KY ‘28 Position Rankings Breakdowns: LB

<!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2028","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"2496","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"2494","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac53c8c8cada"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back in August, we wrapped up our latest rankings update cycle with our updated Top 150 for the class of 2028 in the state of Kentucky. With that in mind, I have been taking some time to continue breaking these rankings 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 being taken care of, here are our top linebackers in the class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1907207"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac546b5c0516"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1907207' first='Jess' last='Officer'] has established himself as one of the top players in the entire state. He lines up at inside linebacker where he is a dominant run stopper. Officer reads the play quickly then uses his impressive closing speed to run down the ball carrier in a hurry to make the tackle before they can get going. Through five games this season, Jess leads his team with 41 tackles along with 10 tackles for loss. He has also proven to be reliable against the pass, recording one sack and an interception so far this season. Jess holds several Power 4 offers and I expect that list to continue to grow over the next couple years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1174159"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac546b5c05a4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1174159' first='Thomas' last='Sizemore'] has been high on our radar for a while now and has continued to impress this season. He lines up at inside linebacker where is very impressive against the run. Thomas does a great job of timing the snap count to burst through the gap to meet the ball carrier before the opposing offensive line has a chance to react. He is a very reliable tackler once he gets to the ball carrier, currently leading his team with 42 tackles through five games. Sizemore has also recorded 6.5 tackles for loss and half a sack this season. Thomas currently holds offers from Kentucky, Miami (OH), and Marshall, 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":["1638830"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac546b5c05fe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1638830' first='Ben' last='Schlarman'] is another player who has continued to stand out this year. He lines up at outside linebacker where he is very effective against the run. Schlarman has a true nose for the football and has shown the speed to run sideline to sideline to make tackles in the open field. Ben does a great job of running his feet through contact to finish his tackles quickly, not allowing the ball carrier to gain extra yards. He has accounted for 21 tackles and two tackles for loss in five games this season. Ben has also recorded two sacks this year and has made a huge impact on offense, leading his team in rushing with 52 carries for 290 yards and four touchdowns. Schlarman currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky and Miami (OH), and I expect more to come his way this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1638815"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac546b5c0648"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1638815' first='JJ' last='Keyes'] is off to a strong start to his junior year. He lines up at inside linebacker where he has proven to be reliable against the run. Keyes has great instincts, showing the ability to diagnose the play quickly then use his impressive lateral movement to flow to the ball carrier quickly. He also does a great job of using his strength to fight through blocks in his path to the ball carrier. Through six games, JJ has accounted for 58 tackles and three tackles for loss. He has also recorded one sack this season. JJ has received a strong amount of college interest and I wouldn't be surprised to see offers start coming his way in the near future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2034557"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ac546b5c068c"} --> <!-- 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 2028 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='2034557' first='Jameson' last='Chaffin']. Jameson lines up at inside linebacker where he is a very impressive run stopper. He explodes out of his stance and shoots the gap to meet the ball carrier before they can get any momentum going. Chaffin does a great job of running his feet through contact once he gets to the ball carrier to finish his tackles with a sense of urgency. Jameson currently leads Belfry with 33 tackles in six games. Chaffin has also recorded 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack so far this season. Jameson is a player who college coaches should definitely have on their radar moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->