Smaller than your average linebacker at the next level, Peyton Knoll Peyton Knoll 5'10" | 180 lbs | LB/RB North Butler | 2027 IA doesn’t let his slighter frame dictate how he plays the game. The 5-foot-10 and 180-pound backer is out to make tackles, and he plays with aggression.

Whether it’s finding a gap and making the tackle in the middle of the formation, or shuffling to the outside while keeping his eyes in the backfield, Knoll can find his way to the outside and make an open field tackle. What stands out most in defending the run game is his ability to generate power in short spaces, not requiring much time to get down hill and gain momentum in order to make a tackle. That, or serving as a spy over the middle of the field, he can read the quarterback’s eyes and determine when to take off and put pressure on the QB.

Opposing offenses got tired of Knoll pretty quickly in 2025. The North Butler junior racked up 67.0 tackles, almost twice as many as his nearest teammate. Forty five of those stops were solo, and he posted 6.0 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Knoll forced a fumble and recovered one. On offense, he rushed for 102 yards (5.1 YPC) and two touchdowns, and caught two balls for 22 yards. We can witness the broad set of skills and abilities that lead to the contributions during his 11th-grade highlight videos on his Hudl page. Knoll is aligned properly on the second level of the defense thanks to pre-snap reads putting him there. He flows well to the football, shooting the gaps and closing quickly on the ball carrier. Knoll is fast laterally and in a straight line, and is smooth backpedaling in coverage. A future at safety or hybrid is a potential path depending on physical development. Special teams’ contributions can be expected on the next level.