Rivals Rankings Week: Breaking down the 2024 linebackers
The initial Rivals250 for the 2024 class is out this week and today we take a look across the defensive positions. In focus here are the linebackers as we break down the top-rated player at the position, two teams to watch and three other names to watch as the offseason continues.
CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Outside LB | Inside LB | Strongside DE | Weakside DE | Defensive tackle | Offensive tackle | Offensive guard | Center | Tight end | Wide receiver | All-Purpose RB | Running Back | Pro-Style QB | Dual-Threat QB
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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Weekend: Who should be the No. 1 prospect in the 2024 class? | Top QB?
Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Meet the new five-stars
Tuesday: New Rivals250 released | Gorney goes position-by-position
Wednesday: Offensive position rankings released | QB rankings spotlight | Who is the next five-star QB? | RB rankings spotlight | Who is the biggest threat to take over top position at RB? | WR/TE rankings spotlight | OL rankings spotlight
Thursday: Defensive position rankings released | DL rankings spotlight
Friday: State rankings released
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1. Top prospect at linebacker: Sammy Brown
In the seventh game of his sophomore season while playing quarterback and rolling out, Brown got jumped on from behind and felt like he hyperextended his knee. The MRI said it was a torn LCL and a bruised tibia plateau, which shelved Brown for the rest of the season.
But the top-ranked linebacker in the 2024 class who has Georgia, Clemson and many other national powers recruiting him is back in tip-top shape. He conditioned for about a week and then went right into wrestling season and looks back to normal.
Brown has all the tools – he can run, he can track people, he’s a physical tackler, he can make plays all over the field and trusts his eyes. For a sophomore, Brown has special ability and is already a physical presence on the field with more high school seasons ahead of him.
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2. Two programs to watch: Texas and Florida
Texas might not be in the ballgame for many of the top linebackers in the 2024 class yet – with geographical considerations playing a big role there – but the Longhorns could be focused on quality over quantity at this point. Payton Pierce out of Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy has Texas highest on his list right now with Arkansas, Baylor, SMU and others making an impression. Pierce is a tackling machine who is fearless and it looks like Texas is the early program to beat.
Florida has a chance to load up across the linebacker positions. Three of the top six inside linebackers and the second-best outside linebacker in Adarius Hayes are all from the state of Florida and there is legitimate interest in the Gators. If Florida wants, it could make a significant dent in the top linebackers for 2024.
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3. Three prospects to watch: Payton Pierce, Timajay Hayes, Adarius Hayes
Pierce has Texas high on the list but a busy spring of visits is coming up. The four-star linebacker will be at TCU this month and then April is packed with trips to Arkansas, Baylor, Texas and SMU and he’s also trying to see Texas A&M soon. The Longhorns look pretty strong here but it’s still early in his recruitment. With around 130 tackles as a sophomore, Pierce could be an even hotter commodity soon.
Hayes has Florida, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Louisville as the programs that have caught his attention the most but the Melbourne (Fla.) Eau Gallie standout remains wide open. Hayes is best picking through a crowd and then unloading on the ball carrier, a physical presence even as a sophomore that should only continue to be more dominant as he gets older. He can play a traditional linebacker spot, come off the edge and Hayes even played some safety last season.
Florida is the dream program for Hayes from Largo, Fla., but Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson and others have his attention as well. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Hayes can play inside or outside linebacker, it really doesn’t matter because he’s like a heat-seeking missile all over the field. Hayes is long and lean but drives people into the ground, loves to be physical and uses his speed and vision to his advantage.