Early Look At Some 8th Grade (’28) Linebackers From New England

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you're not from the East Coast, there's probably a little confusion of what states make up New England. The answer: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island. We are in the midst of an explosion in New England prospects being recruited and the prospects below look the part as of this moment. There are plenty of other prospects who aren't on this list, that play the linebacker position--but they play multiple other positions too. The 2028 prospects below check the boxes for me as kids to watch, based off their middle school careers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1001829"],"_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":"A native of Connecticut who will be off to Berlin High School this upcoming fall, joining his older brother, '26 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1225572' first='Will' last='Balicki']. Throughout youth football, [player_tooltip player_id='1001829' first='Nick' last='Balicki'] was clearly the go-to weapon on his team. Despite this past season ending after just two games due to a torn ACL, he was clearly a man amongst boys as both a running back and linebacker. He should excel at both in high school, but he'll have a higher longterm ceiling at linebacker.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["999667"],"_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":"Moreau calls the state of New Hampshire home, but will be off to Central Catholic in Massachusetts for high school this fall. It's a small talent pool, but he dominated the competition locally. Dealt with a minor injury and missed a some time earlier in the season, but returned to play well on both sides of the ball. Defensively he has played edge, D-End, Outside and Inside linebacker, while offensively he's been a bruising Running Back. Clearly spends significant time in the weight room. Needs to get faster on the field, which will help him take better tackling angles.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1001608"],"_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":"A linebacker that has continued to improve year-in and year-out, during his pre-high school career. A key member of the Springfield Tigers Youth Football program, that has established itself as one of the top in the Northeast over the last few years. Got some touches as a running back, but his bread is buttered as a linebacker. Very active and athletic middle linebacker that really lives the phrase sideline-to-sideline. A sure-tackler who moves around with speed and purpose. Also has advanced pass drops.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1257685"],"_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":"Bit of a throwback type of middle linebacker that looks born to play the position. A native of Ridgefield, Conn. but will be attending Archbishop Stepniac in New York for high school. Does a good job of sitting in the middle of the field and owning the tackle box. Very impressed with his ability to shuffle horizontally while reading the play and getting himself in a good position to make a play. Also plays baseball.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1257823"],"_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":"Part of an incredible 2028 class coming out of the Hingham Youth Football organization, that has amassed a 53-5 record and five championships over the last seven seasons. He'll be off to Boston College High School in the fall, and brings an excellent skill set for an incoming freshman. He's put together well with requisite muscle mass for the position. Stays low in his stance and on his toes, despite traffic in front of him. Furthermore, Taylor just finds ways to avoid blockers and make a tackle.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662a677a4b14b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations":"","_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-662abf3b009d5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Additional 2028 Linebackers</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1257821' first='Braeden' last='O'Brien']</strong> | Massachusetts | <em>Catholic Memoria</em>l - Short, thick middle linebacker that can dish out some big hits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1257822' first='Dominic' last='Senske'] </strong>| Massachusetts | <em>Hudson</em> - Built very similarly to O'Brien. A short, squatty linebacker/fullback that can bulldoze kids if not in a good position</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->