2027 Rankings Update 3.0: Linebacker

<!-- 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":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-679c09530835e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we enter a new high school football off-season in the state of Kentucky, we are in a new round of rankings updates. The most recent class to be updated is the class of 2027. With this update being officially posted, I will be taking the next couple weeks or so to break our rankings down 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 and edge defenders already being 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":["1200577"],"_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-679c095309aef"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1200577' first='Ty' last='Ashley'] climbed up our rankings with a very impressive sophomore year. Ashley lines up at inside linebacker where he is very reliable against the run. He does a great job of reading his keys then flowing to the ball quickly to get to the ball carrier to make the tackle in the open field. Ty finished this past season with a team-high 116 tackles and five tackles for loss in 11 games. He is also very reliable when being asked to blitz, showing the ability to time the snap count and use his speed to shoot through his gap before opposing offensive linemen have a chance to block him. Ty finished his sophomore year with three sacks. He also served as his team's backup quarterback this past season, throwing one passing touchdown and scoring one rushing touchdown. Ashley currently holds offers from Louisville and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more to come his way as he is a Division I 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-679c0ab480d6a"} --> <!-- 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 linebacker who jumped onto my radar this past offseason and continued to impress during the regular season. Fields lines up at inside linebacker where he is very impressive against the run. Tacori explodes out of his stance and meets the ball carrier in the gap before they can get going. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he runs his feet through contact, not allowing for any extra yards to be gained. Fields finished this past season with 51 tackles in 14 games. He is also reliable against the pass, finishing the year with half a sack and one interception. Tacori currently holds an offer from Marshall 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":["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-679c1db64060c"} --> <!-- 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 a player who has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to impress as a sophomore. Lafferty lines up at inside linebacker where he is very impressive against the run. Crayson reads the play quickly and comes downhill in a hurry to make the tackle before the ball carrier can get going. He finished this past season as the statewide leader in tackles with 189 along with 18 tackles for loss in 13 games. Lafferty also finished the year with 2.5 sacks and one interception, and made an impact on offense, carrying the ball 38 times for 155 yards and a touchdown. Crayson doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who college coaches should have their eyes on heading into his junior year. </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-679c1db640677"} --> <!-- 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 another player who has been high on our radar for a while now and continued to stand out this past season. Anderson lines up at outside linebacker where he is very reliable against the run. He diagnoses the play quickly then uses his speed and high motor to run sideline to sideline to make tackles in the open field. Jeremiah finished his sophomore year with 128 tackles and six tackles for loss in 13 games. He also finished the season with one sack. Anderson doesn't currently hold any offers but I wouldn't be surprised to see some come his way soon as he definitely has the talent to play somewhere at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["482999"],"_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-679c1e9b2653a"} --> <!-- 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='482999' first='Gage' last='Chapman']. Gage was only able to play in five games this past season due to injury but was very productive when on the field, finishing the year with 66 tackles. Chapman lines up at inside linebacker where he has proven to have a great nose for the football. He reads the play quickly and then uses his speed to flow to the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackle in the open field. Chapman also made an impact on offense at running back this past season, scoring one rushing touchdown. Gage recently picked up his first offer from Murray State and I can see more coming his way as he has the t</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->