2028 Rankings Release: Linebacker

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2028","_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-67dddc5d2ad9e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get deeper into the month of March, the 2025 high school football season is in full swing! With that in mind, we will now be beginning another round of rankings updates. To kick off this round of updates, we have released our first rankings for the class of 2028. With these rankings being officially posted, I have taken the past week to break them 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 already taken care of, here our top linebackers in the class of 2028 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1174159"],"_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-67dddc5d2c9a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1174159' first='Thomas' last='Sizemore'] established himself as one of the top players in the state in his class with a very impressive freshman season. Sizemore lines up at inside linebacker where he is very reliable against the run. He does a great job of reading his keys then exploding downhill out of his stance in a hurry to meet the ball carrier to make the tackle before they can get going. Thomas finished this past season with 67 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss in 14 games. He also showed the ability to make plays against the pass, finishing the year with three interceptions and one sack. Sizemore also scored a rushing touchdown on offense as a freshman. Thomas currently holds an offer from Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he is a Power 4/Division I caliber prospect with room to continue to develop. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1288478"],"_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-67dde00cb31a1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1288478' first='Maddox' last='Hawkins'] is a player who caught my attention quickly in his first season of high school football. Hawkins lines up at outside linebacker where he is a dangerous pass rusher off the edge. He does a great job of using his speed and pass rush moves to blow by opposing offensive tackles with ease on his way to the quarterback. Hawkins finished his freshman year with nine sacks in 11 games. He also showed the ability to stop the run, finishing the season with 47 tackles and five tackles for loss. Maddox doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be 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":["1638815"],"_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-67dde1052c671"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1638815' first='JJ' last='Keyes'] is a linebacker who caught my attention when breaking down freshman year film. Keyes lines up at outside linebacker where he is very reliable against the run. He does a great job of reading the play quickly then fighting through blocks on his way to the ball carrier. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he has proven to be a very reliable open field tackler, finishing this past season with 42 tackles and three tackles for loss in 13 games. Keyes also showed the ability to drop into coverage where he can play zone coverage and also cover with a receiver or tight end in man coverage when needed. JJ will be a player to keep an eye on 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":["1516140"],"_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-67dde1052c6c5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1516140' first='Lincoln' last='Tomlinson'] had an outstanding freshman year at outside linebacker. Tomlinson plays with a very high motor, showing the ability to run sideline to sideline to get to the ball carrier in a hurry. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he does a great job of running his feet through contact to secure the tackle. Tomlinson finished this past season with 107 tackles and 19 tackles for loss in 12 games. He also showed the ability to make plays against the pass, finishing the year with five sacks and an interception. Lincoln should be a player for college coaches to keep an eye on over the next three years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["478102"],"_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-67dde3701c021"} --> <!-- 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 2028 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='478102' first='Bode' last='Darland']. Darland showed a ton of versatility as a freshman, splitting time between inside linebacker and defensive end. When playing linebacker, Bode was very impressive against the run, showing the ability to read his plays then flow to the ball carrier with a sense of urgency. He also showed the strength to fight through blocks on his way to the ball carrier and proved to be a reliable tackler once he got to them. Darland finished this past season with 29 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss in 12 games while also recording two sacks. Bode will be an intriguing prospect to keep an eye on as he continues to develop over the next few seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->