Linebackers primed for a breakout season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this edition, we cover some linebackers who will be impactful for their teams in the upcoming season. They'll be standouts and it's time you get to know them. Who are they? Let's find out<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1523172"],"_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-67fc61b1b0bbd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cocci comes to Utah from New Jersey and will attend Skyline High. He is a two-way physical player with tremendous athletic upside. His primary position will be Linebacker. As a backer, he is best as an on-ball backer where he can be a battering ram. Cocci sheds blockers with ease and forces his physicality on the opposition with every play. He is a strong and quick athlete with good lateral movement. Cocci is an instinctive backer who diagnoses a play quickly and uses his high football IQ to make a play on the ball. He is an excellent tackler who has great form and limits big plays. Offensively, he's best as an H-back and he showcases excellent soft hands, his athletic traits shine as he can get the ball. Cocci has good ball-tracking skills and creating after the catch. He is a physical blocker who drives his defender back. Cocci will make an excellent short-yardage back and goal-line back. The 2027 athlete is an intriguing prospect due to his versatility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1563975"],"_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-67fc61b1b0c20"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Perkins is best as an on-ball backer and he is quick and decisive. He showcases good lateral quickness and has exceptional closing speed and that quick burst allows him to be impactful with every opportunity. Perkins shows great instincts, reactionary skills and active hands. He is a heat-seeking missile who does an excellent job of getting through the line. Perkins has exceptional direct speed and when he plants his back foot and goes, he gets to the ball carrier quickly and makes plays on the ball. He's an exciting backer for the 2026 class and should get recruited regionally.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1244928"],"_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-67fc61b1b0c72"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brown has a good frame and should get to 215 lbs. He is an instinctive athlete and is best as an on-ball backer. Brown shows a good first step and shows a good bend at the hip as a rusher. When in pursuit of the ball carrier, he showcases a good ability to shed blockers and has a quick acceleration while displaying good physicality. Brown is a good tackler, showcases good vision, holds the edge,e and keeps his lane integrity. Brown is an exciting backer for the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1084184"],"_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-67fc61b1b0cc1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Armstrong has a good frame to add on weight and get to over 200 lbs with relative ease and minimally impacting his athleticism. He is an instinctive backer who has good lateral quickness and good explosive burst. Armstrong showcases good bend as a rusher and a good form tackler. He showcases good depth in coverage and doesn't get lost in space, he shows good vision and reactionary skills, has good, active hands, and can be an on-ball or off-ball backer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Stafford Small","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"195","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Springville","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67fc61b1b0d7d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Small has a good frame and should get to about 210 lbs without any issues. He showcases good pursuit as a rusher and has a good first step and closing speed. Small is a good tackler with good form and has closing speed to get to the ball carrier. He has quick reactionary skills and showcases good footwork and the ability to be used in pass coverage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those were five Linebackser who should make an impact this offseason and perform well under those Friday night lights. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->