To wrap up our top five linebackers in the class of 2029 in the state of Kentucky, I have Eric Forney Jr. Eric Forney Jr. 5'10" | 180 lbs | LB Kentucky Country Day | 2029 State KY Eric lines up at inside linebacker where he is at his best against the run. He has a nose for the football, showing the ability to read the play and find the ball carrier quickly. Once he sees where the ball carrier is going, he uses his strength to shed blocks with ease then uses his speed to get to them with a sense of urgency. He is a very good tackle in the open field, finishing his freshman year with 52 tackles and two tackles for loss in 13 games. Forney Jr. also showed the ability to get to the quarterback, recording 3.5 sacks as a freshman. Eric will be a player to keep an eye on moving forward as he continues to grow and develop.

Forney Jr. represented Louisville and the state of Kentucky in just about every tournament/event possible on the pre-high school level. An active Outside Linebacker with 12.08 speed in the 100m. Plays best in space and excels as more of an off-ball linebacker. Has some room to improve overall athleticism and fluidity. High character kid with an engine that runs hot all the time. Has proven pursuit ability to chase down Running Backs/Wide Receivers from behind. After playing for several teams on the middle school level, I’d expect him to see the field somewhat early at Kentucky Country Day — even if it’s in a Special Teams capacity.

For the last three seasons, Eric Forney Jr. Eric Forney Jr. 5'10" | 180 lbs | LB Kentucky Country Day | 2029 State KY has been one of the most consistent defensive players in the talent-rich Greater Louisville Youth Football Association. Each of his previous three standout seasons, have resulted in a selection to the Kentucky Future Stars–the only Linebacker on this year’s team who can say that. Forney Jr. will be headed to Kentucky Country Day for high school and the Bearcats are getting a fast, aggressive Linebacker. In March 2025, Forney Jr. was a standout on the Region 2 squad in the KYMSFA Battle of the Regions.

The orange helmets of the Lyndon Lightning were seen flying all over the field during the Battle of the Regions, specifically at the Linebacker position. Forney Jr. had a solid weekend for Region 2, as the rangy and versatile Linebacker was very active in both games. Long enough to play OLB, yet strong enough to play ILB, he had a nice showing in the first game against the eventual 8th grade champions, Region 4, but really stood out in his squads victory over Region 3. I lost track of the number of times his name was called over the speaker, but he was everywhere.