2027 Rankings: Linebackers Bringing The Heat

There are times when evaluating players feels a lot easier. When the impact certain guys in a positional group is more cut and dry.   The linebackers in the Class of 2027 have put us to the test.   The 21 players we've included in our most recent update are so developed, disruptive and dangerous as sophomores than we had a much more difficult time breaking them into tiers. You better believe we had a lot of revisions along the way.   We expect that trend to continue for the next two years. This crop is super-talented and their skills are only going to continue to improve. Before we start breaking down the class, though, let's look at it from a global perspective.     Breaking Down the Top Five   [player_tooltip player_id='1036752' first='Owen' last='Bex'] Trinity Collegiale   During what can only be described as a mash-up offensive year for the Titans, Bex got to try his hand at receiver and hauled in 14 receptions for 312 yards and four touchdowns. But his primary job as an outside linebacker is so much more important. Last fall, he had 17 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles to go along with 49 tackles in 11 games. He'll enter his junior season with 105 career stops and 31 tackles for loss.    [player_tooltip player_id='1036769' first='Maleek' last='Dukes'] Kingstree   As a freshman, Dukes led the Blazers in sacks. As a sophomore, he led them in tackles. In watching the latest version of him play live and on film, we're seeing a picture of consistency. He covers a ton of ground from sideline to sideline and has the type of pursuit skills to make up for others who might not be in the right position. He pitches in on special teams coverages and returns and his affinity for hitting people is prevalent. Not surprisingly, his best two games of the year came in late September and spurred a massive Blazers' turnaround.    [player_tooltip player_id='1036755' first='Kendaris' last='Bailey'] Gaffney   We don't say this lightly: Bailey may very well be the most ferocious hitter in the entire class. His total tackle numbers didn't jump like we thought they might from his freshman season to his sophomore one, but his tackles for loss figures doubled, he piled up eight sacks and he left more than a couple players looking for the license plate digits of the truck that just ran them over. Bailey got his first two Division-I offers last week. They won't be his last.    [player_tooltip player_id='1172360' first='Kelvion' last='Manning'] Dillon   Manning's Wildcat teammates may very well describe him as the ultimately table setter. Because while [player_tooltip player_id='1025771' first='Keryien' last='Brown'] (158 tackles) and [player_tooltip player_id='1267317' first='Daniel' last='Capehart'] (120) both blew up last fall, the Dillon defense looks entirely different without Manning's diversity in that mix. He was often so disruptive away from the stat sheet that teams were forced to concentrate on him first and foremost. All three of those guys are back next year, and all three of them should eat again.   [player_tooltip player_id='1271263' first='KJ' last='Burg'] South Pointe   The writing was on the wall when we added Burg to the rankings for the first time last May. He had a tremendous offseason after putting up 20 stops as a freshman. Since? He's risen up our rankings each of the last two updates. Why? Let's start with the hybrid's 90 solo tackles last fall. Or his 134 total stops. Or his 11 tackles for loss. Or his recent recruiting launch. Or the fact that he's set up to continue to stand out on a defense full of stars.     Five LBs Ready To Make A Jump   [player_tooltip player_id='1172368' first='Andrew' last='Massey'] Hilton Head    Massey sent a signal in the season opener when he piled up 10 tackles, two fumble recoveries, two tackles for loss, a safety, an interception and a defensive touchdown in the blowout win over Stall. There was no way he could sustain that type of production - and missing three games didn't help - but the hybrid's numbers were pretty impressive, nonetheless. When he was on, the Seahawk defense looked elite.    [player_tooltip player_id='1274260' first='Bryson' last='Bowers'] West Ashley   The Wildcats' next head coach is going to have some nice pieces at his disposal, and along the defensive side of the ball, Bowers is among those with a really high ceiling. He missed some time due to an injury last fall but still put up 54 total tackles and four tackles for loss. He's got some experience at running back, as well, but Bowers' biggest upside is an a strong-as-all-getup middle linebacker.    [player_tooltip player_id='1603691' first='Jackson' last='Ross'] Hammond (pictured)   The Skyhawks' championship legacy doesn't happen simply because they want it to. Players like Ross, however, help drive that bus. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound linebacker led the team in tackles. He had 11.5 sacks. There were also 14 tackles for loss. And a couple picks. He's got college athletics in his blood twice over, and Ross looks the part of joining that legacy. You know, in a couple more years.    [player_tooltip player_id='1603712' first='Jordan' last='Davis'] AC Flora   Davis can go from bull in a China shop to a schematically sound outside linebacker in the blink of an eye. Much of that is because at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds, he possesses the athletic ability to drive through would be blockers when necessary but also has a clear understanding of what his job really is: To put guys on the ground. Davis finished his sophomore season with 112 total tackles and left us little choice but to move him significantly up the rankings on his first appearance.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172365' first='Crawford' last='Poole'] Cheraw   The outside linebacker has clearly been taking advantage of his early playing time with the Braves. He's got 27 tackles for loss in 24 career games and as a sophomore decided he was going to be among the 2027 statewide leaders in sacks (11). His emergence helped Cheraw double its win total from the prior season, but more importantly, the Braves were peaking right along with him down the back stretch. We think it carries right on into next fall.    Four Dark Horse Linebackers To Watch   [player_tooltip player_id='1271256' first='Major' last='Workman'] JL Mann    After a monster year on the junior varsity in 2023, Workman was expected to do the same thing as a sophomore on the varsity. However, he injured his knee in the season opener and was ruled out for the rest of the season. He's already well into his rehab and should be back up to form by the time next fall rolls around. So while it's been relatively quiet, we don't expect that to continue much longer.    [player_tooltip player_id='1603881' first='Darius' last='Dixon'] Keenan   Dixon is one of those players that makes high school football so much fun to watch. Because even though he's listed as a mere 5-foot-7, he could put together an hour-long reel of him being at least close to just about every defensive snap. He racked up 126 total tackles as a sophomore and seemed to make a point of busting up interior offensive linemen from some pretty good programs along the way. We're glued to his next steps.   [player_tooltip player_id='1604041' first='Nathan' last='Peracki'] Mullins   Peracki was instrumental in helping the Auctioneers go from a winless team in 2023 to a squad that pulled off seven victories last fall. His numbers tell a big chunk of that story. As a freshman, he had 46 tackles and four tackles for loss. The next time around, he doubled up on both (93 tackles, 10 tackles for loss). Mullins went from allowing 40 points per game down to a much more respectable 22.5.   [player_tooltip player_id='1604055' first='Shane' last='Hunter Dale'] Crescent   Dale does a little bit of everything for the Tigers. He can line up as a middle linebacker or slide to the outside. He can drop into a safety look or crowd the edge. And he occasionally is in pass coverage. He's been really solid in all facets, and as the 5-foot-10, 150 pounder continues to gain some size and experience, his role could become more defined. If not, we already know he can impact games in plenty of different looks.

There are times when evaluating players feels a lot easier. When the impact certain guys in a positional group is more cut and dry.