2025’s Hard Hitting LBs to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nothing feels like football more than watching a massive athlete in the middle of the front seven chasing down the ball and laying down huge hits on ball carriers or receivers crossing the middle of the field. Athletes that strike fear into skill players. Athletes that teams gameplan for all week, trying to figure out how to get a hand on him every play. Those stud, stout LBs are plentiful in the Class of 2025 in the Land of Lincoln. Let's dive into the hard hitting film.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["830241"],"_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":"Dominik is a powerhouse with a prototypical, college frame at 6'3u0022 230 lbs. Hulak has impressive strength that he uses to quickly disengage and to wrap up ball carriers. He has a great closing burst to pair with that strength and that combo is what has him on this list. He has devastating hit power that instantly stops athletes in their tracks and usually knocks them right off their feet. The junior is a heat seeking missile. Whether on special teams, at off ball LB, or on the edge Dominik is quick to find the ball and diagnose plays. Good luck stopping the stud LB from there. Check out the impressive tape linked below.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a088c40c928"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16148676/6534ab3819af4c0968423b38' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a088c40c9d2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["831092"],"_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":"Cooney is a fun athlete to watch. You only have to wait about 5 seconds into the tape to see why he is run this article. The 6'3u0022 LB is able to drop the hammer on ball carriers that sends them instantly into the dirt. Carson is so strong and uses it to run his feet through c0ntact when he delivers those hits. The range that Carson plays with allows him to bring that hard hitting power from sideline to sideline. Cooney is a stout inside linebacker that you can rely on to diagnose quickly, chase down, and deliver hits that ball carriers remember. Give the tape a look for yourself.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a088c40ca2c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16221494/65430f175b46a80a6c6c1ac2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a088c40ca4b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["830849"],"_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":"James is an exciting off ball LB with the stout play style that will garner him next level attention. Kingsbury has a powerful 6'1u0022 225 lbs frame, and that size hasn't hindered him on the field. James is able to play out in space, including over the slot. He is able to slide and change direction with ease. James is able to flip a switch and play physical when needed also. He can fight off blocks, and shows that flash of burst when closing to make hits. Those hits pop off the highlight tape as he sends ball carriers flying into the dirt. James has a well rounded game, and puts an exclamation point on each play with his hard hits.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a088c40caa2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16990914/651dba2bb5349c089c9c347e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a088c40cabe"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["331467"],"_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":"Another heat seeking missile is the 6'1u0022 210 lbs junior out of St. Ignatius. Emmett plays at 100 mph from the snap to the point of him running through the chest of ball carriers. Callahan makes every hit count on his tape. Each play seems to end with a big pop and all forward momentum from the offensive player instantly stopping. Those big hits aren't just from playing downhill either. We see Emmett pursuing all over the field and still being able to deliver the massive shots. Emmett is a very reliable tackler with the range and instincts needed to play in today's game.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a088c40cb0c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16222754/655647ea15f70905d87d9429' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a088c40cb28"} /-->