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football Edit

Pre Evaluation Rankings: Linebackers

Pre-Evaluation Period
Each year, SCVarsity.com begins narrowing down our list of
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athletes to a workable number that we can mold into a Top 100 Players list for the state.
And each year, one position seems to have more depth than others, but the there is always
a lot of talent to go around and there are always players that could be listed on this
list if there were more slots available. Here's a look at our Pre-Evaluation
Period-Linebackers.
The linebacker group from the Class of 2007 is not nearly as strong nor deep as it has
been in the past. Size, or lack there of, is the critique of this position in this class.
While there are a lot of players who are solid high school football stars playing
linebacker in the state, few transcend to DI prospects.
The leaders at this position are clear to me. Lake City's
href="http://scvarsity.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=47818">Scotty Cooper
and Blythewood's
href="http://scvarsity.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=48961">Charles White
are both top ten players in the state and solid prospects.
Cooper is a 6-0, 206lbs player who absolutely flies to the ball. In 2005, he collected
96 tackles on the defensive side of the ball. He had eleven tackles for loss and four
sacks. He has offers from West Virginia, Clemson, South Carolina, NC State, Kentucky,
Virginia Tech, and Michigan.
White entered the Spring as a sleeper until SCVarsity.com began promoting him with his
clips and our evaluation. This young man is a beast. Like Cooper, he's a 6-0, 205lbs
player (has been measured at 5-11 3/4). He's extremely explosive with a headhunter
mentality on the field. He has a nose for the ball and fights off blocks well. When he
sniffs the ball out, he delivers crushing blows to the ball carriers - as evidenced in his
film. He has one offer from Maryland... others have commented that they want to evaluate him, but are very
interested.
Either one of those guys could be considered the top linebacker in the state. Each have
very good speed. Cooper is a track guy with 10.5 speed and White has been clocked at 4.45
40 by a SPARQ certified trainer.
Lindell
Stevenson of Marlboro County is a player that has a huge upside potential at
this position, although he could also be seen as a strong safety. He has better size than
Cooper and White with a 6-2, 217lbs frame, but doesn't play with near the intensity that
those two do, nor does he pursue the ball as well. The thing is, he has the athleticism
and physical prowess to develope at this position. He may even see time at DB this season,
and has played QB and RB for the Bulldogs.
Stanley
Hunter of Byrnes High School collected 160 tackles, 38 tackles for loss, 16
sacks and an interception for the Rebels last season. He had a sack for a safety in the
state championship game. He's 6-0, 205, like Cooper and White and very athletic, but not
as fast. The question will be where does he play at the next level. If speed is going to
be a question, OLB could be out...he's a bit undersized for the inside spot, though some
schools are trending towards the smaller, more athletic LB's. Either way, he's a solid Top
Twenty player for SCVarsity.com.
Antwane
Glenn of Broome High School is a big bodied, 6-4, 235lbs player who really is
more of a defensive end than a linebacker. He played the middle last season and collected
98 tackles, 14 for loss, and 5 sacks. He's very athletic for a big guy, but is more of a
7-technique end.
A couple of sleepers that I like are Spring Valley's Norman Washington and Ridgeview's
John Synovec. Washington had a strong year last year at defensive back, but he's put on
about twelve pounds and gotten stronger and faster in the off season. Look for him to move
to the OLB spot in 2006 and be a solid player.
Synovec is a true sleeper. He played safety last year for the Blazers, but has
impressed me with progess in the off-season. He's gone from 180lbs to 195lbs, dropped his
40 from a 4.62 to a mid 4.4 consistantly, and dropped his shuttle from a 4.38 to a 4.03.
He's got an agressive, competitive attitude and I look for a move to linebacker this
season.
Remember, this is PRE EVALUATION content here. There will be several more linebackers
added as we complete evaluations. If you feel we've missed someone, email me at
href="mailto:JB@Rivals.com">JB@Rivals.com That player may not have been evaluated yet
and/or we may not have film or information on him.
Beginning May 1st, SCVarsity.com will release our Top Player Rankings.
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