EDGE
Christian Webb-Scott – Buford, 6-6, 230
One of the most physically imposing freshmen in the country, Webb-Scott is what you expect from a future five-star prospect. He is the next in a long line of elite pass rushers to come out of Buford. He shows a good variety of pass-rush moves and excellent bend to get around the edge and explode out of his stance. Keep an eye on him in the coming years as he develops into a high end recruit.
Malik Muhammad – Worth County, 6-4, 205
Muhammad is a high-upside prospect who should become a monster for Worth County. Playing more of a stand-up pass rusher role last year, Muhammad is long and athletic and can create mismatches. He needs to work on leverage and pad level, but that should improve. If it does, he could be a Power Five recruit when it’s all said and done.
Luke Nabors – Buford, 6-4, 200
Another elite Buford pass rusher, Nabors is the more finesse- and speed-reliant of Buford’s two 2028 pass rushers. While he has the power to take on blocks, his speed is elite for the position. He brings an elite motor, using his speed and Athleticism to create miss matches with offensive linemen. If he continues to grow, he will be an elite prospect in the Class of 2028.
Darion Newton – Locust Grove, 6-2, 250
Newton is a very interesting prospect who can play a range of positions. Currently playing both defensive end and outside linebacker, he has excelled in both roles with quick hands and feet that give him an edge over most linemen. He is a very sure tackler and is strong as both a pass rusher and run defender. The only question is whether he will eventually move to a more traditional defensive line position. With his size, he offers the kind of positional versatility college coaches love.
Camron Middleton-Adams – Grayson, 6-2, 225
Middleton-Adams plays for one of the top high school football programs in the country. At Grayson, he benefits from elite coaching and teammates. As a player, he has all the gifts you’d expect from a future college outside linebacker. His size is ideal for someone already receiving college interest. He will need to continue like all freshman do but he is on his way to becoming a power four recruit.
Ashton Lawless – Newnan, 6-2, 213
Lawless is another exciting edge rusher in the Class of 2028. He has good size for an outside linebacker but will need to add weight to stay at the position at the next level. In his freshman season, he mostly played with his hand in the dirt as a defensive end, using his speed to beat offensive linemen off the edge.
Trey Fulton – Lithia Springs, 6-3, 215
Trey Fulton is a rising star with all the tools you want in a freshman edge rusher. Fulton is long and has a good motor. The only concern is that at times he can be lackadaisical coming off the line. He needs to develop a better pass-rushing plan, but even top NFL prospects struggle with this early on.
Merrick Ham – Marietta, 6-6, 220
Merrick Ham is a different kind of animal. Even on a 7A football field, his frame stands out. He doesn’t move like someone his size and has the ability to use either speed or strength when rushing the passer. While players his size often struggle with pad level, Ham uses leverage to his advantage. He’s also very quick in open space, closing in on runners like someone much smaller.
Braylon Lewis – Dutchtown, 6-4, 200
Braylon Lewis is a long, athletic defender with excellent bend coming off the edge. Though he stands 6-4, his wingspan is a remarkable 6-9, giving him more length than his height suggests. He uses that length to his advantage, often getting his hands on offensive linemen before they can react creating lanes to the quarterback.
Kylen Pope – Cartersville, 6-3, 228
Pope is a player with good size who plays like a much bigger prospect. Standing at 6-3, he’s not massive, but his tape shows someone who plays like he’s 6-6. He uses his strength well to displace linemen and set the edge. He’s also a frequent disruptor in the backfield, harassing running backs and quarterbacks alike.
Kamari Butler – Kennesaw Mountain, 6-3, 205
Kamari Butler is one of the best-kept secrets in the state. Playing at a lesser-known 7A program like Kennesaw Mountain won’t keep him hidden for much longer. Last season, playing a stand-up linebacker role, Butler showed flashes of elite pass-rushing ability. His speed and power are impressive. Like many young players, he needs to improve his pad level and develop more pass-rush moves. If he can do both, he could become an elite pass rusher.
Quinn Jacobs – Blessed Trinity, 6-3, 220
Jacobs is another elite player in Blessed Trinity’s front seven. He brings a more traditional edge-rushing role to the team, joining DJ Jacobs as part of the team’s ends and outside linebackers. He has been working this offseason to become more explosive off the line and more effective as a pass rusher.
Steven McClendon – Douglas County, 6-4, 220
Steven McClendon is another elite prospect from Douglas County. He’s a high-level athlete with both a high floor and a high ceiling. His length gives him a huge advantage over many opponents. He has shown the quickness needed to play the position but, like many others, needs to work on his pad level. With the high end coaching at Douglas County do not be surprised if he easily develops into a power four prospect.
Myles Tate Woodward Academy, 6-4, 205
Myles Tate is a high-upside prospect who could become one of the top players in the state when it’s all said and done. He has good speed, great length, and a high motor. Right now, he’s a better run defender than pass rusher, which has led some to list him as a defensive lineman. His position remains undecided, if he puts on more weight, he could play defensive end at the next level, but he may also remain more of an outside linebacker.
LB
Andre Coley – Grayson, 6-foot-2, 198 pounds
Coley is a long and quick outside linebacker for the linebacker factory that is Grayson. Standing at 6-2 and 198 pounds, he is the prototypical linebacker with the speed to play off the edge. With his size and speed, he can play both inside and outside linebacker. If he can translate his talent to the field over the coming years, he will be a high-end recruit like his senior teammates Anthony Davis and Tyler Atkinson.
Ryland Garrison – Flowery Branch, 6-0, 180
The linebacker position has changed over time, and Ryland Garrison is the model of the modern linebacker. Standing at 6-0, he is a rangy athlete who can play sideline to sideline and is a high-end athlete for the position. While he is a bit underweight, that should change in the coming years. As a freshman, he totaled 97 tackles, along with 15 tackles for loss and 12 pressures. Overall, he should be one of the top linebackers in the state over the next three seasons and could become a major recruit.
Titus Mapp – Stockbridge, 5-11, 195
In only nine games on an elite team in Stockbridge, Titus Mapp was already a star for the Tigers in his freshman season. Mapp averaged 7.9 tackles per game and accumulated 71 total tackles, along with nine tackles for loss. Mapp, while slightly undersized, is a good athlete with strong instincts. He is great at differentiating between run and pass and is very good in coverage and as a spy. He is a sure tackler, fundamentally sound, and rarely makes mistakes.
William Harris – Dublin, 6-2, 223
Harris is one of the most physically developed freshman linebackers in the state. Standing at 6-2 and 223 pounds, he already has the size needed to be a college linebacker. Along with his size, he is one of the most physical tacklers in the state. He will move into a bigger role this year, where he can hone his skills and get on more coaches’ radars.
Javonte Western – Carver-Columbus, 6-1, 200
Western is a true outside linebacker and could become either an edge rusher or a traditional linebacker. He moves well and should continue to grow both physically and technically in the coming years. He is already getting looks from major programs but will need to show a bit more to keep that attention. If he continues to develop, he could thrive in the hybrid linebacker pass-rusher role colleges are increasingly using for true outside linebackers.
Loading ...
