2024 Final Position Rankings: Linebacker

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2023 high school football season behind us, another senior class will be moving on to the next level. As we move into a new season, I wanted to take a look back at the class of 2024 by releasing the final 2024 rankings for the state of Kentucky. With these rankings being officially published, I will be taking the next week to break down each position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I have now turned my attention to the defensive side of the ball. After covering the defensive line, I will now break down our top linebackers in the class of 2024 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["438173"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='438173' first='Brach' last='Rice'] is a player that has been high on our radar for a while now and had an outstanding senior season. Rice was dominant against the run, showing the ability to read his keys and flow downhill to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles before they can get going. He finished the season with 181 tackles and 32.5 tackles for loss in 12 games. Rice also showed the ability to rush the passer off the edge, finishing the season with 13 sacks. Brach also played a role on offense as a ball carrier, running the ball 42 times for 270 yards and five touchdowns. Rice signed with Miami (OH) where I can see him becoming a key contributor for their defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["408041"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='408041' first='Jason' last='Hocker'] is another linebacker that has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to impress this season. Hocker lined up at inside linebacker where he was very impressive against the run. He does a great job of reading his keys and getting to the ball carrier in a hurry. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he is a very reliable tackler in the open field. Hocker finished the season with a team-leading 91 tackles along with 13 tackles for loss in 14 games. Jason signed with Akron where I can see him developing into a key piece of their defense.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["408043"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Another Bryan Station linebacker that has continued to stand out to me throughout his career is [player_tooltip player_id='408043' first='Dahvon' last='Frazier']. Frazier lined up at outside linebacker where he was very impressive against the run this season. He plays with a high motor and showed the ability to use his speed to get to the ball quickly while showing the strength to fight through blocks on the way. Dahvon finished the season with 61 tackles and 17 tackles for loss in 14 games. He also showed the ability to make plays against the pass, both as a rusher and in coverage, finishing the season with four sacks and an interception. Frazier will be joining Hocker at Akron where the two of them could be a very dangerous linebacker duo in the future.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["313671"],"_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='313671' first='Kaden' last='Smith'] is a player that has continued to climb up our rankings over the past couple seasons. He had a strong senior year at outside linebacker where he was very impressive off the edge as a pass rusher. Smith explodes out of his stance and has shown the ability to use his speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles to get to the quarterback. He finished the season with 13.5 sacks in 12 games. Smith also showed the ability to cause disruption against the run, finishing the season with 103 tackles and 31 tackles for loss. He also returned one interception and a fumble recovery for touchdowns. Kaden also finished the season as his team's leading receiver with 26 catches for 471 yards and four touchdowns while also running the ball 39 times for 313 yards and four touchdowns. Smith signed with Eastern Kentucky where I can see him becoming a key piece of their defense.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["423658"],"_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":"To wrap up our top five linebackers in the class of 2024 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='423658' first='Jack' last='Chappell']. Chappell had a strong senior season where he was very impressive against the run. He showed the ability to use his speed and high motor to run sideline to sideline to make tackles in the open field. Chappell finished the season with 85 tackles and six tackles for loss in 13 games. He also showed the ability to make plays in pass coverage, coming away with one interception. Chappell also returned one fumble recovery for a touchdown this season and finished the year as his team's leading receiver with 35 catches for 562 yards and five touchdowns. Jack will be joining Smith at Eastern Kentucky where I can see the two of them being a very impressive duo together in the future.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-659739994a3ff"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 200):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='422904' first='Darion' last='Neal'] (Frederick Douglass)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='490002' first='Bryce' last='Pugh'] (Leslie County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='313820' first='DeAndre' last='Malone'] (Male)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='316808' first='Davon' last='Rudolph'] (Ballard)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='423659' first='Jack' last='Lonaker'] (Cooper)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='1121540' first='Brady' last='McEnaney'] (Trinity)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='381930' first='Major' last='Brown'] (LCA)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='381911' first='Gray' last='Price'] (Greenwood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. [player_tooltip player_id='381912' first='Elijah' last='Hawkins'] (Logan County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15. [player_tooltip player_id='653370' first='Logan' last='Julian'] (Tates Creek)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16. [player_tooltip player_id='423621' first='Xavier' last='Campbell'] (Beechwood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17. [player_tooltip player_id='653504' first='Phoenix' last='Eddington'] (Perry County Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18. [player_tooltip player_id='653387' first='Madden' last='Miller'] (Martin County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19. [player_tooltip player_id='675970' first='Jaylen' last='Berry'] (Bryan Station)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>20. [player_tooltip player_id='943483' first='Aiden' last='Weatherholt'] (Hancock County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21. [player_tooltip player_id='381935' first='Hayden' last='Kiser'] (Madison Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>22. [player_tooltip player_id='653502' first='Carter' last='Howard'] (Harlan County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>23. [player_tooltip player_id='653368' first='Ben' last='Fay'] (Conner)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>24. [player_tooltip player_id='653481' first='Cain' last='Grim'] (Paintsville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>25. [player_tooltip player_id='495304' first='Landon' last='Colvin'] (Campbellsville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>26. [player_tooltip player_id='653485' first='Bo' last='Patterson'] (Casey County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->