2027 SPRING RANKINGS UPDATE: Linebacker Breakdown

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SPRING UPDATE:</strong> We have officially released a new set of rankings for the class of 2027 in Arkansas. In this article, we will showcase the 2027 linebackers with analysis. Over the next month, I will break down these rankings by position within each class, as well as other relevant segments. For the linebackers, I will provide you with evaluations of some of the top prospects and the players flying under the radar:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"2456","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69ab039ccdb14"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1195586"],"_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-69ab039cd1024"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1195586' first='William' last='Gaines'] is going to garner more attention during the 2026 season. Gaines is a high motor, athletic linebacker who can play sideline-to-sideline. He's assignment sound and flies to the football with good foot quickness. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/WilliamGai88101/status/1992486192622002212?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/WilliamGai88101/status/1992486192622002212?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1530896"],"_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-69ab039cd10ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1530896' first='Quentin' last='Lavalais'] continues to fly under the radar. Lavalais displays good read-and-react skills, staying square while filling gaps to make tackles at the LOS or in the backfield. He has the foot speed and angles to effectively chase down ball carriers. In coverage, Lavalais shows solid lateral quickness, COD, and burst.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/LavalaisQuentin/status/2029720733828411569?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LavalaisQuentin/status/2029720733828411569?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2062979"],"_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-69ab039cd1199"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2062979' first='Davian' last='Jordan'] is a prospect to watch and add to the recruiting board. He's physical and effective at the point of attack, setting the tone early. His high motor is effective in both run defense and zone coverage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/davianj4/status/1990546919467434476?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/davianj4/status/1990546919467434476?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2082407"],"_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-69ab039cd1240"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2082407' first='Sky' last='Lee'] is going to fall on a lot of radars this season. The athletic linebacker is technique sound, works laterally, and keys the backfield with his eyes. Lee displays the ability to shoot through gaps and make plays in the backfield. He can stack and shed with his length and placement and contest in zone coverage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Skylerlee4535/status/2021218816403857517?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Skylerlee4535/status/2021218816403857517?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2075763"],"_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-69ab039cd12e7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2075763' first='Kylor' last='Robertson'] continues his rise up the rankings. He plays with a high motor and displays a quick first step off the snap. Robertson changes direction effectively, as we saw in person at our showcase. Keep an eye on him throughout 2026. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Kylor_Robertson/status/2007730082429976968?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Kylor_Robertson/status/2007730082429976968?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">OTHER TOP 150 LINEBACKERS:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. [player_tooltip player_id='1516821' first='Mario' last='Brownlee'] (Prescott)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. [player_tooltip player_id='1278415' first='Will' last='Caston'] (Fayetteville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. [player_tooltip player_id='710707' first='Rae' last='Parson'] (Little Rock Parkview)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5. [player_tooltip player_id='1223230' first='Cason' last='Roten'] (Elkins)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='1010693' first='Rece' last='Hall'] (Little Rock Christian)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='1618896' first='Rourke' last='Sevier'] (Batesville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='1179648' first='Kaveion' last='Smith'] (Bryant)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='1429052' first='Trae' last='Henderson'] (Newport)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='1247592' first='Cyler' last='Moore'] (Har-Ber)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='1247596' first='Kayden' last='Hickman'] (Searcy)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->