Scouting 2027 Linebacker Class: Stars, Sleepers, and Secrets

The junior season is perhaps the most important year for recruits to put a strong resume on tape for college coaches to see and evaluate their games and the level of prospect they project them to turn into at the next level. In this edition of the series, we take a look at some of the intriguing names to monitor in the state of Tennessee for the 2027 recruiting cycle at the linebacker position.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">SCOUTING THE STARS</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='1305810' first='J.P.' last='Peace'] is a big, downhill linebacker with very good length that has taken a massive step forward after finally moving to a more traditional linebacker role this season.   His length is a real plus and can be utilized at any linebacker position including off the edge, and it helps him hunt down ball carriers from the second level of the defense.   He looks a lot more filled out and explosive this season and is only going to continue to moving forward along his developmental arc and he looks like a better get for Tennessee each week he plays another game at the high school level.     [player_tooltip player_id='1585726' first='Kenneth' last='Simon'] II is an intriguing converted safety that is very explosive and can develop into a dynamic playmaker with more size at the next level.   He has solid-to-good length and will need to pack on pounds to play in college but his explosiveness is so obvious and will certainly translate.   In his first year at his new school, he has been used primarily as an outside linebacker where he can work in space and close on the ball, which has been highly successful and led to a wave of blue-chip offers.   He will need some time to get more comfortable at the position and add weight but he could be an exciting athlete to use around the defense for a good defensive coordinator with a plan for his development and Simon has the genes to make you feel confident he will develop, being the son of an All-SEC linebacker at Tennessee.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">SCOUTING THE SLEEPERS </h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='1318538' first='Roman' last='Jennings'] is a linebacker that has a sturdy frame with solid-to-good length who thrives at working downhill to make a play on a ball carrier.   He does lack some initial explosiveness, but is a good athlete and recognizes plays early, which allows for him to get downhill in a hurry and take away rushing lanes.   At the college level, his floor is a solid run stopping early down linebacker but he has the size and athleticism to be more than just that as he continues progressing forward.     [player_tooltip player_id='1577078' first='Parker' last='Newman'] is an intriguing athlete in general that I think projects best as an outside linebacker for the next level with elite length in addition to good athleticism and playmaking ability.   He has the frame to add a lot of mass to a slender, but solid build and grow into a hybrid outside linebacker that plays some off the edge.   He has the ball skills and length to be disruptive on all three downs and that could lead to some Group of Five programs offering him the chance to be a flex tight end on offense, but he fits best as a versatile outside linebacker for the next level.   As he continues to become more explosive, his interest list should continue to grow and could end up at the Power Four level due to his combination of length, baseline athleticism, and playmaking ability.     Kelsey Rose Jr is a versatile defensive player that should grow into a big, athletic linebacker for a college program that can make plays in a variety of ways with some development.   He has very good length and a lot of good weight already on his frame. With that frame and plus athleticism, he has exciting potential that has played a variety of positions in his high school career.   As he hones in on linebacker specifically at the next level and the position continues to come more natural to him, he could be a sneaky riser as an athletic playmaker with size for the second level of a defense.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">SCOUTING THE SECRETS</h2>    [player_tooltip player_id='902961' first='Jayden' last='Cannon'] is an athletic linebacker with good size and a sturdy frame that has added on more length and explosiveness this season, making him a more dangerous playmaker from the second level.   With his bigger frame and improved explosiveness, he has been able to hunt down ball carriers and make splash plays as well as drop back some in coverage.   He is the ultimate team player, filling in where needed from inside linebacker to tight end to playing defensive end in a three-man front. He is also a very reliable player on special teams.   As he keeps adding more to his frame and his explosiveness, he should begin to see a lot of newfound collegiate interest come his way and add to his current low offer count.     [player_tooltip player_id='1512542' first='Khori' last='Faulkner'] is an undersized linebacker, but has the movement skills, instincts, and athleticism necessary to make up for it as he makes play after play no matter the opponent with history in the top public and now private classifications in Tennessee.   He has added a good amount of weight, rounding out a sturdy frame which has allowed for him to be physical and assertive with his violence, while not losing the quickness to get downhill and make a play on the football.   His instincts and IQ allow him to recognize plays early and attack quickly, recording a high number of tackles in every game.   His size will likely limit his options to the Group of Five level, but he has taken a massive step forward and sometimes you just take the good football player, and this is one of those instances.     [player_tooltip player_id='903534' first='DK' last='Williams'] is a linebacker with marginal size and that will limit his college options, but he is a dynamic player with great burst, athleticism, and violence to make up for the size.   He is an emotional leader for his defense, energizing the entire stadium with every big hit and those hits happen often with his ability to put his foot in the ground and explode downhill.   He is undersized but the running backs he tackles would tell you otherwise as he is a very violent hitter and does not lose the ability to make the big hit when chasing down in pursuit or in space.   At the end of the day, his lack of size will hold back legitimate interest, but his combination of athleticism, burst, and violence will make him a very intriguing prospect that will be hard to take off the field at the mid major level.

The junior season is perhaps the most important year for recruits to put a strong resume on tape for college coaches to see and evaluate their games and the level of prospect they project them to turn into at the next level.

In this edition of the series, we take a look at some of the intriguing names to monitor in the state of Tennessee for the 2027 recruiting cycle at the linebacker position.