2024 8th Grade GA Future Stars: Linebacker and Specialist Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The linebackers that played in this game before are impressive to say the least. From some of the highest ranked high school prospects in the country, to college football National Champions to current NFL linebackers such as <strong>Owen Pappoe</strong> (Arizona Cardinals) and <strong>Nolan Smith</strong> (Philadelphia Eagles)--they've all dawned the red and black of the Georgia Future Stars. Additionally specialists, who often don't get shown the love the deserve have gone onto reach high levels too, such as <strong>Kellen Grave De Peralta</strong> (Navy) and <strong>Quentin Skinner</strong> (LSU). Here's a look at the linebackers and specialists for this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Linebackers</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["635968"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1235183,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"It's not earth-shattering news that athletesu002du002dand kids in generalu002du002dchange a lot during their middle/junior high school years. However, when you get a front row seat to watch it happen, as I did with Roswell's [player_tooltip player_id='635968' first='Jake' last='Smith'], it really is a cool thing. He first came to a Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp as an assuming 5-foot-6, 135-pound linebacker. Fast forward to present day, and Smith is now a 5-foot-10, 160-pounder has attended three PRZ Next Camps and just got selected to his second straight Georgia Future Stars team. Smith recorded 53 tackles in nine games this season and was also selected to the Georgia Elite Classic All-Star Game this past December. However you want to judge success - stats, post-season honors, all-star games, etc. he checks every box. Perhaps the best most noteworthy thing about Smith, is his attitude. Other than the popping of his pads, you wouldn't even know he was on the fieldu002du002dbecause he lets his play do all the talking.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1150631"],"_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":"An athletic linebacker that has put on a good 15 pounds of good weight since playing in this game a year ago, as a seventh-grader. Now up to 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, he's athletic enough to play strong safety in obvious running situations, but should make his biggest impact as a linebacker. The versatility he brings is nice and I can see him playing inside or outside because he gets to the ball quickly. All that said, the Georgia Future Stars will have a full stable of running backs, but he can also tote the rick if his number is called on offense, too.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1097598"],"_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":"Last year year Lincoln County Middle School produced talented 2027 prospect Jerry Beard, who is now at Prince Avenue School. This year the Red Devils will be represented by the multi-talented [player_tooltip player_id='1097598' first='Aiden' last='Jones'], as he made the 2024 8th Grade Georgia Future Stars team. He goes by u0022JoJou0022 and after being called up to play some JV to end his season, he was an immediate eye-test passer at the Prep Redzone Next Camp in Georgia this past January. At a muscular, 5-foot-9 and 180-pounds, he can play running back, linebacker or strong safety right now at a very high level. Based off film and roster composition, I can see him playing a few different spotsu002du002dbut linebacker may be it.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6613e056ed625"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='891481' first='Matthew' last='Gibson'] </strong>- Instinctive linebacker/running back type, that returns to the 2024 Georgia Future Stars after playing on the 7th grade team last year. Has clearly spent some time working on his body, as last year he played in this game around the 150-pound mark and will be playing this year around 170 pounds. He joins his regular season teammate Cade Fournier, as the representation from Calvary Day School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='891477' first='Cameron' last='Sims']</strong> - Following last year's Future Stars Game, I included Sims in an <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/future-stars-game-2028-prospects-that-caught-my-eye-finale/">article</a> and talked about his versatility and how many tackles he was seemingly in on throughout the week. This year he's grown two inches and put on a few pounds, now up to 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds. Sims was also clocked at a 5.12 in the forty at the West Atlanta tryout, good enough for the fourth fastest time out of any position at the tryout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1235311' first='Miles' last='Snipes'] </strong>-<strong> </strong>Snipes was an All-Region selection as an outside linebacker for Champion Middle School out of DeKalb County this past season and his instincts on the field are impressive. At 5-foot-9 and 140-pounds, there's a lot of athleticism here, as he lined up in the backfield and out as a wide receiver as well. I get the vibes that he wants to play offense, but he's a physical kid that appears better on the defensive side of the ball at this time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1240718' first='Carlil' last='Westberry']</strong> - He's an absolute load as a middle linebacker, standing 5-foot-8 and weighing 245-pounds. During the regular season for Dooly County Middle School, he starred as a running back, which was evident by the 4.94 he was clocked at in the forty during the Crisp County tryout. He's a physical kid with the necessary strength and a downhill playing style on both sides of the ball. While I project Westberry to be a linebacker (or even defensive tackle, down the line), imagine a Georgia 8th Grade Future Stars full house backfield featuring him alongside 200-pound running back [player_tooltip player_id='734250' first='Matthew' last='Craft Jr.'] and 160-pound Dee McNealy. Terrifying.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kicker</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["891462"],"_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":"Scholle returns to the Georgia Future Stars as an 8th grader, after a magical performance as a seventh-grader a year ago. The St. Pius X prospect kicked the game-winner with no time left against Florida, to propel Georgia to the victory in a game that won't soon be forgotten. For Georgia's sake, hopefully the game doesn't come down to a last minute attemptu002du002dbut if it does, at least they have experience in the special teams.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660c48ce3e0a7"} /-->