Butler makes his rightful debut in our rankings as the No.2 LB and No. 5 overall player in the state. Many of the reasons I am excited about McCary echo again here in Butler. He is a long, lean, rangy athlete at 6’3 205 with a lot of space to add weight and grow. He is a truly elite mover who keeps edges sealed and effortlessly closes on the ball. He flips around and gets reps offensively, too, flashing more athletic evidence. He is 6’3 with elite sideline-to-sideline speed and his best ball ahead of him. No. 5 is a good place to debut, but I still think he could rise in future updates.

Perhaps the biggest riser and challenger on this list is Ryquan Butler Ryquan Butler 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Loachapoka | 2028 State AL , who exploded this offseason after a productive sophomore season. He is a similar player to McCary in the sense that he is a true specimen in the second level from a size/speed perspective. His game is based on his ability to pursue the ball. He has elite speed, especially for his size, which he pairs with long strides to quickly close space. Butler isn’t just fast, but he plays fast, too. There is a certain aggressive, urgent nature to his game that is exciting to watch, and he will only improve as he fills into his body.