All-Underappreciated Team: Linebackers

The season is almost upon us, so we'll continue to take a look at underappreciated players at each position. We've already hit all of the offensive positions and the defensive line, so we'll continue by taking a look at some of the most underappreciated linebackers in the state.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Five Underappreciated Linebackers in North Carolina</h2>    Lowe fits the mold of a protoypical modern-day linebacker with good coverage skills and a nose for the football. He's not huge, but he's got plenty of strength to take on blockers in the running game and is a sure tackler, as evidenced by his 145 stops a year ago. He's put on a bit of weight in the offseason and if he can get into the 210-220 range, he's going to make an FCS school extremely happy.     The measurables are the only thing holding Bohanon back as he can flat out play football. He's a big hitter with solid coverage skills, but I'm most impressed with his ability to read running lanes and mirror backs. He has to do that with his size, but it's a part of his game that he's really perfected, avoiding blockers and filling running lanes. It's the main reason he was able to rack up 148 tackles as a junior. He's probably a safety at the next level, but the pass coverage should translate making him an intriguing college prospect.     Perone is one of the most athletic players in the state, regardless of position. There's a chance he could play edge at the next level, but I like him off the ball, where he can read and diagnose plays before breaking on the ball. That being said, the pass rushing upside is hard to ignore here and if he's healthy in 2024, he could have the type of huge year for Christ School that kickstarts his recruitment.     Patience isn't typically a trait you ascribe to linebackers, but it's one that Tosi consistently displays. He rarely picks the wrong hole to fill and consistently brings down ballcarriers when he has them in his grasp. He's developing as a blitzer and can use his excellent straight-line speed to blow up offensive linemen and create havoc in the backfield.     Kilgannon is an impressive two-sport athlete who is just hitting his stride on the gridiron as an athletic middle linebacker and goalline running back. His best position is probably middle linebacker, where he uses his high football IQ to read and diagnose plays. He's put on a good bit of healthy weight in the last year but hasn't lost his quickness. Kilgannon is also a standout in the classroom and is probably a great pickup for an Ivy League team, as evidenced by his recent Cornell offer.

The season is almost upon us, so we'll continue to take a look at underappreciated players at each position. We've already hit all of the offensive positions and the defensive line, so we'll continue by taking a look at some of the most underappreciated linebackers in the state.