Breaking down the five best 2024 linebacker classes

The 2024 recruiting class is all wrapped up so it’s time to see which groups received every place. Right this moment we proceed our position-by-position have a look at the highest lessons with the linebackers.

NOTE: Faculty transfers should not included on this checklist however transfers from throughout the 2024 class – a scenario created by the late teaching adjustments – shall be factored into this sequence.

Primarily based on what number of defensive gamers Georgia has put into the NFL it may be stunning that this system had not signed a five-star linebacker since Nolan Smith within the 2019 class. That streak ended this cycle with five-star Justin Williams.

The Texas native is a one-man wrecking crew on the soccer subject. His pace makes it in order that he’s in a position to be concerned in virtually each play. Williams has a continuous motor that makes him the right slot in Athens. He’s nearly as good of a linebacker prospect as you’ll discover in any 12 months.

Williams will give Georgia a real sideline-to-sideline off-ball linebacker, whereas four-star Kristopher Jones is a downhill thumper. There’s all the time a spot for a linebacker that’s aggressive in coming to the field to make tackles. That’s what Jones will give Georgia. He’s a certain tackler in a cellphone sales space but in addition exhibits the power to hurry the quarterback off the sting.

Virginia native Chris Cole is the kind of linebacker that may replenish a stat sheet. He does every little thing effectively however his mixture of pace and size makes him particular. Lengthy-term he may need as a lot upside as anybody within the class. It wouldn’t shock me if he’s a situational participant early in his profession however as soon as he’s within the power program for no less than a 12 months be careful for him.

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Auburn signed 4 four-star linebacker prospects in 2024, a feat solely three different packages have matched within the final 4 cycles. Demarcus Riddick leads the way in which and may very well be a particular participant for the Tigers if he lives as much as his large potential.

Jamonta Waller, who ranks No. 70 within the 2024 Rivals250, flipped from Florida in November. The hard-hitting linebacker is a little bit of a tweener however performs with an explosive first step and constantly created havoc within the backfield throughout highschool.

Joseph Phillips‘ dedication to Auburn in June was an announcement victory for Hugh Freeze because the Tigers beat out Georgia for the four-star’s pledge.

D’Angelo Barber was extraordinarily productive in highschool and could also be considerably under-ranked as a prospect that simply missed the Rivals250 lower.

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4-star Sterling Dixon, ranked No. 168 within the 2024 Rivals250, headlines Alabama‘s linebacker class. He was one of many Crimson Tide’s first commitments for the category and never solely remained steadfast in his pledge all through the cycle but in addition helped recruit different in-state prospects to Tuscaloosa.

Cayden Jones, the opposite four-star linebacker in Alabama’s class, impressed on the Below Armour All-American Recreation in January. The North Carolina product boasts an intriguing versatility that, coupled along with his at 6-foot-4 body, may result in him finally taking part in defensive finish for the Tide.

German native Justin Okoronkwo flipped his dedication from Maryland to Alabama final summer season. The three-star prospect will face a major leap in competitors as he transitions from Europe to the SEC however few packages deserve extra advantage of the doubt in relation to defensive evaluations than Alabama.

Three-star Quinton Reese is one other in-state get for the Crimson Tide and tasks as robust inside linebacker prospect that ought to affect this system after a pair years of improvement.

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What Florida’s linebacker class might lack in amount, it makes up for in high quality. Myles Graham, who dedicated to the Gators almost 18 months in the past, is one in all simply three five-star linebackers within the 2024 cycle. The Florida legacy tasks as a chase-and-tackle, sideline-to-sideline linebacker that ought to make an early affect in Gainesville.

4-star Aaron Chiles, the top-ranked prospect in Maryland, was one of many best-looking defenders on the Below Armour All-American Recreation and his athleticism ought to make him a superb complement to Graham.

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Oregon will head into its first season within the Huge Ten with top-of-the-line group of freshmen linebackers within the convention. 4-star Dylan Williams is the headliner and backed up his lofty rating with a powerful efficiency on the Polynesian Bowl in January.

Brayden Platt is an elite dual-sport athlete that plans to compete in soccer and monitor and subject in Eugene. The four-star prospect, who has Olympic aspirations within the javelin and shot put, is tremendous bodily however has the athleticism to fly sideline-to-sideline on the sector.

4-star Kamar Mothudi ought to be an unimaginable match within the Geese’ protection due to his intelligence and willingness to be coached. He selected Oregon over presents from Michigan, Texas, Utah and Washington.

Three-star Kingston Lopa performed security in highschool however may develop right into a standout exterior linebacker in Eugene. He flipped to the Geese in April following a three-month dedication to Arizona.

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