2028 Rankings Update: LB

<!-- 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-686d7f5ec9f82"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get closer and closer to the start of the 2025 high school football season, we have begun a new round of rankings updates. The latest class to be updated in the state of Kentucky is the class of 2028. With these rankings being posted, I have been taking the past week to break 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 already taken care of , here are 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-686d7f5ecb985"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1174159' first='Thomas' last='Sizemore'] is one of the top overall players in the state in his class. Sizemore lines up at inside linebacker where he is very impressive against the run. He does a great job of reading his keys quickly then using his speed to blow by opposing offensive linemen to get to the ball carrier in a hurry. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he is a very reliable tackler, finishing his freshman year with 67 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss in 14 games. Thomas also finished this past season with three interceptions and a sack, and also scored a rushing touchdown. Sizemore currently holds offers from Kentucky and Marshall, and I expect more to come his way over the next few years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1638830"],"_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-686d831d5d06d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1638830' first='Ben' last='Schlarman'] is a player who stood out when breaking down freshman year film. Schlarman lines up at outside linebacker where he is at his best against the run. He plays with a ton of physicality when taking on blocks, showing the ability to stack and shed opposing offensive linemen with ease. Once he sheds the block, Schlarman has shown the speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackle in the open field. Ben finished this past season with 24 tackles and three tackles for loss in 14 games. He also finished his junior year with half a sack. Schlarman currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky 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":["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-686d831d5d0c9"} --> <!-- 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 another outside linebacker who impressed as a freshman. He is a very dangerous pass rusher off the edge, showing the speed to blow by opposing offensive tackles with ease on his way to the quarterback. Hawkins has also showed the bend to dip down and avoid being blocked while rushing the passer. He finished this past season with nine sacks in 11 games. Hawkins also finished his freshman year with 47 tackles and five tackles for loss, and caught four passes for 43 yards. Maddox doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who college coaches should keep a close 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":["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-686d85c260091"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1652072' first='Lincoln' last='Tomlinson'] is a player who made an immediate impact as a freshman. Tomlinson lines up at outside linebacker where he is dominant against the run. He does a great job of diagnosing the play quickly then using his speed to get to the ball carrier before they can get going. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he does a good job of running his feet through contact to secure the tackle, finishing this past season with 107 tackles and 19 tackles for loss in 12 games. He has also proven to be reliable when asked to blitz, timing the snap count perfectly to shoot through his gap to get to the passer, finishing his freshman year with five sacks. Tomlinson also came away with one interception and returned it for a touchdown as a freshman. Lincoln has received some college interest and I expect his recruitment to continue to heat up 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-686d85c2600e6"} --> <!-- 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='1638815' first='JJ' last='Keyes']. JJ lines up at outside linebacker where he is very reliable against the run. He does a great job of holding his ground at the end of the line of scrimmage then flowing to the ball carrier in a hurry once he sees where the ball is going. Keyes finishes his tackles with a ton of physicality once he gets to the ball carrier. JJ finished this past season with 42 tackles and three tackles for loss. He has also shown the ability to drop into zone coverage and be effective against the pass. Keyes has received some college interest and I expect him to be a player to continue to watch over the next few seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->