2027 Rankings Update: Linebackers

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2027","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"2496","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"2494","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6658b7fd79888"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get deeper into the 2024 high school football offseason, another round of rankings updates has been completed in the state of Kentucky. The updated Top 75 for the class of 2027 has been officially posted! Now that these rankings have been posted, I will be taking the next week or so to break them down by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I have now turned my attention to the defensive side of the ball. With the defensive linemen already being covered, here are our top linebackers in the class of 2027 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["378839"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6658b7fd7af1b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='378839' first='Garyon' last='Hobbs'] established himself as the top overall player in the state in his class with a very strong freshman year at CAL. Hobbs is very impressive against the run. He does a great job of reading his keys then using his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry and make the tackle before they can get going. Garyon finished this past season with a team-leading 90 tackles and 26 tackles for loss in 15 games. He has also shown the ability to put pressure on the quarterback, finishing his freshman year with seven sacks. Hobbs also played a role on offense, running the ball 22 times for 124 yards and a touchdown. Garyon currently holds offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue, Indiana, Kent State, Miami (OH), and Toledo, and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Power 4 caliber prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["415771"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6658b7fd7af6b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='415771' first='Jeremiah' last='Anderson'] is a linebacker who caught my attention with a very impressive freshman season. Anderson does a great job of reading his keys quickly and flowing to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles in the open field. He led his team in tackles as a freshman with 128 along with 11 tackles for loss in 13 games. Jeremiah also finished this past season with three sacks. Anderson doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to keep an eye on heading into his sophomore year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1200723"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6658b7fd7afab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1200723' first='Crayson' last='Lafferty'] is a player who jumped onto our radar quickly as a freshman with several impressive performances. He is very reliable against the run, using his high motor and speed to run sideline to sideline with ease to make tackles in the open field. Lafferty finished this past season with a team-high 132 tackles along with nine tackles for loss in 11 games. He also showed the ability to make plays in pass coverage, coming away with three interceptions as a freshman. Lafferty also made an impact on offense, finishing the year with 38 carries for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Crayson doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["871920"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6658b7fd7affa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='871920' first='Austyn' last='Lawless'] is another linebacker who caught our attention as a freshman. He lines up at outside linebacker where he is a force against the run. Lawless does a great job of reading the play quickly then getting to the ball carrier with a sense of urgency to make the tackle. Austyn finished his freshman year with 101 tackles and 12 tackles for loss in 14 games. He also showed the ability to rush the passer, finishing this past season with six sacks. Lawless doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player for college coaches to keep an eye on over the next few seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["378834"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6658b7fd7b03e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To wrap up our top five linebackers in the class of 2027 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='378834' first='Jayden' last='Justice']. Justice played a key role in Pikeville's 1A State Championship run this past season, finishing the year with 85 tackles and 13 tackles for loss in 13 games. Jayden lines up at outside linebacker where he does a great job of diagnosing the run then using his speed to flow to the ball carrier in a hurry. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he has proven to be a very reliable tackler in the open field. Justice doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player to watch over the next three seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Players Included in Top 75:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='482999' first='Gage' last='Chapman'] (Murray)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='1200572' first='DJ' last='Hightower'] (John Hardin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='1200568' first='Brody' last='Calhoun'] (Trigg County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='1200651' first='Leron' last='Jackson'] (Iroquois)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='1200689' first='Dylan' last='Lemaster'] (Johnson Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='1284257' first='Tacori' last='Fields'] (Frederick Douglass)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->