Film Review: 2025 Linebackers

<p>Throughout the summer we will be conducting film reviews across the great state of Mississippi highlighting players going rather unnoticed in regards to the skill sets they bring to the field. Check out the previous editions of this series below:</p>   <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/film-review-2025-defensive-backs/">2025 Defensive Backs</a>,<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/film-review-2025-quarterbacks/"> 2025 Quarterbacks</a>, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/06/film-review-2025-wide-receivers/">2025 Wide Receivers</a>, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/film-review-2025-lineman/">2025 Lineman</a></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Nathaniel Johnson Jr. | Southaven</h2>   <p>Nate Johnson, standing at 6'2" and weighing 216 pounds, is an incredibly impressive recruit. He is quick off the snap, demonstrating an explosive burst from his stance that allows him to get great jumps on blitz attempts. Johnson fights through blocks with innate toughness, effectively stringing out run plays. A savvy tackler, he frequently makes plays on the ball, causing forced fumbles. In coverage, Johnson excels in both zone and man-to-man situations. He displays excellent awareness in zone coverage while possessing the skills to competently handle slot receivers and running backs in man-to-man.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Nate_johnson31/status/1804316239574995050 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Lacoyrius Branch | Cleveland Central</h2>   <p>Lacoyrius Branch (5-9, 170) is an incredible outside rusher with impeccable timing on snaps. His speed to the offensive linemen's outside shoulder is unmatched, and his ball-savvy tackling often results in forced fumbles. In coverage, Branch exhibits excellent footwork and a high football IQ, allowing him to read route patterns effectively. As an instinctive play-maker in the inside run game, he excels at meeting running backs in the gap with a solid foundational tackling style.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/_LacoyriusB/status/1757898165154378082 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jae'Kwon Collins | Jefferson County</h2>   <p>Jae'Kwon Collins possesses a versatile nickel skill set, with his seamless footwork and hip transitions, coupled with excellent ball skills and high-pointing abilities, rival those of a defensive back. Collins (6-0, 192) thrives on contact in close quarters, demonstrating a knack for delivering powerful hit-stick plays. He is aggressive in the run game, displaying bursts of speed to beat running backs to the gap and impressive lateral quickness to maintain containment.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Brezz13_/status/1732074028087586840 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Brandon Whitehead | Southaven</h2>   <p>Brandon Whitehead is an impressive ball pursuer who excels at taking great angles. When blitzing off the edge, he skillfully engages blockers while keeping his outside limbs free to string out plays and maintain containment. His relentless energy and high motor are evident in every play, paired with his 6-0 and 200 pound frame, often finding himself involved in tackles even after double teams or on plays opposite his side. Whitehead's exceptional work ethic stands out. In coverage, he displays excellent spatial awareness and consistently gets great jumps on balls across the middle, thanks to his keen reads on quarterbacks and wide receiver breaks.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BLW_10/status/1780242716066001060 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='576381' first='Dre' last='Villarreal'] | North Pontotoc</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='576381' first='Dre' last='Villarreal'], standing at 5'11" and weighing 185 pounds, is a high-motor, energy-producing linebacker with exceptional timing and instincts. He excels at splitting interior gaps for tackles for loss and takes precise angles to maintain outside containment. Villarreal's intuitive timing on blitz assignments, combined with his great lateral footwork, allows him to adjust seamlessly to running backs' cuts. His relentless energy and awareness on the field make him a disruptive force in any defensive scheme.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Dre_Villarreal/status/1726664530657452303 </div></figure>

Throughout the summer we will be conducting film reviews across the great state of Mississippi highlighting players going rather unnoticed in regards to the skill sets they bring to the field. Check out the previous editions of this series below: