2029 Rankings Winter Update: Breaking Down the Linebackers

Editor's note: We'll continue breaking down this class in its entirety. If <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe/">you're not yet subscribed to Prep RedZone</a>, you can save 40% off an annual subscription by using the offer code Guerin40 at checkout. This deal will be available throughout the Winter Rankings Cycle.   The Prep RedZone Class of 2029 rankings had plenty of focal points.   What we're seeing from the linebackers in this class, however, is that they may have been leaned on more from their respective teams than any other positional group. History suggests that could change, but what we've also noticed with previous classes is that the linebackers tend to develop en masse as their playing time explodes alongside personal growth.   We aren't expecting that trend to change with these 12. All of them saw significant snaps and set the tone for three exciting years of improvement to follow.    BREAKING DOWN THE TOP FIVE    [player_tooltip player_id='1590515' first='Josiah' last='Singleton'] Fort Dorchester   As we pointed out when he highlighted the Stockrisers in this class, Singleton was the glue at time for a Fort Dorchester defense that was otherwise led by a handful of seniors. In Singleton, the Pats not only saw their future developing in real time, but they found the type of performer who others could and will continue to rally around. His 73 tackles as a freshmen were among the best in the state in the rookie class.   [player_tooltip player_id='1881794' first='Ethan' last='Shaw'] Loris   If you're looking for statistical monsters, Shaw is a great place to start. His 80 solo tackles (108 total stops) means he's well on pace to surpass 400 career tackles. That number is a projection, of course, but we've seen this play out before with other young Loris linebackers in recent years. Shaw wasn't simply there to make tackles, though. He also picked off passes and put an ability to get into the backfield on display.   [player_tooltip player_id='1301735' first='Dash' last='Holley'] Northwestern   When the staff told us they weren't waiting around to get Holley into the mix, we believed them. But seeing it in person showed us just how much effort was going into their longer goals. He got in on the season opener for a few snaps, then a little more each week after that. Holley was going to initially see more time on the edge, but his versatility as an outside linebacker makes him a natural fit to fill in some of the graduation gaps in the back seven, too.    [player_tooltip player_id='1817978' first='Najhir' last='Pelzer'] Orangeburg-Wilkinson    There's a good chance that after next fall we'll never classify Pelzer as a linebacker ever again. While the team still considers him an outside linebacker, it's clear there are designs for his hand only coming off the ground pre-span when he's shifting from one side of the line to the other. The reason is clear: He's one of the most physically impressive players in in the class.   [player_tooltip player_id='1840741' first='Johnny' last='Dobbs'] Aiken (pictured)   Without getting a full season under his belt, Dobbs was more than able to show how a quick-muscle twitch could impact some games in small doses. He is a terror coming around the tackle, even though that's rarely what he was asked to do. He's already got some quality size and the strength will only continue to increase as he ages and sees more playing time.    MORE NAMES TO KNOW   [player_tooltip player_id='1821932' first='Kaveon' last='Tyler'] Hampton County   The Hurricanes didn't put much pressure on Tyler during their playoff run because the team elected to lean on some older guys late in the season. His physicality is also going to mean he's going to play some full back, but he's the clear-cut favorite to be making Hampton County's defensive play calls on the field next fall and will be the more impactful returner.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827516' first='Jaylen' last='Davis'] Central   Davis played all of his freshman season at 5-foot-9, and there's reason to believe he's got much more upward movement coming. Even if the expected doesn't happen, no one at Central is convinced he's not a consistent double-digit tackle guy from here on out. The Eagles are going to plant him in the middle of the defense and watch his production shoot through the roof.   [player_tooltip player_id='2106791' first='Nathan' last='Good'] Pinewood Prep   A start-to-finish producer, Good started to show his overall graph of the duties at hand later in the year when he started punishing folks behind the line, too. Of his 11 tackles for loss and two sacks as a freshman, all but 2.5 of those tackles for loss came on or after October 24. He also forced a fumble and recovered another one after that date, too. That's progress.    [player_tooltip player_id='1824687' first='Wallace' last='Herring'] Chesterfield    Herring looks to be the next two-way contributor to come through the ranks at Chesterfield, as he's also playing receiver and hauled in seven total passes over the Rams' final two games of the year. By that point, we'd already noticed that he was seeing significant reps at linebacker. He finished the season with 28 total tackles, two tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.   [player_tooltip player_id='2106792' first='Jamar' last='Brown'] Mountain View Prep   While another growth spurt or two won't hurt Brown's chances in recruiting, he's another guy on this list who saw some high-quality reps while the staff figured out how to best use his services. And we saw the impact from both his time blitzing and dropping off the line some. Brown has double digits in tackles for loss written all over his upcoming seasons.   [player_tooltip player_id='1825182' first='Cullen' last='Spence'] Liberty   Spence didn't start the year on the varsity squad, but he forced his way into the lineup by the end of September and finished the year with double-digit tackles in three games. A lot of what he did looked especially instinctual. He's got a new staff coming in, but those plays he made look so natural will only give them more reason to increase his role.    [player_tooltip player_id='2106779' first='Bennett' last='Hyde'] Eastside    Eastside didn't waste any time getting Hyde involved in a few different ways. He's got some potential at tight end or H-Back, loves the contact and looks like a budding star in the blocking game. Much of that mentality comes from what he's also doing at linebacker. When he racked up 13 stops in a playoff loss, it may have been a glimpse of his future.

Editor's note: We'll continue breaking down this class in its entirety. If you're not yet subscribed to Prep RedZone, you can save 40% off an annual subscription by using the offer code Guerin40 at checkout. This deal will be available throughout the Winter Rankings Cycle.