Some of EKY’s Fastest Rising Linebacker Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Kentucky's summer "dead period" now upon us, it is a perfect time to catch our breaths, rest our legs and review some of eastern Kentucky's returning linebackers most likely to make major impacts on the defensive side of the football this fall. While all of the following performers comprise varied skill sets uniquely suited to their respective units' schemes, they collectively share the traits most common to dynamic, successful linebacker play: toughness, physicality, tenacity and the ability to make plays from sideline to sideline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["653481"],"_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":"While perhaps a bit lighter than most inside linebackers at 180 pounds, Grim more than compensates for any interior size disadvantages by aggressively attacking the line of scrimmage versus the run game, skillfully shedding blockers with violent/active hands and utilizing his speed to make plays from a multitude of angles. Starting 10 games last fall both inside and outside in the Tigers' 3-4 defensive package, he collected 68 solo tackles, 44 assists and 3 tackles for loss while also displaying the range and athleticism to cover both backs and inside slot receivers in the intermediate passing game. His team's top tackler last season, his continued development this fall will prove to be a huge boost to his squad's improving defensive fortunes.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Jacob Johnson","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Floyd Central","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"As a starting inside linebacker for the Jaguars in 2022, Johnson accumulated 47 solo tackles, 51 assists, 4 tackles for loss, and 1 interception in 10 total games. Perhaps the most consistently positive trait in execution is his quick, definitive downhill step on initial reads and his ability to meet/stuff inside runs at the line of scrimmage. Additionally, he clearly possesses the speed and athleticism to walk out and cover an inside/slot receiver, and his technique and patience on the backside of plays is exceptionally sound, as he displays no tendency to over pursue the football or allow cutback lanes for ball carriers. A long and athletic performer with the skill set to play either inside or outside on the second level, scouts and recruiters are sure to be impressed with his versatility and consistently high pursuit motor.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Bryce Patton","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Prestonsburg","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Patton is a durable, technically sound and experienced returning senior who consistently produced defensively for his Blackcats throughout their 11-game season last fall, finishing with 47 solo tackles, 28 assists, 6 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery. Extremely comfortable and active within the tackle box, he reacts quickly and efficiently to any downhill reads from an exceptional athletic positionu002du002dankles and knees bent, shoulders forward, feet square. While perimeter plays, screens and runs away from his primary alignment prove a bit more challenging, his pursuit angles, understanding of play side leverage and active hands/escapes help ensure that he provides inside-out support and finishes off plays when the ball carrier is turned back inside. Typically lining up inside with A-0r-B-gap responsibility, he also displays the ability to walk up on the edge and create havoc in space.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Ryan Rice","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Johnson Central","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"A compelling blend of quickness, technical prowess and overall athleticism, Rice operates effectively and reliably whether tasked to play the role of a traditional outside linebacker, a drop-down strong safety or a more physical version of nickel back increasingly popular versus today's spread offenses. In addition to exhibiting disciplined eyes and instinctive reads versus both run and pass, he consistently plays from a balanced, fundamental athletic posture and displays the aggressiveness and relentless pursuit motor necessary to make plays anywhere on the field. Over 13 games last season, he collected 20 solo tackles, 50 assists, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception and 1 fumble recovery, and he is a big reason why Eagle fans are quietly optimistic for a return to the Class AAAA mountaintop this fall.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Logan Stumbo","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Prestonsburg","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"A physical and durable performer in the Blackcats' 3-4 defensive set, Stumbo started as an inside linebacker for the entirety of his 11-game freshman season, performed at a consistently high level, and most impressively, still exhibited improvement even at the end of a grueling campaign competing each week against older, experienced and more physically mature opponents. Generating 60 solo tackles, 28 assists, 8 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery, he displays an aggressive, downhill path versus inside run reads and effectively scrapes over color versus outside/perimeter runs, enabling him to establish intelligent pursuit angles and finish plays with fundamentally sound tackling technique. With three seasons of development remaining, he currently projects to complete his career as one of the best defenders to emerge from his program/area in quite some time.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-648cbd051cae4"} /-->