Top 2025 Linebackers: 704 Metro Area

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='664451' first='Antonio' last='Armstrong'] - Kings Mountain </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have been impressed with Antonio for a couple of years now after seeing him up close at a local showcase. At 6'1 and 215 pounds, Antonio had some good production last year as he had 83 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 10 hurries, and 3 sacks as a hybrid EDGE/linebacker prospect. Antonio recently picked up an offer from Miami (Ohio) and has interest from several different schools in the Carolinas. When you take a look at his highlights, Antonio shows a lot of different things. As a defensive lineman, he has an excellent get-off whether he is shooting a gap or performing a line stunt - his skill set is impressive. As a stand-up linebacker, he fast-flows very well once he reads his keys and is aggressive in bringing down the ball carrier or the quarterback. Antonio also shows some coverage ability - lining up over a receiver, reading the passing concept, and picking up a nice jumping interception. I expect Antonio to pick up more recruiting attention as we enter the camp season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='759842' first='Jamari' last='Farmer'] - Mooresville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This young man was very impressive at a recent showcase I attended. You could instantly see he was a Division 1 prospect, but at the time he did not have any offers. After that showcase, Jamari picked up his first offer from Cincinnati, and since then he has added Coastal Carolina, Old Dominion, and Georgia Southern. At 6'1 and 210 pounds, Jamari had an incredibly productive season last year with 130 total tackles, 98 solo tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks - along with picking up his conference Player Of The Year award and breaking 3 school records. When you take a look at the film, Jamari shows off his skills right off the jump - taking a zone drop, reading a wheel concept from the slot receiver, picking it off, and running it back 98 yards for a touchdown. The next two clips show Jamari doing a great job reading his keys and then exploding into ball carriers with huge hits. I expect Jamari to pick up more offers through the summer and to have a big senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='396922' first='Braeden' last='Barger'] - Weddington </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coming off a state championship season, Braeden is a big reason why the Warriors will be a favorite to possibly repeat that championship this upcoming season. Last year Braeden had 115 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks. At 6'1 and 220 pounds, Braeden was also named 1st Team All-Conference and recently was offered by Eastern Kentucky. When you take a look at the highlight film, Braeden is a physical and tough player - everything he does screams football. Multiple clips where Braeden is flying halfway across the field to make solo tackles on athletes in space against very good teams are impressive. He also does a good job as an inside linebacker blitzer - he had some important sacks in playoff games, showing great angles and closing speed in those short spaces. I would expect Braeden to pick up more recruiting interest as the camp season gets going. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1153574' first='Jackson' last='Forrest'] - Northwest Cabarrus </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6'1 220-pound prospect, Jackson was selected as his conference's Defensive Player Of the Year as a junior - a pretty strong reflection of his overall talent. During the season, Jackson had 147 total tackles, 84 solo tackles, 40 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks. Incredible production, point blank and period. Currently, Jackson has offers from Charlotte, Appalachian State, Cornell, Princeton, Old Dominion, Lafayette, and Columbia. Taking a look at the film, I was blown away by a couple of things - In the first clip, Jackson reads a middle screen, picks the ball off, and takes it back 80 yards for a touchdown. Then, Jackson just doesn't shed blocks in the interior run game - there are multiple instances where he just obliterates big power offensive linemen, knocking them down and making tackles for losses in the backfield. That's enough for me to say Jackson should get more offers heading into a senior season where he should be a really good player once again. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1303810' first='Marshall' last='McGowan'] - Burns </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marshall has been a player I've kept track of ever since seeing him two years ago in a playoff game live. At 6'2 and 230 pounds, last season he produced 77 total tackles, 56 solo tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 8 sacks as a hybrid EDGE/linebacker prospect. Marshall currently has offers from Gardner-Webb and Lenoir-Rhyne, and I think once colleges get out and see him up close during the camp season, he will pick up even more recruiting attention and offers. When you take a look at the film, Marshall has a nice arm-over move to shed blocks when rushing the passer or trying to secure the edge of the defense. Marshall also does a great job in pass coverage - it was obvious in a couple of clips the offense was trying to target him in space, and Marshall was there each time, easily running with backs or tight ends in the passing game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1303813' first='Nick' last='Norris'] - Shelby </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I rarely say this, but Nick is the kind of player I would have liked to coach. I covered him in a game late last season, and he was the most impressive player on the field to me. Nick has confidence about him, and that confidence rubs off on his entire defense, they all play with a swagger that is fun to watch. Nick deserves more attention from a recruiting and coverage standpoint - he led a storied Shelby program in tackles last season with 133 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks as a middle linebacker. Nick is listed at 5'11 and 190 pounds, but he plays bigger than that. He is a ferocious run defender - he reads his key and he immediately fast flows downhill with bad intentions. I would love to see Nick in a camp setting because I believe it would enhance his recruiting by getting onto some boards going into his senior year. Nick is also a very good athlete - he shows two long touchdown runs as a running back with very good speed - his team doesn't need him there, but it's just reflective of who he is. A college will get lucky with this young man. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->