Six 2028 Tennessee Outside Linebackers That Impress Me

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2028 prospects around the country are starting to become less of an idea, and more of a reality, as the football world starts to turn the page to next season. In Tennessee there are a number of really impressive eighth-graders to take note of. Today, specifically, here are six outside linebacker prospects that have really caught my eye.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1038441"],"_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":"It all seemed to click and come together for LaRue this past season. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound prospect helped Norris Middle School bring home the Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference (TVAC) title with big time performances on both sides of the ball. LaRue really seemed to blossom and take steps forward this season, letting his versatility take center stage. While he has run the ball during his pre-high school career, offensively he really took off as a wideout this season, above all else. Defensively he can play both inside and outside, but he shined as an outside linebacker. He took the ball skills, size and toughness that helped him reach success offensively and applied that same skill set as an outside linebacker. Against the pass, he got his hands on a number of balls to either tip or intercept. Against the run, his understanding of attacking angles is what jumped off the film to me the most. Watching LaRue read his keys and fly to the ball, while still playing under control and disciplined, was a treat. His physical tools and responsibility-first style are going to make him a good player, as he joins his brother ([player_tooltip player_id='783331' first='Waylon' last='LaRue'], 2025) at Anderson County High School in the fall.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1177918"],"_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":"If they aren't already aware of him, people in and around Nashville will soon start to hear a lot about Lipscomb Academy's [player_tooltip player_id='1177918' first='Jacob' last='Kreis']. Kreis didn't play a single snap this season, due to transferring to Lipscomb Academy following a reclass year. However, watching his film from last season and the shape he's in, he's a no-brainer when it comes to talking about the top outside linebackers in the state. At 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Kreis is very long and uses that length to his advantage. He could almost be considered more of an edge or defensive end type of player because of his propensity of getting into the backfield. However, after watching him intercept passes and cover guys in the flat, it would almost be a u0022wasteu0022 of athletic ability to put him on the defensive line right now. He's too fast and athletic to only use in pass-rushing situations at this level. To boot, Kreis also gets it done on the baseball diamond and had his fastball clocked at 75 mph in June 2023.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1065916"],"_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":"Blackman Middle School had a tremendous 2023 season, despite a heart-breaking double overtime loss to Oakland, in the Rutherford Country Championship tilt. One of four Blackman Flames to garner All-County accolades, [player_tooltip player_id='1065916' first='Jeisun' last='Thompson'] was a standout on both sides of the ball. With as many weapons as they had on the field offensivelyu002du002dincluding an elite quarterback and several talented receivers, Thompson managed to have a very productive year as a running back. However, watching him on film, I think the future could be as an outside linebacker. At 5-foot-9 and 145 pounds, with speed that helped him qualify for the State Track and Field meet, he's a tough kid to get by. Does a great job of using the boundary as an extra defender. Drops into a zone and drifts well, with almost no change in speed. Great acceleration after reading and reacting to a run, or a pass underneath him. He's one of the best two-way players in Tennessee in this 2028 class right now.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1177924"],"_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":"Another Lipscomb Academy I really like as an outside linebacker on film is [player_tooltip player_id='1177924' first='Langston' last='Robinson']. The son of former Western Illinois-standout and NFL linebacker Jimmy u0022Rayu0022 Robinson Jr., the linebacker instincts and ability certainly got passed down. He's a very active linebacker that makes a ton of plays that make you wonder how he did it. He reacts well and then starts approaching to make a play, then fractions of a second laster, his name is getting called over the speaker. At first glance he doesn't look anywhere near as physical of a football player, as he truly is. He's a thin, lanky 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds right now, but don't tell him that. He jams receivers with a ton of force, knocking them off their routes and messing up the timing for the offense. He comes downhill and crashes the edge hard on outside run plays, violently. Has that relentless pursuit ability that all the good ones have. Perhaps the scariest thing about Robinson is that he hasn't event stared to mature physically yet. Once he gets his body varsity-ready, there should be some schools lining up to check him out. To that note, he has already visited Penn State and his father's alma mater.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1029662"],"_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":"In limited conversation on social media with [player_tooltip player_id='1029662' first='Trystan' last='Ballentine'], I get the impression that he doesn't know just how talented of a football player he is, can be and potentially will be. Ballentine earned All-County honors as a seventh-grader and eighth-grader, and fittingly enough, the T.W. Hunter Buccaneers also won back-to-back Sumner County Championships during that time. Ballentine played running back on the offensive side of the ball and made the most of his limited touches, on a team that featured 13 All-County players. While he wasn't the feature back on offense, he was an vital piece of a nasty defense that only gave up 58 points all year and had two shutouts. Ballentine doesn't appear to have the height of some of the other guys in this write up, but he could arguably be the fastest. Sports a tremendous build and more than throws his muscle around on the field. He's a phenomenal blitzer and can also cover backs in the flat and tight ends/receivers going up the seem.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1180186"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Yes, this is the third outside linebacker from Lipscomb Academy in this write up. Also yes, they're all that good, in my opinion. Bostic is a really nice looking prospect that is inching closer and closer to that 6-foot mark and could possibly already be there. He's also a solid 170 pounds, which bodes well for the power he plays with. He's about as downhill of an outside linebacker that I've seen while checking out tape on this 2028 class in Tennessee. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he moved to the inside with [player_tooltip player_id='1177924' first='Langston' last='Robinson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1177918' first='Jacob' last='Kreis'] patrolling the boundaries. Bostic can really bring it once he makes up his mind to attack. Does a good job closing and arrives with power. Bostic is also widely considered to be one of the best baseball players in the state as well. While much of his off-season is consumed with baseball tournaments and showcases, he did make it to Ole Miss on an unofficial visit this past September.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ca71b51d35f"} /-->