2027 Rankings Update 2.0: 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":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cd4258af21f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we approach the end of August, the 2024 high school football season is finally here! With that in mind, we are currently in another round of rankings updates for the state of Kentucky. After already updating the classes of 2025 and 2026, the class of 2027 rankings update has now been officially published. With that being said, I wanted to take the next week or so to break down these rankings 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 line already taken care of, 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-66cd4258b0593"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='378839' first='Garyon' last='Hobbs'] has established himself as the top overall player in the state in his class. He had a strong freshman season, finishing the year with 90 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and seven sacks in 15 games. Hobbs does a great job of reading his keys and flowing downhill in a hurry to make the tackle before the ball carrier can get going. He is also a reliable blitzer, timing the snap perfectly to burst into the backfield before the offensive line has a chance to block him. Hobbs also looks to be one of the primary ball carriers on offense for CAL this season. Garyon currently holds offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue, Toledo, Kent State, Miami (OH), and Indiana, and I expect more to come his way as he is a Power 4 caliber prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1284257"],"_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-66cd4258b05ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1284257' first='Tacori' last='Fields'] is a player who has seen his stock rise following a strong offseason. Fields lines up at inside linebacker where he is very reliable against the run. He reads his keys quickly and bursts out of his stance to get to the ball carrier in a hurry. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he explodes through contact and finishes his tackles with a ton of physicality. Fields picked up an offer from Marshall this summer and I expect more to come his way 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":["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-66cd4258b062b"} --> <!-- 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 is coming off a strong freshman year. He finished last season with a team-high 128 tackles along with 11 tackles for loss in 13 games. Anderson has a nose for the football and has shown the ability to use his speed to run sideline to sideline to get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make tackles in the open field. He has also shown the ability to rush the passer, finishing last season with three sacks. Anderson doesn't currently hold any offers but he is 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-66cd4258b0664"} --> <!-- 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 another linebacker who had a solid freshman season. He played last season at Paintsville where he led the team with 132 tackles along with nine tackles for loss in 11 games. Lafferty plays with a sense of urgency, reading his keys quickly then getting to the ball carrier quickly to make the tackle before they can get going. He also has shown the ability to make plays in coverage, finishing last season with three interceptions. Lafferty is off to a hot start at Martin County, finishing Week 1 with 16 tackles and a sack. Crayson doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player 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":["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-66cd4258b069b"} --> <!-- 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='871920' first='Austyn' last='Lawless']. Lawless had a strong freshman year at outside linebacker, finishing with 101 tackles and 12 tackles for loss in 14 games. He is very reliable against the run, showing the ability to read his keys then flow to the ball carrier quickly to make the tackle. Lawless has also shown the ability to rush the passer, finishing last season with six sacks. Austyn started off his sophomore year on a strong note as he was named the Defensive MVP in Somerset's victory over Perry County Central in the Alton Blakey Bowl. Lawless doesn't 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='378834' first='Jayden' last='Justice'] (Pikeville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='482999' first='Gage' last='Chapman'] (Murray)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='1200572' first='DJ' last='Hightower'] (John Hardin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='1200568' first='Brody' last='Calhoun'] (Trigg County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='1200651' first='Leron' last='Jackson'] (Iroquois)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->