Friday Night Film Review: WPIAL Linebackers Standing Out

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1644515"],"_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-6a164318f1cb1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1644515' first='Elijah' last='Hickman'] is an explosive athlete in the 2028 class. His ability to fire off the ball as a linebacker and chase plays down all over the field is impressive. He has great instincts. His ability to read the play and then attack upfield is impressive. He is a true sideline-to-sideline player. As a blizter he is out of this world. He does well attacking off the edge to make plays. Offensive tackles struggle trying to contain him on the edge. Hickman projects as a Division One prospect. He recently picked up an offer from Kentucky. Hickman will have plenty of options. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1261070"],"_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-6a164318f1d2a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1261070' first='Monte' last='Hawkins'] has no film from last season, but it is easy to see his talent in some clips I saw from this offseason. He projects as a plug-and-play linebacker next season for Gateway. He has the athleticism you want from a linebacker. He also recently picked up an offer from Bowling Green. I expect a huge year from Hawkins next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/AGTG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AGTG</a> AFTER A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH THE COACH I AM BLESSED TO RECEIVE A DIVISION I OFFER FROM MIAMI OHIO <a href="https://x.com/drew15martin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@drew15martin</a> <a href="https://x.com/MiamiOHFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MiamiOHFootball</a> <a href="https://x.com/wpialsportsnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wpialsportsnews</a> <a href="https://x.com/WPIAL_Insider?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WPIAL_Insider</a> <a href="https://x.com/210ths?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@210ths</a> <a href="https://x.com/PAPrepVarsity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PAPrepVarsity</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepRedzonePA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzonePA</a> <a href="https://t.co/e9g1erSqcU">pic.twitter.com/e9g1erSqcU</a></p>&mdash; ATH Monte Blair-Hawkins|6&#039;2|188|2028| (@montebh0913) <a href="https://x.com/montebh0913/status/2033622050737201470?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["991498"],"_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-6a164318f1d7d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='991498' first='Luke' last='Stinnett'] is a good prospect in the 2028 class. He is a good athlete who excelled last season as an edge defender and as a tight end. As an edge defender, he is explosive off the edge. His ability to use his hands and rip through offensive linemen is impressive. Then, as a tight end, he shows a good ability to block and catch the ball. I can easily see Stinnett transitioning to a linebacker next season. You could also see him playing as an edge in pass-rushing situations. Stinnett is a good prospect who has a ton of potential. I am excited to see him playing next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Good team win for week 2. TD, QB pressures, tipped passes, run blocking. <a href="https://x.com/dustin_shoaf?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dustin_shoaf</a> <a href="https://x.com/CoachZAlley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachZAlley</a> <a href="https://x.com/Coachdanconnor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coachdanconnor</a> <a href="https://x.com/CoachKoonz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachKoonz</a> <a href="https://x.com/Coach_Manalac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_Manalac</a> <a href="https://x.com/JLaurinaitis55?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JLaurinaitis55</a> <a href="https://x.com/CoachSWallace?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachSWallace</a> <a href="https://x.com/Rob_Dvoracek?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Rob_Dvoracek</a> <a href="https://x.com/WilliamInge1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WilliamInge1</a> <a href="https://x.com/nichols_ty?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nichols_ty</a> <a href="https://x.com/CoachRobertBala?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachRobertBala</a> <a href="https://x.com/CoachEliot?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachEliot</a> <a href="https://x.com/PJVolker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PJVolker</a> <a href="https://x.com/CoachJohnLoose?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachJohnLoose</a> <a href="https://t.co/lVED7zWRJs">pic.twitter.com/lVED7zWRJs</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='991498' first='Luke' last='Stinnett'] 2028 LB 6&#039;2&#039;&#039; 205lb (@Luke_Stinnett_) <a href="https://x.com/Luke_Stinnett_/status/1962222437199667655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1633458"],"_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-6a1793d672ad5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1633458' first='Dean' last='Ferency'] played last year as a tight end for PCC, but I could easily see him transitioning to linebacker or as an edge defender this season. He is a devastating blocker. He is awesome at firing off the ball and driving defenders off the ball. It is easy to see him playing as a linebacker with his ability to fire off the ball. I can see him chasing plays all over the field and making plays as a linebacker. Ferency is a good athlete who can play all over the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thankful for my teammates and coaches for pushing me to be the best version of myself daily! In yesterday's max day I was able to achieve a🚨NEW SCHOOL RECORD🚨of 440lbs on bench press! <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/rollvikes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#rollvikes</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ironsharpensiron?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ironsharpensiron</a> <a href="https://x.com/CoachLehmeier?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachLehmeier</a> <a href="https://x.com/PCC_FOOTBALL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PCC_FOOTBALL</a> <a href="https://x.com/WPIAL_Insider?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WPIAL_Insider</a> <a href="https://x.com/PA_TodaySports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PA_TodaySports</a> <a href="https://t.co/yc1iCW2rXF">pic.twitter.com/yc1iCW2rXF</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1633458' first='Dean' last='Ferency'] Jr. (@DeanFerency28) <a href="https://x.com/DeanFerency28/status/2041613072607953026?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1365351"],"_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-6a1793d672b8b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1365351' first='DeMar' last='Chatfield'] is a talented athlete who plays all over the field on defense. Chatfield is a true match-up piece that you can play all over the field. He played as a linebacker, safety, and worked as a cornerback as well. He is a great tackler. His ability to find ball carriers and make tackles in the open field is special. Then he has good coverage skills. He can cover a wide receiver one-on-one or in zone coverage. Chatfield is a 3-down player that you can put anywhere on the field. He has a bright future ahead of him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->