Linebackers of The Garden State

Michael Rittelmann

July 21, 2021 @ 12:00 AM

The linebacker position demands the need to be an instinctive run defender and to be an athlete in space against the pass. The 2022 recruiting class has some good linebacker prospects to keep an eye on for the upcoming high school season, with a mix of size and speed along with height to take away windows in the passing game, which is key nowadays since offenses are evolving to more a pass friendly scheme. Let’s take a look at some 2022 high school linebackers from the state of New Jersey: [player_tooltip player_id="27970" first="Nyair" last="Graham"] 6-0 184 Camden High School, Camden New Jersey The Instinctive Maryland commit demonstrates the awareness flow and fills gaps against the run with a violent mentality and explodes through the ball carrier when making a tackle. He is confident in his drops when in coverage and does not overplay routes and find and make a play on the football to make a key breakup. [player_tooltip player_id="27972" first="Zion" last="Cheeks"] 6-1 195 Penns Grove High School, Carneys Point New Jersey The versatile explosive Cincinnati commit demonstrates the ability to play on the line and be a threat as a pass rusher showing the natural bend and lean-to close the gap between him and the quarterback. He can play in the box and sift through the traffic and stack and shed blocks to make key tackles in the run game. [player_tooltip player_id="115067" first="Damir" last="McCrary"] 5-11 193 Woodrow Wilson High School, Camden New Jersey A physical wrecking ball that can roam sideline to sideline and has the awareness to time up blitz opportunities and packs a punch when hitting his mark when in the opposing offense’s backfield. He demonstrates consistent technique when making a tackle, good leg drive, and leverage to provide the force needed to jar the ball loose and create turnovers. Tim Hinspeter 6-1 210 Don Bosco Prep High School, Ramsey New Jersey The Navy commit is an absolute downhill threat when taking on blocks, he takes on blocks with a physical mentality and provides a knockback on the offensive player that is trying to block him. He has fluid hips which allow him to change direction with ease and transition in and out of breaks to make a key tackle in open space. [player_tooltip player_id="140796" first="John" last="Lista"] 6-1 215 Rumson-Fair High School, Rumson New Jersey A physical presence that roams the field and has good awareness to roam sideline to sideline to make key punishing hits throughout the duration of a game. He demonstrates the ability to rush the quarterback from different vantage points on defense and shows the natural ability to bend and get underneath an offensive lineman.