Prep Redzone New England Camp: Linebacker Notebook, Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As customary with my event coverage, I feverishly write as many notes as I can, as quickly as I can, in order to report on as many prospects as I can. In this feature from Prep Redzone New England's Stock Up Showcase, I share my positional notes for the group aforementioned in this article's title. More coverage on different groups will be forthcoming in the days to follow, so be sure to check back later!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Linebacker Notebook</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2123995' first='Reegan' last='Applebee'] was certainly eatin' good in the neighborhood at this camp. Aside from being a top scorer in all four combine categories (4.67 forty, 4.38 shuttle, 8.5" broad jump, 7.23 L-Drill), he had probably the single-best play any linebacker made - that I witnessed at least. Playing with inside leverage, his opposing running back looked to exploit the outside. Because of his ability to move so well laterally, he kept his eyes on the quarterback while using his body positioning to keep pace with the running back. As the quarterback wound up to throw into the flat, Applebee did not have to break on the ball much, simply deflecting it with his inside hand for simple-and-easy pass break up. It was an absolute clinic tape of a rep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For as fired up as I was about Applebee's play, [player_tooltip player_id='2110066' first='Doyle' last='Delano'] just might have bested him a bit later on. First, I noticed how Delano understood leverage and use his body appropriately to capitalize upon that. Later on he made an excellent play in pass defense. As the running back brought the pressure straight on attacking him, Delano stayed ready in his linebacker stance, balanced, and on the balls of his feet. From there he did a masterful job of using his hands to feel the running back and where he wanted to go. As the route progressed, Delano was fast enough to stay within striking distance and get his head around to successfully defend the pass attempt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another workout warrior of a linebacker was [player_tooltip player_id='1270387' first='Ryan' last='Santo']. Santo also ranked amongst the top linebackers during the combine across all four metrics, but speed was not necessarily his game. Covering a running back on a deep wheel, Santo worked like hell to keep pace. There was some separation, and to make matters worse he was not within distance to get his head around without losing more ground. Very astutely, Santo matched the hands of the offensive target, playing them beautifully as the ball arrived. For all that effort and selling out that Santo did, it is almost a shame that play would end up as a simple incompletion in the stat book.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A linebacker who is set to graduate this spring, 2026 graduate Spencer Knight was offering one last took to colleges to get just one shot to be a last-roster addition next fall. Knight showed that he is long in the tooth, knowing how to use every bit of his 6' 1 1/4", 194lb frame. Knight did an outstanding job of protecting the middle of the field by walling off his body and also pressuring skill players to the boundary when appropriate. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Prep Redzone New England Stock Up Showcase Event Coverage</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/burning-questions-prep-rezone-new-england-stock-up-showcase-qbs">Burning Questions: Quarterbacks</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/burning-questions-prep-rezone-new-england-stock-up-showcase-dl">Burning Questions: Defensive Linemen</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/burning-questions-prep-rezone-new-england-stock-up-showcase-rbs">Burning Questions: Running Backs</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/burning-questions-prep-rezone-new-england-stock-up-showcase-wr-te">Burning Questions: Wide Receivers/Tight Ends</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/burning-questions-prep-rezone-new-england-stock-up-showcase-lbs">Burning Questions: Linebackers</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/burning-questions-prep-rezone-new-england-stock-up-showcase-ol">Burning Questions: Offensive Linemen</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/burning-questions-prep-rezone-new-england-stock-up-showcase-dbs">Burning Questions: Defensive Backs</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/prep-redzone-new-england-stock-up-showcase-offensive-eye-test">Offensive Eye Test</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/prep-redzone-new-england-stock-up-showcase-defensive-eye-test">Defensive Eye Test</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/prep-redzone-new-england-camp-top-defensive-combine-scores">Top Combine Scores: Defense</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/prep-redzone-new-england-camp-top-offensive-combine-scores">Top Combine Scores: Offense</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/prep-redzone-new-england-camp-defensive-back-notebook-part-i">Scout's Notebook: Defensive Back, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/prep-redzone-new-england-camp-defensive-line-notebook-part-i">Scout's Notebook: Defensive Line, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/prep-redzone-new-england-camp-linebacker-notebook-part-i">Scout's Notebook: Linebacker, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/prep-redzone-new-england-camp-offensive-line-notebook-part-i">Scout's Notebook: Offensive Line, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/prep-redzone-new-england-camp-wide-receiver-notebook-part-i">Scout's Notebook: Wide Receiver, Part I</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->