Fab 50 Breakdown: Linebackers

Recency bias is real, of course. We often attach greater meaning to what we've seen of late and even have to swerve to avoid hyperbole.   When we were picking our Fab 50 team, the conversation at linebacker put us to the test.   Our nine selections all had monster season, of course. But what all of them had in common was success from start to finish, including four whose 2024 campaigns included a state championship. We weren't immune to what each of these nine players meant to their teams.   Or their impact on the stat's football scene.   [player_tooltip player_id='1012706' first='Josh' last='Smith'] | Dutch Fork, 2025    Key numbers: 96 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble   About: After starting as a more traditional defensive end as a junior, Smith made the look a floating outside linebacker look effortless. The South Carolina signee was the most explosive member of the state's best defense.     [player_tooltip player_id='624354' first='Cam'Rich' last='Smith'] | Spartanburg, 2025   Key numbers: 135 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, one forced fumble, one interception   About: Smith finished his career playing one more game on his home turf during the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas after spending the last three seasons proving he was one of the very best linebackers in the state. He's versatile enough to cover pass catchers and dangerous enough as a pass rusher to wreck a backfield.     [player_tooltip player_id='809745' first='Max' last='Moorman'] | Oceanside Collegiate, 2025   Key numbers: 114 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, two interceptions, 11 pass break-ups   About: Moorman burst onto the scene as a sophomore, when he helped lead a stout Landsharks squad to a Class 2A title. He then helped repeat the act as a senior at the Class 3A level. He put up eight of his tackles in the championship win over Belton-Honea Path. He put up 211 tackles over the course of his last two varsity seasons.    [player_tooltip player_id='605522' first='Andrew' last='Ruppe'] | Gaffney, 2025   Key numbers: 77 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles   About: The prototypical middle linebacker became a weekly name to watch in the Upstate as Gaffney made a run to the Class 5A, Division II Upper State final while playing six super-close and often relatively low-scoring games along the way. Ruppe was a Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl honoree who had an interception in that game.    [player_tooltip player_id='150043' first='Brett' last='Young'] | Clinton, 2025   Key numbers: 112 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, three interceptions, seven QB hurries   About: During the Red Devils' nine-game winning streak that ended with a Class 2A state championship, Young was a dynamic player who always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. His large number of stops was a key, but his role in six turnovers was even bigger in terms of getting two-for ones with field position and quick offensive points.     [player_tooltip player_id='1316823' first='Dru' last='Darby'] (pictured) | Dorman, 2025   Key numbers: 62 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, six sacks, three pass break-ups   About: Spend a few minutes watching Darby's film and you'll see exactly why he made this squad. He was the biggest reason the Cavaliers won three of their six games. His ability to tattoo players impacted more than one snap. As a result, a three-win 2023 Dorman squad doubled its win total and headed back to the playoffs.     [player_tooltip player_id='605531' first='Will' last='Massey'] | Northwestern, 2025   Key numbers: 97 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, five pass break-ups   About: Gritty doesn't begin to describe Massey's approach to this sport. Because while he was often ignored by playing for a Northwestern squad that average seven touchdowns per game, the senior played like every snap was for a state championship. Eventually, it was, and the Trojans could largely thank Massey for earning a ring.     [player_tooltip player_id='1157988' first='Aakil' last='Brown'] | South Pointe, 2025   Key numbers: 92 tackles, 35 tackles for loss, 24 sacks, six forced fumbles   About: We know exactly what you're thinking. We didn't believe Brown's numbers either - until we watched his entire film catalog. Brown's sack total included 14 in the playoffs alone. Daniel won't soon forget him, and neither will Westside, whom he had three sacks and four tackles for loss against in the Upper State final.     [player_tooltip player_id='1249737' first='Wyatt' last='Ward'] | JL Mann, 2025   Key numbers: 132 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, three sacks, eight QB hurries   About: Unsurprisingly, Ward had twice as many double-digit tackle games than he did single-digit ones. What's more, his two biggest production nights in that category came in Mann's two closest contests of the season, an August loss to Gaffney and a win over Daniel the following week. Ward's a gamer whose motor never powered down.

Recency bias is real, of course. We often attach greater meaning to what we've seen of late and even have to swerve to avoid hyperbole.