Five 2027 Linebackers/Edge Rushers With Breakout Potential

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school football season in the state of Tennessee has seen two weeks pass for all players to continue building and growing in their development and in a couple of weeks college evaluators will be extending new offers to recruits that are on their radars, whether that be from a pre-existing relationship or the player breaking out in to a entire new level of play</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One group in the state with the most recruiting <a href="https://prepredzone.com/tennessee/rankings/2027-watch-list/">breakout potential among the 2027 class</a> is the linebacker position, whether as a traditional second-level linebacker or someone on the outside playing as an edge rusher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We take a look at five linebackers (ILB/EDGE) in the 2027 recruiting cycle that have flown under the radar and are poised to take a next step in their developments this season and see a surge of momentum in their recruitments moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1.) Brentwood Academy LB [player_tooltip player_id='1318538' first='Roman' last='Jennings']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1318538"],"_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-68b91c652ef31"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ever since getting pushed into action as a true freshman, [player_tooltip player_id='1318538' first='Roman' last='Jennings'] has been on an upward trajectory as a player and that is something I expect to continue as he begins his junior season.<br><br>He has solid length being listed at 6-foot-2 and a strong frame. He is a downhill linebacker who attacks both ball carriers and quarterback with violent hits alike. Once he plants his foot and identifies where he needs to go, he shows good athleticism to get downhill and play to his strengths.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. ) Cannon County EDGE [player_tooltip player_id='1591156' first='Zeke' last='Walkup']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1591156"],"_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-68b91c652ef8c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A newer name on my radar, but [player_tooltip player_id='1591156' first='Zeke' last='Walkup'] does not disappoint. He plays a traditional defensive end role at Cannon County, but has the length and athleticism to stick as a 3-4 edge. He has a long 6-foot-4 frame with good acceleration when attacking the player in the backfield with the ball. He is a very willing run defender who has shown the ability to set the edge. He has shown field awareness which allows for him to maintain that edge, force turnovers, or deflect passes at the line of scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3.) Baylor EDGE [player_tooltip player_id='1357924' first='Hans' last='Emery Julien']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1357924"],"_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-68b91c652efdb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Transferring down from Canada this offseason, [player_tooltip player_id='1357924' first='Hans' last='Emery Julien'] has already made his impact well-known at Baylor. He is an explosive athlete with a long, wiry frame that includes a 6-foot-7 wingspan and plays with a endless motor. His length and relentless effort allows him to disengage from blocks and make game-wrecking plays off the edge. At the next level, he likely projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker/edge rusher that can make splash plays in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4.) Jackson Christian School LB Kelsey Rose Jr</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1580777"],"_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-68b923a3d7b50"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kelsey Rose Jr is an intriguing athlete that has played all over the field in his time at Jackson Christian, but projects best as a linebacker, where he is playing this fall. With his size and movement skills, he has the tools to develop into a quality player once he settles down at the position with some collegiate coaching. His athleticism allows for him to make plays all over the field and ball skills can complement that nicely. He might just be beginning to scratch the surface of the level of play that his potential could allow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5.) Battle Ground Academy LB [player_tooltip player_id='902961' first='Jayden' last='Cannon']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["902961"],"_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-68b923a3d7bd0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='902961' first='Jayden' last='Cannon'] is a stocky linebacker that helped clean up plays from the second level last season. He was moved around the formation that lined up from middle linebacker to edge rusher, all of which freed him up to get in space and attack the ball carrier. While he is primarily a downhill linebacker, he has played some tight end which adds potential with some ball skills. Additionally, he should continue to grow as a leader this year on and off the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->