Willie Bender Willie Bender 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Shikellamy | 2027 State PA is an excellent linebacker prospect from Shikellamy. He is a classic inside linebacker, as he constantly reads plays and makes a ton of tackles in or near the line of scrimmage. His fundamentals are excellent as he has a good stance and is good at triggering upfield at the right time. His ability to show patience as a run stopper is excellent. Reading your keys and coming upfield is fine, but you’d better be able to tackle as well, and Bender does that at a high level. He is especially a good tackler in the open field. Bender also showed a good ability to blitz as well. He is an excellent linebacker and defender in the 2027 class.

Willie Bender Willie Bender 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Shikellamy | 2027 State PA is an excellent run-stopping inside linebacker. His ability to read his keys and come screaming towards the line of scrimmage is impressive. His ability to make tackles in or near the line of scrimmage is excellent. He also shows a good ability to drop into a pass defense. He knows how to read the quarterback’s eyes and make the proper play on the ball thrown in his direction. Bender is a complete linebacker with good skills.

Willie Bender Willie Bender 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Shikellamy | 2027 State PA is a good linebacker who is the ultimate run-stuffer. His ability to read the offense and attack in or near the line of scrimmage is excellent. Then, his ability to close near the line of scrimmage and to make a tackle puts him in good linebacker territory. He has excellent fundamentals and has a good grasp of different concepts to do as a linebacker. His ability to make the correct read and then come up-field is impressive. Bender has a ton of skills as a linebacker and should only get better.

Quite the line from Week Six alone. 13 tackles, 8 TFLs, .5 sack. Tack on an interception and four pancakes, this against Central Mountain. Competition level might not excite anyone, Bender’s size might not either, standing at 5’10, weighing 205 pounds. Not exactly standout measurables for a two-way trench player, yet his tape makes you feel better about his potential prospects.

SAM backer, most if not all of his defensive production comes from this alignment. Linebacker looks to be his natural position, with Willie Bender Willie Bender 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Shikellamy | 2027 State PA being one of those rare prospects who play LB and OL, likely out of necessity. Usually, emergency options inside the OL unit are a liability, Bender might actually be the one of Shikellamy’s better options. A sophomore who is piling up production and getting experience that will likely help him develop down the line. OL play will help Bender better understand gap scheme as a backer, backer play will help him when aligned at OG too. If Bender can work in the weight room, he could be a real candidate to play college ball in the future.