Rivals Five-Star: Storylines Surrounding Linebackers


The Competitors 5-Famous person is again then moment in Jacksonville and probably the most nation’s manage linebackers within the 2025 and 2026 categories might be figuring out.

Listed here are 5 storylines we’re gazing heading into the premier summer time tournament.

1.

Can any program catch Ohio Situation for Justin Hill?

Getting into professional talk over with season in June the Buckeyes held a commanding top for the four-star out of doors linebacker. The Cincinnati (Ohio) Winton Logs standout has additionally taken professional visits to USC, Alabama and Oregon.

His relief stage is prime in Columbus and Ohio Situation has been pushing dried for him thru his recruitment. All 3 of USC, Alabama and Oregon deal one thing distinctive to him and are operating excellent methods.

However it’s dried to believe any of the methods from out of doors the area having the ability to go up the in-state Buckeyes.

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2.

Will a 2025 linebacker earn a 5th megastar?

Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng

Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng (Nick Lucero/Competitors.com)

On the pace, we do not need a five-star linebacker within the 2025 Rivals250. The stunning factor about Competitors 5-Famous person is that each the Disagree. 1 outside and inside linebackers might be on the tournament competing and they are going to each have the probability to end up they will have to have a 5th megastar.

Within linebacker Riley Pettijohn is making the go back and forth from McKinney, Texas. He’s taken professional visits to Ohio Situation, Texas, USC and Texas A&M. He’s were given a skillset and body that will permit him to manipulate in quite a few schemes.

Out of doors linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng is a sensation ailing at IMG Academy. He’s taken professional visits to Ohio Situation, Michigan, USC and Notre Dame. His brother starred for the Irish sooner than his NFL profession.

Each potentialities could have plethora of alternatives to exhibit their abilities in Jacksonville.

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3.

Will Christian Jones keep house?

Christian Jones

Christian Jones (Nick Lucero/Competitors.com)

4-star Omaha (Neb.) Westside linebacker Christian Jones is as sought-after as any linebacker chance within the nation. On the other hand, it’s been tricky for methods to split into his manage crew. Notre Dame used to be considered the manage warning to Nebraska and after the Irish have been eradicated sooner than an professional talk over with may just occur.

Auburn and Oklahoma did get professional visits. It feels just like the Sooners have Jones’ consideration essentially the most of any out of situation program.

Nebraska has been a relentless in his recruitment. The relationships and familiarity are there between Jones and Nebraska. Matt Rhule and his workforce will have to be capable of near the offer if they may be able to persuade him that wins are coming to Lincoln quickly.

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4.

Will any individual stake a declare because the manage canine in 2026?

Jordan Campbell

Jordan Campbell (Nick Lucero/Competitors.com)

One fascinating fold concerning the linebacker crew in Jacksonville is that we will be able to get a stunning take a look at probably the most manage 2026 gamers on the place, akin to Jordan Campbell, Anthony Davis, Kosi Okpala and Tony Williams.

Those potentialities are all rated as a four-star with stunning deal sheets however none are ranked because the manage chance at their place. This might be a stunning alternative to measurement them up towards every alternative and probably see who merits a bump.

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5.

Can we see Simeon Caldwell emerge at linebacker?

Simeon Caldwell

Simeon Caldwell (Nick Lucero/Competitors.com)

Each and every cycle there appears to be a couple of potentialities that saved rising from the security place and finally end up as hybrid linebackers. The ones gamers are very coveted through faculties on account of the original skillset they create with stunning measurement and velocity mixtures.

There’s a quantity of buzz ailing in Florida about Jacksonville (Fla.) Bolles four-star Simeon Caldwell rising right into a hybrid linebacker. He’s been a security in his highschool profession however colleges are actually providing him as a linebacker. After we get a probability to peer him then to the alternative linebackers all the way through drills, how will he store up?

Miami, Georgia, Ohio Situation, Florida Situation and lots of others who’ve presented him is also paying near consideration.

Rivals Camp Series: Ranking The Best Linebackers


The 2024 Opponents Camp Form regional stops are completed and the Opponents 5-Celebrity is at the horizon so this era, we’re taking a position-by-position take a look at which potentialities inspired us essentially the most on the regional occasions this future.

The linebackers are up upcoming.

1. BRYCE DEAS

Bryce Deas

Bryce Deas (Nick Lucero/Opponents.com)

The pristine Auburn constancy has all the time introduced consideration to his projected role as a result of he’s so flexible, so Deas figuring out at linebacker in Charlotte created buzz in and of itself. He temporarily subsidized up the chatter with stellar physicality and a aggressive edge, proven proper off the bat in drills and sooner or later within the pass-rushing section of the development. Deas was once commanding reps and profitable neatly greater than now not in spite of being one of the crucial green linebackers of the compres.

When it got here to cross protection, Deas in point of fact separated himself from the store. His reassurance in area and towards a standard working again path tree was once not hidden, as he was once continuously in role to assemble a play games at the soccer – even finishing one of the crucial routes for the backs within the procedure. Deas wasn’t afraid to let warring parties know of the good fortune he was once having at the future, both.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS WITH AUBURN FANS AT AUBURNSPORTS.COM

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2. ANTHONY DAVIS

Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis (Nick Lucero/Opponents.com)

Atlanta almost definitely had essentially the most loaded garden on the linebacker role, entire with droves of 2025 linebackers who’re more likely to finish up at SEC and ACC techniques. But Davis, some of the perfect in 2026, appeared as fluid and as at ease as any within the garden, creating a run at MVP at the side of the used, extra anticipated names. Upcoming one-on-ones got here and that is the place Davis, carrying dazzling purple Ohio Atmosphere gloves on the life, in point of fact took keep of the honors in exhibiting his skillful pace and consciousness in protection. The Rivals250 member has greater than 30 do business in to his title, with USC and Penn Atmosphere a number of the original.

3. JONATHAN CUNNINGHAM

Jonathan Cunningham

Jonathan Cunningham (Nick Lucero/Opponents.com)

Cunningham grew to become heads at each and every flip all through the Opponents Camp Form forbid in Dallas. He boasts a really perfect trendy body at 6-foot-3, close 200 kilos with skillful field as well. Cunningham blended the body with a tone and athletic recreation, appearing off dimension in protection with better-than-expected breaks at the soccer alongside the way in which. Whether or not tight finish of working again, Cunningham showcased a complete package deal to paintings in area on the upcoming degree.

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4. ADAM BALOGOUN-ALI

Adam balogoun-Ali

Adam balogoun-Ali

Balogoun-Ali shined brightest when it got here to operating his ft in protection, the place his field and consciousness additionally helped to assemble performs on the catch level. The blue-chipper can in point of fact run for his superb dimension, so he can most likely paintings any conventional linebacker spot on the upcoming degree. Balogoun-Ali has added Michigan and Florida Atmosphere do business in of overdue.

5. KEENAN HARRIS

Keenan Harris

Keenan Harris

Harris was once any other 2026 probability who flashed dominance on the linebacker spot. He carries his weight rather well, particularly in cross protection, the place the flashes had been consistent within the four-star piling up interceptions. Ball abilities aren’t continuously a number of the first characteristics thrown in the market with off-ball linebackers, however Harris labored towards the grain in that branch in how continuously he was once in role to and in the long run grew to become the ball over.

6. SCOTT TAYLOR

Scott Taylor

Scott Taylor (Nick Lucero/Opponents.com)

A participant who got here into the Opponents Camp Form in Los Angeles with some positional questions climate him, given some prep enjoy at the defensive sequence, Taylor quelled any fear about his skill off the ball early within the exercise. The UCLA promise confirmed an edge from an attempt and aggressive perspective regardless of the place he coated up, with him operating a couple of positions or even lining up on offense on moment. Taylor, who was once particularly noteceable within the cross coverage one-on-ones went away with MVP honors for the whole attempt.

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7. LUKE METZ

Luke Metz

Luke Metz (Nick Lucero/Opponents.com)

Pristine off of his Alabama constancy on the life of the Opponents Camp Form in Atlanta, Metz had a focal point that might end up to be i’m sure via the entire camp parts in spite of the chilly and wet surroundings within the discipline. Extraordinarily at ease at the exit, Metz was once fluid in drills and appeared at ease converting route all over the afternoon. The Purple Current promise was once stout towards blockers and plethora in role when it got here to protection towards each working backs and tight finish sorts.

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8. QUATORIUS WALKER

Quatorius Walker

Quatorius Walker

Some other from that loaded Atlanta forbid of the Opponents Camp Form, Walker was once crisp to omit for somebody available that Sunday. He was once the energy-driver of the linebacker crew, whether or not it was once in drills or no doubt when it got here to festival, even lining up towards trainer and previous NFL working again Brandon Jacobs for a rep. It wasn’t on the subject of hype for Walker who was once a number of the most powerful lateral movers of the deep crew. He additionally held his personal in protection, particularly ill the garden.

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9. CAM THOMAS

Cam Thomas

Cam Thomas (Nick Lucero/Opponents.com)

A Gold Ball winner in Indianapolis, Thomas has been often rising from a bodily perspective and his recruitment has adopted swimsuit. He transformed to linebacker from the security role, so there was once reassurance in protection as many would have anticipated. Thomas displayed robust instincts in many alternative settings and nonetheless presentations robust motion abilities and total athleticism in spite of the added bulk.

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10. DARRELL JOHNSON

Darrell Johnson

Darrell Johnson (Nick Lucero/Opponents.com)

Johnson does the whole lot with relative relief. He’s cat-quick along with his compact body, but his superb field permits him to preserve extra farmland than he may along with his elite athleticism, minimizing the window to succeed in a win towards him. The Alabama constancy continues to be rising into his body as a do-it-all defender, however Johnson’s motion ability in area was once one thing to peer. As he continues to fill out, he must toughen a few of his large strengths like his short-area explosiveness and physicality on the catch level.