A sleeper linebacker to know at Mill Creek who showed D1-caliber talent last season, Backus is still flying under the radar after a very productive junior season where he made 60 tackles, five TFLs and five sacks while also making plays in coverage. He’s an incredibly smart defender with a high football IQ who has earned some Ivy League interest and even a recent offer from Navy. He plays hard, he’s fundamentally sound, and should see more offers come his way along with a boost in the upcoming 2027 Prep Redzone rankings this summer.

Backus is a productive returner in the second level for Mill Creek who consistently makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. He is a reliable player wbo compensates for being undersized by being aggressive as a tackler, pursuer, and as a fitter. He doubles as a baseball athlete, and I believe he would be a great addition for small schools looking for someone who competes. Still, he is sounding D1 alarms, so those small schools would need to keep their fingers crossed.

An instinctive linebacker who plays hard and knows how to wrap up the ball-carrier, Backus may not be the biggest or fastest defender in the 2027 class, but he’s been extremely productive this season and has proven that he can be a willing run stopper while being a consistent pass-rusher as well. He plays hard, hits hard, and has been a dependable defender for the Mill Creek defense all season long. Backus has made 26 tackles through his first six games with four tackles behind the line of scrimmage and five total sacks. He’s one of the region’s top pass-rushers and doesn’t look to be slowing down. He’s one of the more underrated linebackers in Buford area and will see a new Prep Redzone ranking come his way this winter.