2027 Rankings Update 4.0: Linebackers

<!-- 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-682ba1bac3d61"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we move closer to the heat of summer, the 2025 high school football offseason is in full swing. With that in mind, we have begun a new round of rankings updates. The most recent class to be updated is the incoming junior class of 2027. After officially releasing these rankings updates, I will now be breaking them down by position. With the offensive side of the ball already being covered, I have now turned my attention to the defensive side of the ball. After already covering the defensive line and edge defenders, 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-682ba32fa7c1d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1200577' first='Ty' last='Ashley'] continued to establish himself as the top linebacker in the state in his class with a strong sophomore year. He lines up at inside linebacker where he is dominant against the run. Ty does a great job of reading his keys then coming downhill in a hurry to make the tackle before the ball carrier can get going. He finished this past season with a team-high 116 tackles along with five tackles for loss in 11 games. Ashley also finished the year with three sacks and served as his team's backup quarterback, throwing one touchdown pass and scoring one rushing touchdown. Ty currently holds offers from Louisville and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect more to come his way 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":["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-682ba64a0b430"} --> <!-- 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 another linebacker who impressed as a sophomore. Fields lines up at inside linebacker where he is very impressive against the run. Tacori diagnoses the play quickly then uses his speed to burst through the running lane to make the tackle before the opposing offensive line has a chance to block him. He finished his sophomore year with 51 tackles in 14 games. Fields has also shown the ability to rush the passer and make plays in pass coverage, finishing last season with half a sack and one interception. Tacori currently holds offers from UT Martin, Marshall, and Southern Mississippi, and I expect his recruitment to continue to heat up over the next couple seasons. </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-682ba64a0b48a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='482999' first='Gage' last='Chapman'] has been on our radar for a while now and continued to stand out as a sophomore. Chapman lines up at middle linebacker where he is a reliable run stopper. He does a great job of reading his keys then using his lateral agility to flow sideline to sideline to get to the ball carrier. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he is a very reliable tackler, finishing this past season with 66 tackles in five games. He also makes an impact on offense, scoring one rushing touchdown as a sophomore. Chapman currently holds offers from Murray State and UT Martin, and I can see more coming his way 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":["652507"],"_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-682ba8f4d337b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='652507' first='Brody' last='Simpkins'] is a new addition to our rankings after moving to the Bluegrass State from Ohio this offseason. He was very productive as inside linebacker as a sophomore at Rock Hill, finishing the year with 101 tackles. Simpkins does a great job of coming downhill in a hurry and meeting the ball carrier before they can get going then finishing his tackles with a ton of physicality. He has also shown the ability to make plays against the pass, finishing this past season with two sacks and two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). Simpkins also made an impact on offense as a sophomore, running the ball 101 times for 518 yards and five touchdowns. Brody doesn't currently hold any offers but he has received some college interest and should be a player to keep an eye on this upcoming season. </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-682ba8f4d33f0"} --> <!-- 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='1200723' first='Crayson' last='Lafferty']. Lafferty was one of the most productive linebackers in the state last season, finishing the year with a team-leading 189 tackles and 18 tackles for loss in 13 games. Crayson has a true nose for the football, showing the ability to read his keys quickly then flow to the ball carrier with a sense of urgency. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he does a great job of running his feet through contact to secure the tackle. He also finished his sophomore year with 2.5 sacks and an interception, and made an impact on offense, scoring one rushing touchdown. Crayson doesn't currently hold any offers but he should definitely be a player to keep an eye on heading into his junior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->