2027 Rankings Update 7.0: LB

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2027","_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-69bb1e8ec0e48"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get deeper into the month of March, the 2026 high school football offseason is in full swing. With that being said, we have begun a new round of rankings updates in the state of Kentucky. The class of 2027 is our latest update to be released with an updated Top 225. Now that those have been released, I have been taking the past couple weeks to break them down 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 linemen and edge defenders already taken care of, here are our top linebackers the class of 2027 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1200577"],"_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-69bb1e8ec26de"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1200577' first='Ty' last='Ashley'] has established himself as one of the top overall players in the state in his class. He lines up at inside linebacker where he is dominant against the run. Ashley does a great job of diagnosing the play quickly then exploding downhill out of his stance to meet the ball carrier before they can get going. Once Ty gets to the ball carrier, he does a great job of running his feet through contact to secure the tackle and not allow any extra yards to be gained. This past season, Ashley led Owensboro with 148 tackles and 10 tackles for loss in 15 games. He also proved to be reliable against the pass, recording a team-high four interceptions along with three sacks as a junior. Ty also scored one rushing touchdown and caught a touchdown pass this past season. Ashley recently committed to Kentucky where I can see him having a successful collegiate career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1284257"],"_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-69bb206b18946"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1284257' first='Tacori' last='Fields'] has been high on our radar for a while now and has been receiving a lot of attention over the past year as a prospect. Fields lines up at inside linebacker where he is very impressive against the pass. He has a true nose for the football and has shown the ability to use his speed to his advantage to run right by opposing offensive linemen on his way to the ball carrier. Fields is a very reliable tackler in the open field, finishing his junior year with a team-leading 95 tackles along with 2.5 tackles for loss in 13 games. He also recovered three fumbles, returning one of them for a touchdown. Tacori currently holds multiple Division I/Power 4 offers and I expect more to come his way this offseason. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["482999"],"_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-69bb21b4e2fca"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='482999' first='Gage' last='Chapman'] is a player who has continued to climb up our radar over the past couple seasons. He lines up at inside linebacker where he is very reliable against the run. Chapman has shown high football IQ as he is able to read his keys quickly then get to where the play is going to meet the ball carrier before they can gain much momentum. He is very explosive through contact, finishing his tackles with a ton of physicality. Chapman finished this past season with 149 tackles in 13 games. Gage also recorded five sacks and an interception which he returned for a touchdown as a junior, and made an impact on offense, carrying the ball 58 times for 539 yards and nine touchdowns. Gage holds offers from UT-Martin and Murray State, and I wouldn't be surprised to see more come his way soon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2074522"],"_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-69bb274c7b019"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2074522' first='Thurman' last='Wade'] caught our attention with a strong junior year. Wade lines up at outside linebacker where he is very disruptive against the run. Wade does a great job of reading the play quickly then using his high motor to run the ball carrier down from anywhere on the field. He is a very reliable tackler in the open field, finishing this past season with 66 tackles and six tackles for loss in 13 games. Thurman also recorded one sack as a junior. Wade currently holds offers from Miami (OH), UT-Martin, and Grambling State, and I expect that list to continue to grow heading into his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["652507"],"_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-69bb274c7b078"} --> <!-- 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 2027 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='652507' first='Brody' last='Simpkins']. Simpkins lines up at inside linebacker where he is a very dependable run stopper. He reads his keys effectively then comes downhill with a sense of urgency to make the tackle before the ball carrier can get going. Simpkins finished his junior year with a team-high 106 tackles along with eight tackles for loss in 12 games. He has also shown the ability to drop into coverage and make plays against the pass, coming away with one interception as a junior. Brody also made an impact on offense this past season, running the ball 77 times for 576 yards and six touchdowns while also catching a touchdown pass. Simpkins currently holds offers from Morehead State and Bethany (WV), and I can see more coming his way going into his senio</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->