2027 LBs: Field Generals and Hybrid Ball Hawks

Moving over to the defensive side of the ball here in eastern PA. Today we have some kids who play all over the defense, commanding and being that sides quarterbacks. We have chess pieces, schematic gems, and gameplan wreckers.    [player_tooltip player_id='1091309' first='Rick' last='Brown'] is an athlete. He flies around makes reads against the run and is fluid in his movements in pass coverage. Hes a hybrid player, similar to Harold Perkins (LSU) he can line up guarding slot receivers and TEs, he can line up coming off the edge, or he can line up over the A gap and blitz. Jack of all trades, and he's more than adequate as an athlete to do these things at a high level. Hes got good length but really likes to dip underneath blockers. When he reacts in the run game he flies down hill often times being the first to the ball carrier. He has the length and height to add on more weight to his frame to become a true OLB for a power 4 program.     Brandon Lockley is a tackling machine. On his highlight tape you can see the feel Lockley has for the game. He has high level movement ability and high level play recognition that pair well together for an unstoppable force on the field. A common theme between a lot of the guys on this list is they are flexible in there position, Lockley plays a little of everything, SS, slot, and OLB. Lockley has the size and ability to be a true Mike LB at the next level but there's other clear paths for him. Either way this is a kid you want on your defense, and he has the mentality and athletic ability to be an absolute stud in 2 years.     [player_tooltip player_id='492271' first='John' last='Boggs'] passes the eye test as a division 1 linebacker. The height is good and he can easily add a few more pounds to his frame. Boggs plays strong and physical. Boggs has some OLB versatility as well. He pairs his physicality with a wicked first step and has great reactionary instincts. When I watch Boggs I just get the feeling of good player. When he gets under blocks he locks out and rips, in the pass game he can drop back into a hook curl and make a play on the football. Boggs is the complete package at the LB position and is a perfect player alongside his teammate Brandon Lockley. Expect to hear Boggs name a ton in the next season.     [player_tooltip player_id='489574' first='Sammy' last='Dantonka'] is probably my favorite player on this list. The Second Team All-Catholic selection is flying under radars. You want to talk about someone who does it all, while listed at OLB for Cardinal O'hara, standing at 6'2” 215 pounds Dantonka does it all. He flies around matches up well with anyone from slot receivers to tight ends to running backs. What stuck out to me was the athletic ability paired with the long dangly arms. Dantonka has vines for arms pairing well when he's rushing off the edge or is swatting balls out of the air in coverage. How Dantonka has no offers yet blows my mind, as this is at a minimum a G5 Player.     I've written an excerpt on [player_tooltip player_id='953131' first='Drew' last='Clancy'] already in my set of underrated 2027 defenders, well i'm closing this out with Clancy as well. When I watch him I just see someone with a veteran feel of the game, a true Quarterback of the defense for that Kennett team, I have no doubts on Clancy as he possesses the size, the smarts, and the athletic ability to be a FBS linebacker. I see glaring similarities to Shaun Dolac in the way Clancy plays and i'm sure a team will be pulling the trigger soon.

Moving over to the defensive side of the ball here in eastern PA. Today we have some kids who play all over the defense, commanding and being that sides quarterbacks. We have chess pieces, schematic gems, and gameplan wreckers.