2024 Rankings Update: Linebacker

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px">As we head into the 2023 high school football season, we have updated our rankings for the incoming senior class. Now that these rankings are published, I will be taking an in-depth look at each position for the class of 2024. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I have turned my attention to the top defensive players in the class. With the defensive line already taken care of, I will now move on to the leaders in the middle of the defense. With that being said, here are our top linebackers in the class of 2024 in the state of Kentucky. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["408041"],"_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_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='408041' first='Jason' last='Hocker'] is a linebacker that was high on our radar coming into this past season that continued to rise up our rankings. Hocker played a huge role in Bryan Station's deep playoff run, finishing the season with 90 tackles, ten tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. Hocker is the true leader of the defense at inside linebacker, showing the ability to make pre-snap reads and once the ball is snapped, reacting very quickly to get to the ball. He is a very reliable tackler both in between the tackles and in the open field. Hocker also does a great job of timing his blitzes, bursting through his gap before the opposing offensive line gets the chance to react. Jason currently holds offers from Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee Tech, Southeast Missouri State, Akron, and Austin Peay, and I expect that list to continue to grow as he has the talent to play at the Division I level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["423658"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Another linebacker that has been high on our radar for a while now that continued to impress this past season is North Laurel's [player_tooltip player_id='423658' first='Jack' last='Chappell']. He had a very strong junior year, finishing the season with 52 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks,  and one forced fumble. Chappell is a big, physical outside linebacker that plays with a very high motor. He comes off the edge with a full head of steam against both the run and the pass and drives straight through anyone who tries to block him. Once he gets to the ball carrier or quarterback, Chappell finishes his tackles with a ton of physicality. Chappell also has shown that he is reliable in pass coverage, showing the ability to play in a hybrid safety role at times. He finished his junior year with one interception. While Chappell hasn't received any official offers yet, he has received a nice amount of interest from college programs and has the talent to play at the Division I level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["422904"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='422904' first='Darion' last='Neal'] is a linebacker that I had on my radar coming into this past season that completely exceeded my expectations. He played a key role in the Broncos' 5A State Championship run, finishing with 69 tackles, ten tackles for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Neal does a great job of reading his keys from the middle linebacker spot. Once he sees where the ball is going, Neal comes downhill in a hurry, meets the running back in the running lane and explodes through contact to finish the tackle. When the play is away from him, Neal does a great job of flowing to the ball to put himself in a position to make a tackle in the open field. He is also very impressive when blitzing, showing that he can jump the snap with perfect timing, shooting through his gap before the offensive line can react. Neal currently holds one offer from Eastern Kentucky but I expect more to come going into his senior year as he is a true Division I caliber linebacker.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["408043"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Another member of a very impressive Bryan Station front seven that finds his way on this list is [player_tooltip player_id='408043' first='Dahvon' last='Frazier']. Frazier had a strong junior season, finishing with 42 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery which he returned for a touchdown. He plays in a stand up outside linebacker role and is very dangerous as a pass rusher. Frazier has an explosive first step and uses his speed to blow right by opposing offensive tackles. He has also shown some impressive pass rush moves to defeat blocks. Frazier is also reliable against the run, showing the ability to run all over the field to make tackles. He also showed some ability in pass coverage, coming away with one interception this past season. Dahvon currently holds offers from Southeast Missouri State and Eastern Kentucky, and I expect that list to grow going into his senior year as he is a Division I caliber prospect.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["313820"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Rounding out our top five linebackers in the class of 2024 in the state of Kentucky is [player_tooltip player_id='313820' first='DeAndre' last='Malone'] from Male. Malone had an outstanding junior year, finishing with 98 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles. While he has seen snaps at both inside and outside linebacker, Malone played primarily in a stand up outside linebacker role this season. He is dangerous off the edge as a pass rusher, using a combination of speed and strength to beat opposing offensive tackles. Malone plays with a very high motor, continuing to work to get to the quarterback. Against the run, Malone does a great job of reading the play and using his speed to get to the ball carrier to make tackles in the open field. While he doesn't currently hold any offers, Malone has received some college interest and definitely has the talent to be a very productive player at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-641a406b51a00"} /--> <!-- wp:heading {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <h2 class="has-medium-font-size">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 175):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='490002' first='Bryce' last='Pugh'] (Leslie County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='381930' first='Major' last='Brown'] (Lexington Christian Academy)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='423659' first='Jack' last='Lonaker'] (Cooper)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='381911' first='Gray' last='Price'] (Greenwood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='316808' first='Davon' last='Rudolph'] (Ballard)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='381912' first='Elijah' last='Hawkins'] (Logan County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='653370' first='Logan' last='Julian'] (Tates Creek)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13. [player_tooltip player_id='653504' first='Phoenix' last='Eddington'] (Perry County Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14. [player_tooltip player_id='381933' first='Kenyatta' last='Hardge'] (Madison Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15. [player_tooltip player_id='653368' first='Ben' last='Fay'] (Conner)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>16. [player_tooltip player_id='653502' first='Carter' last='Howard'] (Harlan County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>17. [player_tooltip player_id='653481' first='Cain' last='Grim'] (Paintsville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>18. [player_tooltip player_id='381935' first='Hayden' last='Kiser'] (Madison Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>19. [player_tooltip player_id='653387' first='Madden' last='Miller'] (Martin County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>20. [player_tooltip player_id='495304' first='Landon' last='Colvin'] (Campbellsville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>21. [player_tooltip player_id='653485' first='Bo' last='Patterson'] (Casey County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->