Newly-Ranked LB Overview

Last week's <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/updated-2027-north-carolina-rankings/">2027 Rankings Update</a> was one of our biggest ever, with over 190 new players hitting the rankings since February. With a very limited amount of time before we move to the 2028 class, there just isn't enough time to properly cover every new addition. Instead, we're going to take a bird's-eye view and evaluate the newly ranked players in larger groups. Here's a 30,000-foot view of the 22 new linebackers in the 2027 rankings.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">What to Know About the Newly-Ranked LBs</h2>   Editor's Note: By this summer, we'll have full evaluations on every one of these players. We actually evaluated several in the lead-up to the rankings release (which is how some of them ended up ranked in the first place). Here, backlinks are our friends, so if we have a piece on the site with more info on a player, we'll link it below!   Other Newly-Ranked Overviews:   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/newly-ranked-quarterbacks-overview/">QBs</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/newly-ranked-wr-rb-overview/" id="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/newly-ranked-wr-rb-overview/">RBs/WRs</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/newly-ranked-ol-overview/" id="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/newly-ranked-ol-overview/">OL</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/newly-ranked-dl-overview/">DL/Edge</a>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Top-Ranked New Additions</h3>   We had several newly-added linebackers who jumped into the top 400. A few of them have full evaluations, and the guys who don't will get one in the coming months.   [player_tooltip player_id='1692741' first='Jackson' last='Laws'] | Cannon School   Laws is a high school edge rusher with the speed, quickness, and instincts to be a college linebacker. He was arguably the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/prep-redzone-north-carolina-exposure-camp-winners/">top overall player</a> at our Prep Redzone Exposure Camp, and multiple coaches in attendance backed up that opinion. He hit several athletic testing thresholds at that camp, as well, giving him one of the cleanest profiles in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='2166397' first='Tyler' last='Hodges'] | Willow Spring   Like Laws, we got to see Hodges at our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/prz-expousre-camp-lb-analysis/">Prep Redzone Exposure Camp</a>. He's built like an edge rusher, and I was blown away by his coverage ability. Sure, he could flex down to the edge, but I actually like him as a massive middle linebacker.   [player_tooltip player_id='2169841' first='Elijah' last='Ingram'] | Richmond Senior   Ingram hit our radar after the Carolinas Coaches Combine, winning linebacker <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/ccc-clayton-recap-award-winners/">MVP during Session 2</a>. He wasn't just a drill winner, though, clocking a sub-4.6 40 at 220 pounds in the testing portion.   [player_tooltip player_id='2156847' first='Josh' last='Elmenshawi'] | Riverside   Elmenshawi really impressed me when I did a deep dive into the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/top-6-durham-orange-county-lbs/">Durham County linebacker group</a>, actually landing atop that list. He's not afraid to initiate contact or take on blocks, and that fearlessness has led to plenty of tackles in the running game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1306285' first='Khali' last='Clark'] | Crest   Clark is <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/three-out-of-state-schools-newly-recruiting-north-carolina/">picking up some momentum</a> on the recruiting trail, and our own Matt Morrow pointed out why when looking at the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/three-out-of-state-schools-newly-recruiting-north-carolina/">top athletes in the 704</a>. He's a highly athletic, productive linebacker and returns as Crest's leading tackler.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2027 LB Sleepers</h2>   I want to highlight a few sleepers. Again, we'll have plenty of full evaluations over the next month or so, but these are just some preliminary "guys to watch out for."   [player_tooltip player_id='2155938' first='Finn' last='Stevenson'] | Panther Creek   Stevenson has one of the best athletic profiles in the state, with plenty of speed and strength. He was one of our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/top-7-wake-county-lbs/">top linebackers in Wake County</a>, and as Panther Creek loses a few defensive linemen, he'll need to step up once again in 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='2177963' first='Zack' last='Albert'] | Topsail   The Community School of Davidson transfer moved to Topsail with his dad, and he's flown under the radar a bit in the process. The two-way athlete is a ball-hawk on defense, forcing three fumbles last season and rarely making mistakes.   [player_tooltip player_id='2173533' first='Kam' last='Higgins'] | West Forsyth   The physical profile alone is enough to excite me. Higgins stands around 6-foot-4 and can run. He's getting better as a pure linebacker, and if he can improve his depth in coverage and some nuances of the position, he'll have a breakout senior year.   [player_tooltip player_id='2206336' first='Markalen' last='Camp'] | Burns   Camp has been one of my colleague Matt Morrow's favorite linebacker prospects for a while, making both his <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/02/704-junior-bowl-linebacker-candidates/">Junior Bowl Candidates</a> list and his list of top <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/04/deep-dives-704-metro-area-linebackers/">704 Metro Linebackers</a>. Camp is a bit of a late-bloomer who could have a breakout senior year.   There's plenty to come from Matt Morrow, Joshua Graham, and me on the 2027 rankings over the next week. Stay locked in with Prep Redzone for more insights, evaluations, and rankings updates. Want to share Prep Redzone with a friend? Promo code Helms30 will get them 30% off their first billing cycle for any subscription.

Last week's 2027 Rankings Update was one of our biggest ever, with over 190 new players hitting the rankings since February. With a very limited amount of time before we move to the 2028 class, there just isn't enough time to properly cover every new addition. Instead, we're going to take a bird's-eye view and evaluate the newly ranked players in larger groups. Here's a 30,000-foot view of the 22 new linebackers in the 2027 rankings.