6 available 2027 LBs colleges should watch entering senior season

Dozens of Louisiana's top-ranked 2027 prospects have announced college commitments already, but the several legitimate Division-I prospects around the always-talented state remain available on the recruiting market entering senior year.   With August fast approaching, Prep Redzone Louisiana will look at a few of the most notable uncommitted prospects at each position that programs should take a closer look heading into the fall for potential steals in the final month of the cycle.   Here are a handful of linebackers to keep an eye on.   [player_tooltip player_id='513986' first='Lane' last='Billings'] — 6-2, 205 LB — Central   Billings was one of the first linebackers on Prep Redzone Louisiana's early rankings for the 2027 class and remains one of the top prospects at the position in the state's rising senior class. His awareness, motor and closing speed have always stood out as he flies around the field and hunts down ball-carriers and passers with ferocity and often arrives in hard-hitting fashion. The attributes shone most recently with a 115-tackle junior campaign, including seven sacks and a forced fumble, in his first season at Central. The multisport athlete, also a baseball standout, recently earned a Louisiana Christian offer after having previously picked up Millsaps last summer.   [player_tooltip player_id='2228462' first='Derrick' last='Dunbar Jr.'] — 6-2, 205 LB/EDGE — Covington   The highest-ranked uncommitted linebacker in the class and not for a lack of options, the Lions' all-district tackle machine holds offers from Louisiana (Lafayette), South Alabama, McNeese State, Nicholls State and Southeastern Louisiana. Dunbar wrapped up 109 tackles, including 80 solo stops, nine for loss and four sacks, as a junior, plus three forced fumbles and three recoveries. And his size, explosiveness and speed have intrigued college coaches for the type of athleticism he can add to their defenses in the middle of the field whether as a pure linebacker or in more of a hybrid role.   [player_tooltip player_id='1248269' first='Ian' last='Gray'] — 6-0, 185 LB — Edna Karr   The first of a pair of Edna Karr players on the list, Gray may be one of the members of the Cougars' new-look defense with whom some fans are familiar after its heavy 2026 graduations. He is another smart, versatile linebacker who sees the field well and plays fast with great recognition and instincts. Gray showed the ability to play off-ball or off the edge and managed to snatch a pair of interceptions in the Division-I Select championship game that should help him confidently springboard into a more extensive role as a senior. Edna Karr has graduated key leaders and highly productive tacklers at linebacker each of the past few classes, and Gray looked poised this spring to help fill those shoes and follow that lineage.   [player_tooltip player_id='2228517' first='Ethan' last='Lentz'] — 6-0, 205 LB — Archbishop Shaw   On a stout defense overall full of playmakers that helped the Eagles reach a second straight Division-II Select title game, Lentz was among the most productive. The junior linebacker finished the season with 111 tackles, including 24 for loss and four sacks, and intercepted six passes. He diagnoses plays quickly, has a good break and good speed to the ball. And while he might not be the biggest athlete on the field, he does possess legitimate college size and plays even bigger with a hard-nosed mentality and love for the physicality of the game. And few players in the state — period, let alone linebackers — have picked off more passes.   [player_tooltip player_id='2228455' first='Anthony' last='White Jr.'] — 6-3, 230 EDGE — Edna Karr   White is one of the more athletic and versatile players on this list — which speaks some volumes, given the good company — and one of the patient, potential breakout candidates that are among the reasons his Cougars remain a confident, capable title contender in 2026 despite the program's major roster turnover to graduation this year. He is a long, quick and fluid athlete who was once an intriguing young wide receiver prospect who garnered college interest and has developed into a linebacker prospect who is proud to tackle a wide range of responsibilities where bringing pressure off the edge, helping contain the run or covering in the slot.   [player_tooltip player_id='2081654' first='Kendrick' last='Wyatt'] — 6-2, 230 LB — Mansfield   Few linebackers in Louisiana were more productive this past fall than the Wolverines' star, who racked up 149 tackles, including 16 for loss, and an interception and forced fumble to earn District 3-2A Defensive MVP honors and an LSWA Class 2A all-state selection. And, beyond those numbers, he possesses an athletic profile overall that should be intriguing to college coaches with his tall, long frame; his quickness and overall mobility; and his positional versatility around the defensive front seven — particularly standing out when he's able to pin his ears back and attack the backfield or playing close to the line of scrimmage against the run, but also able to drop back and cover some.

Dozens of Louisiana's top-ranked 2027 prospects have announced college commitments already, but the several legitimate Division-I prospects around the always-talented state remain available on the recruiting market entering senior year.