2027 Rankings – LB/DB Spotlight (June ’24)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the month of June, we're updating all of our prospect rankings on Prep Redzone Oklahoma. We've seen a ton of football this offseason from the 7v7 circuit to camps to most recently with team camps. We kick off our month of ranking updates this week with a look at the 2027 class as they head into their sophomore seasons this fall. Earlier this year, we unveiled the first batch of 2027 rankings with a top 25. This time around, we have a top 50. You can <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2027-rankings/">check out the updated rankings right here</a></strong>. In this post, we're putting the spotlight on the defensive side of the ball with the linebackers and defensive backs. You can check out our spotlight on the defensive linemen <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/2027-rankings-in-the-trenches-2/">RIGHT HERE</a></strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This breakdown features every linebacker and defensive back listed in the top 50, with the exception of a few guys like [player_tooltip player_id='521089' first='Bryson' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='473879' first='Case' last='Alexander'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1030447' first='Kailib' last='Dillard'] because they was <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/2027-rankings-top-ten-spotlight/">covered earlier this week</a></strong>. Owasso's [player_tooltip player_id='696152' first='Cole' last='Campbell'] is another DB that was covered <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/2027-rankings-top-newcomers/">back on Monday</a></strong>. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma every Monday this month for another ranking update!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["946188"],"_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-666c87f0c7b36"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ardmore standout [player_tooltip player_id='946188' first='Tyson' last='Laster'] is the first of three defensive backs on this breakdown. We wrote about Laster back in February after seeing him perform at a very high level at a 7v7 tournament. Laster has the potential to be Ardmore's best player on both sides of the ball this season. We know the Ardmore coaches are excited about his potential to be that impact player on offense and defense. But when we watched him earlier this year, he always stood out the most on the defensive side of the ball. And talking with people that simply know more football than we do, they believe he's the next guy up and we can definitely see why. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["485526"],"_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-666c87f0c7b9d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Union has definitely become a program that is one of the best in the state at producing defensive backs over the last decade. [player_tooltip player_id='485526' first='Noah' last='Gillespie'] could very well be the next guy in that conversation moving forward. Before he entered high school, Gillespie was on our radar as our Prep Redzone Next writers were impressed with his potential but it was on offense as a running back. Now, the coaches at Union are excited about his potential on defense as a cornerback and a defensive back overall. It will be interesting to see how much playing time he receives this season and what kind of impact he has, playing against top competition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1297668"],"_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-666c87f0c7be9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The first of several linebackers to watch this season will be Kiefer's [player_tooltip player_id='1297668' first='Titus' last='Bell'] and he's coming off a massive freshman season. Kiefer had a really good team and their linebacker group was a fun one to watch. Bell found a way to break into that group and got significant playing time. He would finish his freshman season with over 100 tackles and he's looking to be the team's leading tackler this season. Bell is also listed on the roster at 6'3 and 245 pounds. With him checking the boxes from a physical standpoint and a production standpoint, Bell is going to be a prospect in this class that has a very high ceiling moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["342768"],"_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-666c87f0c7c2c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Edmond North linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='342768' first='Brock' last='Roberts'] was mentioned back in February as a name to watch moving forward. He might have been on the outside of our initial ranking but he was definitely on our radar and it was only a matter of time before he hopped in. He performed very well and impressed us in multiple areas at our camp back in January. The only thing left for Roberts to do is to perform on Friday nights. On paper, we really like what Edmond North has coming back and specifically on the defensive side of the ball. They have talent on that side and Roberts could end up enjoying a breakout season. He's had a very busy offseason. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1171160"],"_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-666c87f0c7c6d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When our initial rankings came out earlier this year, Idabel linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1171160' first='Kade' last='Pratt'] made the ranking and when we look at this class, he's definitely a name to keep an eye on. As we mentioned back in February, Pratt was very productive last season as a freshman but he had his first year cut short with an injury. And like we mentioned a few months ago, Pratt has been working hard to get back to 100 percent and has put a lot of work into the weight room. And Idabel is going to be a team to watch this season. They move up to Class 3A and they have some serious star power returning. Pratt will have a big platform to perform on this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1260189"],"_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-666c87f0c7cab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Guthrie is going to be an interesting team to watch because they got hit hard by graduation. They lose a lot of experience and production and that opens the door for new faces to step in. Defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1260189' first='Frederick' last='Nash'] is a name to keep an eye on moving forward. And this breakdown and his ranking earlier this week is 100 percent based on his performance at our April camp. And that doesn't happen very often because we like to have a full picture view. But Nash was absolutely lights out with his performance in April and more importantly, he soaked up and took advantage of every minute there. He's definitely not afraid of the work. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->