These 5 LB'S in the updated 2027 rankings have something to prove

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be examining five players (per article) and sharing my expectations for them this upcoming season. All of these players are in the updated PRZ MD Class of 2027 high school football prospect rankings.   Note: This article features an athlete from WASHINGTON, D.C. (they're included in the rankings).    Washington is a tough, instinctive middle linebacker who currently thrives in run support. He demonstrates range and physicality, serving as a reliable presence in the middle of the defense. He actively pursues the ball and has a great motor. Washington does a good job of both maintaining gap responsibility and making sound tackles.   What I'd like to see from him this upcoming season: As he gets more opportunities, I'd like to see more open-field tackles and see how he is a blitzer. Overall, his highlights show that he consistently scrapes laterally and works through traffic with good pad level and footwork.     Mason is a fast, instinctive, and violent linebacker who has a nose for disrupting plays in the backfield. I like his ability to time snaps, shoot gaps, and close on quarterbacks and ball carriers. Mason is a solid zone defender against the passing game as well. He's a strong tackler who delivers the blow and wraps up nicely. Mason possesses range and flexibility as a linebacker, capable of playing both outside linebacker and inside linebacker roles.   What I'd like to see from him this season: I'd like to see more plays of him stacking and shedding against blocks. It would provide more insight into his ability to handle traffic. I love the zone coverage, but I'd like to see how he fares in man coverage (that may not be a part of his team's scheme). Overall, he has excellent read-and-react skills and will be one of the top linebackers in the IAC once again this season.     While Lassiter may be undersized by prototypical standards, he compensates with explosiveness, quick decision-making and physical play. His highlights showcase his ability to disrupt the line of scrimmage and finish plays with authority. I'm impressed with Lassiter's timing when it comes to blitzing.   What I'd like to see from him this season: I'd like to see more sideline-to-sideline plays that'll display more of his range. Wouldn't mind a few plays of him in man-coverage. Lassiter is a talented run-stopper and interior blitzer and should make an even bigger impact for St. Frances Academy this season.     Dykes is a long, rangy athlete who plays a versatile rover for the team. You can find him lining up at both safety and outside linebacker. His highlights demonstrate that he possesses instincts as a defender, is disciplined against misdirection, and is effective against both the run and the pass. Dykes is very comfortable in pass coverage and is more than willing to make contact at the catch point.   What I'd like to see from him this year: I'd like to see him become more of a physical tackler this season. He's a little on the lean side, so if he gained some weight and is stronger, that would be a plus. I'd also like to see how he handles engaging and shedding plots. But hey, it's not his fault that he's too quick for linemen to get their hands on. Though he's still developing, his length and movement skills make him an intriguing hybrid defender.     Tillery is a compact, physical linebacker who lines up in multiple spots across the second level, including edge, middle and outside linebacker. His highlights demonstrate that he possesses a strong motor, is physical at the point of attack, and consistently shows great effort in pursuit. Tillery is a good run-stopper and a reliable open-field tackler. He's comfortable playing off the edge, inside or in space. His coaches trust him with a few roles on defense.   What I'd like to see from him this season: I'd like to see some more plays of him in coverage, zone or man, to see how he reacts to the ball. Seeing how he handles consistent engagement with offensive linemen would be valuable in the evaluation process. He's not the biggest, but he's a dependable, assignment-sound linebacker whose playing style is disciplined, physical, and fast.    <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/these-5-wrs-in-the-updated-2027-rankings-have-something-to-prove/">These 5 WR's in the updated 2027 rankings have something to prove</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/these-5-rbs-in-the-updated-2027-rankings-have-something-to-prove/">These 5 RB's in the updated 2027 rankings have something to prove</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/these-5-qbs-in-the-updated-2027-rankings-have-something-to-prove/">These 5 QB's in the updated 2027 rankings have something to prove</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/these-5-edges-in-the-updated-27-rankings-have-something-to-prove/">These 5 edges in the updated 2027 rankings have something to prove</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/these-5-ol-in-the-updated-2027-rankings-have-something-to-prove/">These 5 OL in the updated 2027 rankings have something to prove</a>

Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be examining five players (per article) and sharing my expectations for them this upcoming season. All of these players are in the updated PRZ MD Class of 2027 high school football prospect rankings.