2024 Rankings: 5 Standout LBs from Maryland

This offseason report looks back on the performances of five standout linebackers from the 2021 season. <strong>2024 6’3 205 LB – [player_tooltip player_id="172218" first="Aaron" last="Chiles"] – Good Counsel </strong> [player_tooltip player_id="172218" first="Aaron" last="Chiles"] was extremely dominant this season, and his play directly earned victories for Good Counsel. The Falcons’ defense achieved two shutout victories on the year, and, in the playoffs, they held DeMatha to an impressive 15 points on their way to a 17-15 win. Chiles pushed this defense towards greatness all season long, and, while they may not have achieved it fully, they still managed to put themselves in a position to win the gold at the end of the year. One of the primary characteristics that makes [player_tooltip player_id="172218" first="Aaron" last="Chiles"] so incredible is his quickness. It allows him to get by offensive linemen with ease. Chiles is particularly effective rushing from the edge, and, as an outside linebacker, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him on the All-State team in 2022. [player_tooltip player_id="172218" first="Aaron" last="Chiles"] has an insanely high ceiling, and he is absolutely an elite D1 level talent. <a href="https://t.co/6XOuW898Sv"><strong>https://t.co/6XOuW898Sv</strong></a> <strong> </strong> <strong>2024 6’4 190 LB – [player_tooltip player_id="172213" first="Gabriel" last="Williams"] – St. Vincent Pallotti </strong> [player_tooltip player_id="172213" first="Gabriel" last="Williams"] drew a lot of interest from scouts this season, and the reason, besides having a dominant season, is because of his potential. At 6’4 almost 200 as a Sophomore, Williams has a lot of time to grow into his body, which will make him more and more efficient at the linebacker position. He already has power five conference offers from Maryland, Boston College, and West Virginia, so he clearly does all of the right things at linebacker. Pallotti will look to have a bounce back season in 2022 no doubt, and, with [player_tooltip player_id="172213" first="Gabriel" last="Williams"] as a Junior linebacker, they’ll certainly have a much better chance in the MIAA next year. [player_tooltip player_id="172213" first="Gabriel" last="Williams"] is a premier D1 level player. <a href="https://t.co/qTd0zqMbMi"><strong>https://t.co/qTd0zqMbMi</strong></a> <strong> </strong> <strong>2024 6’0 220 LB – [player_tooltip player_id="172219" first="Simeon" last="Coleman"] – DeMatha </strong> [player_tooltip player_id="172219" first="Simeon" last="Coleman"] had a breakout season at linebacker this year, and he proved that he’s one of the heaviest and most efficient tacklers in the WCAC. Coleman absolutely brutalizes ball carriers, but he does so with clean hits. He, arguably, has the best vision of all the linebackers on this list, and that’s how he’s able to get in prime position to deliver such treacherous blows. DeMatha’s defense was one of the best in Maryland this season, and [player_tooltip player_id="172219" first="Simeon" last="Coleman"] had a lot to do with the Stags’ success. He already has offers from power five conference schools such as Ole Miss, Maryland, and West Virginia. [player_tooltip player_id="172219" first="Simeon" last="Coleman"] is absolutely a Top 3 linebacker in the 2024 class in Maryland, and the only thing higher than his ranking is his ceiling. He has the potential to seriously impact a program’s defense at the next level, and he has D1 stud written all over him. <a href="https://t.co/lKaq0Nnw8p"><strong>https://t.co/lKaq0Nnw8p</strong></a> <strong> </strong> <strong>2024 6’2 200 LB – [player_tooltip player_id="249389" first="Jaylen" last="Harvey"] – Quince Orchard </strong> If you’re looking for a linebacker that is particularly good on the outside then look no further than [player_tooltip player_id="249389" first="Jaylen" last="Harvey"]. Harvey also lines up as an edge rusher on the defensive line, but wherever he lines up he manages to impact the play. The characteristic that stands out when you watch Harvey is his speed. He possesses blazing speed, and it is particularly impactful when he pressures the backfield. Harvey is a phenomenal run defender, and the reason is because he reads plays quickly. As a Sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id="249389" first="Jaylen" last="Harvey"] plays the game at a level beyond his years, and he is, without question, an elite level D1 linebacker. Scouts must have [player_tooltip player_id="249389" first="Jaylen" last="Harvey"] on their radars. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GYvUy"><strong>http://www.hudl.com/v/2GYvUy</strong></a> <strong> </strong> <strong>2024 6’1 205 LB – [player_tooltip player_id="172814" first="Montay" last="Weedon"] – St. John’s </strong> [player_tooltip player_id="172814" first="Montay" last="Weedon"] performed at a high level all season long, especially in clutch time. He was a member of one of the best defenses in the nation, and his presence absolutely made that defense more dominant. Playing alongside this St. John’s roster this season, [player_tooltip player_id="172814" first="Montay" last="Weedon"] gained a ton of valuable experience that is going to really pay-off in the long run. He was already a fantastic tackler and a turnover machine in 2021, recording everything from fumble recoveries to interceptions, however, he has an even higher ceiling for the future. [player_tooltip player_id="172814" first="Montay" last="Weedon"] earned WCAC honorable mention this year, and he has offers from elite programs like Ole Miss, Maryland, and USF. There’s no question that his game will translate extremely well at the D1 level, and he should be looked at as an elite prospect at linebacker. <a href="https://t.co/VnVEbftF8g"><strong>https://t.co/VnVEbftF8g</strong></a>