Must-see from the class of 2022: Linebackers
Butkus. Singletary. Urlacher. Growing up a fan of the Chicago Bears, these were sacred names to me. They were also the embodiment of the linebacker position. They had that unique combination of skill and toughness, as well as the relentless…
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Continue ReadingButkus. Singletary. Urlacher. Growing up a fan of the Chicago Bears, these were sacred names to me. They were also the embodiment of the linebacker position. They had that unique combination of skill and toughness, as well as the relentless motor and the football acumen needed to truly succeed at the position. It’s easy to forget because linebackers so often fill the stat sheet, that they also have to be able to read and understand many aspects and minutia of an offense as well. In many ways they are the quarterback of the defense and must have the football IQ to match. It is not an easy position to play, but these five players make it look as such and have me looking forward to what they’ll bringing to the table this coming season.
Alex Mitchell Alex Mitchell 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Riverdale | 2022 State TN – Riverdale 6’1″ 215
Mitchell has exactly what you want to see out of your linebackers, and is an ideal fit at the position. He’s got the size you want and the motor that the position calls for. Just look at his stats last season: 84 total tackles, 30 solo, 54 assists, and 4.5 tackles for a loss, paired with 5 passes deflected and 1 caused fumble. The kid is a tackling machine and is absolutely everywhere on the field. What I am interested in seeing this coming season from Alex is if he can get his sack production up. He only had 1 sack on the season. Mark my words, if he can build on his numbers from last season and really boost his sack numbers we could be looking at an All-State player by the end of the season.
Cade Apple Cade Apple 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Cookeville | 2022 State TN – Cookeville 6’1″ 210
Cade is one of those players that when you look at his production over the course of his career, you see that we could in for an incredible season from the young man. From his sophomore year to his junior year his tackle total increased by over 20 (54 to 75) and his tackles for a loss increased by 5 (2 to 7). That’s the kind of growth you want to see from a player. He also caused a fumble and recovered 3 last year, after coming up empty in the fumble department the year before. He’s shown he’s capable of immense growth and as such, I’m expecting big things from Cade this coming season.
Langston Patterson Langston Patterson 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Christ Presbyterian | 2022 State TN – Christ Presbyterian Academy 6’1″ 210
There’s a reason this young man has already committed to Vanderbilt: he is an absolute beast. Last season Patterson had 72 total tackles manning the middle of the defense for the Lions. Of those 72, 19 (19?!) were for a loss. Those are incredible numbers to build on, and if Langston continues this trajectory, I imagine we’ll be in for a monstrous season from the young man. Oh, and did I mention he does all of this for the defense while also toting the rock on offense? This kid is the very definition of a football player, and the Commodores have gotten a good one.
Marquise T Woodson – Pearl Cohn 6’1″ 215
With Marquise, we don’t have the largest of sample size, but my anticipation is still high nonetheless. In 7 games with the Firebirds, he had 9 solo tackles with 7 assists for 16 total. He also had 2 tackles for a loss and 1 sack. I see these numbers and all I see is potential. He’s got the prototypical size you want from your linebackers and clearly is a capable tackler. I think if this young man can get more reps, he could be primed for a breakout season and really turn some heads his way this upcoming year.
Elijah Herring Elijah Herring 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Riverdale | 2022 State TN – Riverdale 6’2″ 225
So much of what a linebacker does is reliant on his running mates in the middle of the field. That’s why I can’t mention Mitchell from the Warriors without mentioning this young man. Herring finished last season with 51 total tackles, 30 of which were solo, 10 tackles for a loss, and 3.5 sacks. Oh and he also blocked a punt. This kid is a stud make no mistake about it. Elijah has already committed to the Vols, and you can bet they like myself, are dying to see what he brings to the field this upcoming season.
The linebacker position is the Energizer Bunny of positions on a roster. Your physical and mental motor must be going a mile a minute from the first whistle to the last. You have to be able to read an offense, immediately communicate with your teammates, and then barrel straight toward the play hurtling your body towards your opponents. You really do have to be cut from a different cloth, and all five of these young men I believe fit that bill. There is an immense level of anticipation to see what they bring to their defenses this upcoming season, and my bet is that they deliver.