role; gets his hands up to bat down passes.","_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='137213' first='Jalin' last='Edwards']","_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":"Grissom 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":"Edwards plays the game with desirable urgency and physicality. Excellent athlete with superior flexibility/fluidity and a ton of range; has the movement skills to handle almost any responsibility. 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. Nice balance and footwork with his backpedal. Explosive transitions when planting and driving.","_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":"Jaylon Ruffin","_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":"6'0u0022","_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":" James Clemens High School","_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":"Ruffin is an 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. He show's burst downhill when opposing passers flee the pocket.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Brandon White","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":" Bob Jones High School","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"White is a violent downhill player. Has a physical style and attacks blocks with aggression; hands are surprisingly strong when discarding. Light on his feet, with the suddenness to slip by blockers and get to the ball. Takes good angles in lateral pursuit, showing the ability to line up opponents and deliver thumping hits in space. White has been a very effective pass-rusher, relying on a combination of speed changes, the ability to find clear lanes to the passer, and intensity. Can dip his shoulder and bend a pretty good arc back to the passer. Shows a violent spin move that could be viable at the next level. Closes fast when spying the passer, recording a lot of his sacks this way. He also flashes quick hips when dropping into zones.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6522fca1d2fbc"} /-->