Kentucky Linebackers I Would Give Offers to Right Now
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For the next installment of my “Kentucky Players I would give offers right now” we will be analyzing linebackers. The linebacker position is one of the most crucial positions in football, having to be the captain of the defense and…
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Continue ReadingFor the next installment of my “Kentucky Players I would give offers right now” we will be analyzing linebackers. The linebacker position is one of the most crucial positions in football, having to be the captain of the defense and needing to analyze the formation of the offense to prioritize how the defense will act. Having a talented linebacker will not only improve your defense but also improve overall team chemistry since the linebacker position requires a strong leader on defense and on the bench when the offense is out on the field. Today, I will be listing 5 linebackers I would send scholarship offers to if I were a college recruiter.
Styles Goodman Styles Goodman 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Weiss Highschool | 2024 TX MLB | 6-2, 225lbs. Class of 2024 | North Hardin High School, KY | Tape:
Styles is an extremely aggressive linebacker on blitz coverage which makes it nearly impossible for an incoming ball carrier to get past him. Styles is the perfect example of a player who can keep the defense in check if his teammates are slacking. The 2024 grad has explosive speed when blitzing and has superior footwork to keep him treading the field quickly when the ball is thrown in a certain direction. The most impressive trait is Goodman’s reaction time to a pass as he can quickly react once the ball is thrown and head towards it to make the tackle. A lot of talent in this young man and still has a few years to further develop his game which is valuable for any college team to take a look at. I can definitely see this kid playing college ball at any collegiate level.
Lee Shelton OLB | 6-3, 215lbs. Class of 2023 | Wayne County High School, KY | Tape:
Lee is an incredibly strong and athletic force playing the middle linebacker position. Whenever the defense switches to the blitz coverage, the leader of the pack usually consist of Lee as he comes in like an absolute wrecking ball toward the opposing quarterback. It’s fun to watch Lee rush on a blitz because it’s like watching an angry bull that just got loose. Since Lee acts as the leader of the blitz, he is also the leader directing man coverage on a pass, having impressive zone reads, and identifying where the ball is going to go before the pass is thrown. With his physicality to tackle the ball carrier and his high team IQ, Lee is an elite LB that I can easily see playing DI ball somewhere, even though he has already received a D1 offer so far.
Gavin Willis Gavin Willis 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Louisville Ballard | 2023 State KY OLB | 6-0, 210lbs. Class of 2023 | Ballard High School, KY | Tape:
Gavin racked up an impressive junior season making 83 tackles, 3 interceptions, and 5 sacks for the Ballard Bruins. What is noticeable about Gavin’s playstyle is his tackling mechanics. In other words, Gavin knows where to hit an opposing player’s weak spot which enables him to make even the most difficult tackles. Along with that, Gavin makes accurate predictions based on his great field vision to make a stop where the ball is being put. The young man is also a ball hawk and has many traits that correlate with a Nickelback which makes him an even greater threat when the ball is thrown near him. Gavin checks off all the skillsets any college football team would be looking for in an LB. I would be wanting to recruit this man any chance I can get if I were a local school in need of an OLB like Gavin.
Jacob Romero OLB | 5-10 165lbs. Class of 2024 | Scott County High School, KY | Tape:
Jacob is another outsider linebacker that possesses stellar ball-tracking ability, ferocious blitz coverage, and great hands when deflecting incoming passes. Romero makes consistently adequate zone reads that allow him to make a stop and limit the amount of yardage gained by the ball carrier. His magnificent strength off a blitz enables him to put pressure on the quarterback fast before they can make a play on the field. Romero is the perfect guy to have on a defense when the main goal is to minimize the time it takes for the opposing offense to make a play. Since he has 2 years left of high school ball, I expect to see Jacob to further advance his game at the linebacker position and become even more of a threat on defense. I would be sending offers immediately for any juco or DIII school needing an effective play-stopper on defense.
Pilot Lukacsko MLB | 5-10, 190lbs. Class of 2023 | Great Crossing High School, KY | Tape:
What is most fascinating about Pilot Lukacsko is that he makes the most impactful plays on the football field. In other words, Pilot is known to be a big-time defensive threat in clutch time. I have seen multiple clips of Pilot making crucial plays in the red zone when they need to make a stop. To me, that shows that not only can Pilot take charge of the defense when they are struggling to make a stop, but he can be trusted to make those crucial plays in win-or-lose situations. That is a valuable trait to have out in a leader in the linebacker position. With that trait and being a hard-hitting LB who can track incoming passes with little difficulty, that makes him a recipe for disaster for an opposing offense. I would be keeping my eye on Pilot during his senior season as if he continues to play at the elite level he already has, then I certainly believe he will be receiving more college offers in the future.