2027 Rankings Update 5.0: LB

<!-- 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-68829fb1102a3"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2025 high school football season quickly approaching, we are currently in another new round of rankings updates. The most recent class to be updated in the state of Kentucky is the class of 2027. With our new Top 150 posted, I have been breaking these 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 taken care of, here 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-6882a4850fc49"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1200577' first='Ty' last='Ashley'] is coming off a very impressive sophomore season in which he led his team with 116 tackles along with five tackles for loss in 11 games. He lines up at inside linebacker where he is dominant against the run, showing the ability to read his keys then use his speed to run sideline to sideline to make tackles in the open field. Ashley has also proven to be an effective blitzer, showing the ability to time the snap count perfectly to shoot through his gap before the opposing offensive line can react. He finished this past season with three sacks. Ty has also served as his team's backup quarterback over the past two seasons, throwing one touchdown pass and scoring one rushing touchdown as a sophomore. Ashley currently holds offers from Louisville, Eastern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Kent State, and Murray State, and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Division I caliber linebacker 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-6882a4850fcbb"} --> <!-- 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 continued to stand out this past season. Fields lines up at inside linebacker where he is very reliable against the run. He reads the play quickly then explodes out of his stance and uses his speed to come downhill in a hurry to meet the ball carrier before they can get going. Fields is a very reliable tackler once he gets to the ball carrier, finishing his sophomore season with 51 tackles in 14 games. He has also shown the ability to rush the passer and drop into coverage, finishing last season with half a sack and one interception. Tacori currently holds offers from Marshall, Louisville, Toledo, UT Martin, and Southern Mississippi, 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":["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-6882a4850fd13"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='482999' first='Gage' last='Chapman'] was only able to play in five games last season but he was very productive when on the field, finishing the year with 66 tackles. Chapman lines up at middle linebacker where he does a great job of reading his keys then using his lateral movement to flow to the ball carrier with ease, regardless of which direction they are going. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he does a great job of running his feet through contact to secure the tackle and not allow for any extra yards to be gained. Chapman also scored one rushing touchdown as a sophomore. Gage currently holds offers from UT Martin and Murray State, and I expect more to come his way over the next two seasons. </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-6882a4cc5482d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='652507' first='Brody' last='Simpkins'] will be one of the top linebackers in the state in his class after moving to Ashland this offseason. As a sophomore at Rock Hill (OH), Simpkins lined up at inside linebacker where he was very impressive against the run, showing the ability to read the play quickly then use his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry. Once he gets to the ball carrier, Simpkins explodes through contact and finishes his tackles with a ton of physicality. Simpkins finished last season with 101 tackles. He also proved to be reliable against the pass, finishing this past season with two sacks and two interceptions, returning one of them for a touchdown. Brody also played a key role on offense as a sophomore, running the ball 101 times for 518 yards and five touchdowns while also catching nine passes for 103 yards. Simpkins recently picked up his first offer from Morehead State and I expect a lot of eyes to be on him this 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-6882a88ba3b4f"} --> <!-- 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 more productive linebackers in the state, regardless of class, last season, finishing the year with 189 tackles and 18 tackles for loss in 13 games. Crayson lines up at inside linebacker where he does a great job of reading his keys then flowing to the ball accordingly. He has shown the strength to fight through blocks with ease on his way to the ball carrier and does a great job of securing the tackle and not allowing for any extra yards once he gets there. Lafferty also finished this past season with 2.5 sacks and an interception, and made an impact on offense, running the ball 38 times for 155 yards and a touchdown. Crayson has received some college interest and I expect his recruitment to continue to heat up heading into his junior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->