Scouting the Elite 2027 Prospects: Linebackers

While we always cover younger classes, we've officially turned the page on the 2026 class to focus exclusively on the classes of 2027-2030. That means that the players who just finished their junior seasons are now in the spotlight. New 2027 rankings will drop later this month, and for the elite prospects, extreme upward movement is difficult (they're already too high to move up enough to be considered "stock-risers"), so we're going to introduce you to those elite players, what they do best, and why they'll be playing for Power Four schools in the near future.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Scouting the Elite 2027 Linebackers</h2>   The 2027 linebacker class is loaded. Here, we're breaking down five of the best, all of whom currently reside in the top 50, and will remain there in the upcoming rankings release.    Mayfield's best trait is his ability to get downhill against the run. Not only does he have excellent reactions, but his run fits are remarkably sound, and he can get to the line in a hurry. So many of his 26 tackles for loss as a junior were plays that a normal linebacker would have made three yards down the field, even with the correct read. Mayfield, though, is fast enough to fill holes at the line of scrimmage. He's also a fierce competitor and hard-hitter, with six forced fumbles in 2025.     Cypher is easy to spot on the defense, thanks not only to the hair but also to his ability to make splash plays. The Ohio State commit is one of the best coverage linebackers in the state, with nine career interceptions and 16 career pass breakups. While he can flex outside the box and cover players in the slot, he's at his best patrolling the middle of the field.     Griffin can play inside or outside linebacker, and if this year was any indication, he may play more on the outside in college. He flashed as a blitzer in 2025, with excellent closing speed and sure tackling. The biggest differences between his sophomore and junior films are his improved strength and instincts. He's unafraid of blockers, able to hold up against interior offensive linemen to fill gaps.     It's entirely possible that Chaffin grows into an edge rusher, something we never thought we'd say just six months ago. The lengthy linebacker has good instincts and excellent athleticism, and as a junior, his production took a major step forward. I'd like to see him in a camp setting to evaluate his bend around the edge, but as a pure linebacker, he continues to impress, as well.     Stevens has a unique skill set in that he's a budding pass-rusher, but when he moves off the ball, he's at his best in coverage. We currently have him listed as a linebacker, but a move to edge in our system isn't out of the question. Either way, he has an athletic profile and physicality that should have FBS schools flocking to Christ School to see.    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Other Potential FBS Linebackers</h3>   [player_tooltip player_id='223038' first='Justin' last='Abanquah'], Providence Day   [player_tooltip player_id='736711' first='Tanner' last='Finnerty'], Mooresville   [player_tooltip player_id='1106598' first='Bradley' last='Byrd'], Oak Grove   [player_tooltip player_id='1029787' first='Matthew' last='McCoy'], Weddington   [player_tooltip player_id='1957195' first='Davis' last='Weycker'], Piedmont   This is the time of year when we have the most time to dive into film, reevaluate prospects, and change our minds about players. Send your film on Twitter/X (@<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">whelms21</a>), so I can evaluate you. Want to share Prep Redzone with a friend? Promo Code Helms30 is good for 30% off your first billing cycle.

While we always cover younger classes, we've officially turned the page on the 2026 class to focus exclusively on the classes of 2027-2030. That means that the players who just finished their junior seasons are now in the spotlight. New 2027 rankings will drop later this month, and for the elite prospects, extreme upward movement is difficult (they're already too high to move up enough to be considered "stock-risers"), so we're going to introduce you to those elite players, what they do best, and why they'll be playing for Power Four schools in the near future.