2028 Rankings Update 2.0: 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-692f6f793cbf6"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we head into the month of December, we have entered the next round of ranking updates in the state of Kentucky. The first class to be updated in this round is the class of 2028. With that being said, I have been taking the past week to break down these rankings 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 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-692f6f793e42d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1174159' first='Thomas' last='Sizemore'] has continued to separate himself as the top linebacker in the state in his class this season. Sizemore lines up at inside linebacker where he is very impressive against the run. He has a true nose for the football, showing the ability to diagnose the play quickly then use his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he is a very reliable tackler, recording 74 tackles and four tackles for loss in 12 games this season. Thomas currently holds offers from Kentucky and Marshall, and I expect more to come his way as he is a true Division I/Power 4 caliber linebacker prospect</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-692f6f793e481"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1638830' first='Ben' last='Schlarman'] caught our attention as a freshman and continued to impress this year. He lined up at outside linebacker where he proved to be very reliable against the run. Ben does a great job of reading the play then using his speed to flow to the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackle before they can get going. He finished his sophomore season with 55 tackles and nine tackles for loss in 12 games. Schlarman also came away with one interception and returned it for a touchdown, and scored a rushing touchdown this season. Ben currently holds any offers from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way as he continues to develop 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":["1907207"],"_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-692f7330eec5d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1907207' first='Jess' last='Officer'] jumped onto our radar with a very impressive sophomore season. Officer lined up at inside linebacker where he was dominant against the run. He does a great job of reading his keys then coming downhill to get 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 and finishes his tackles with a ton of physicality. Officer finished the season with a team-leading 100 tackles along with one tackle for loss in 10 games. He also recorded one sack and an interception this season. Jess doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who college coaches should have on their radar going into his junior year. </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-692f7415c37b2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After a strong freshman year, [player_tooltip player_id='1288478' first='Maddox' last='Hawkins'] picked up right where he left off this season. He lined up at outside linebacker where he was very impressive against the run. Hawkins does a great job of reading the play quickly then using his strength to shed blocks with ease on his way to the ball carrier. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he has proved to be a very good open field tackler, finishing this season with 63 tackles and 15 tackles for loss in 11 games. He also recorded 4.5 sacks and recovered two fumbles this year, returning one of them for a touchdown. Maddox has received some college interest and I expect his recruitment to continue to heat up this offseason. </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-692f752f35376"} --> <!-- 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 has proven to be very reliable against the run. He does a great job of using his strength to drive straight through blocks then use his high motor to run sideline to sideline to get to the ball carrier. Keyes is a good open field tackler, finishing this season with 48 tackles and eight tackles for loss in 12 games. He has also shown the ability to use his speed and pass rush moves to beat opposing offensive tackles off the edge to get to the quarterback, finishing this year with one sack and several quarterback pressures. Keyes has received a good amount of college interest and I expect him to be a player worth watching over the next couple seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->