Michigan's Top 10 Linebacker Prospects for the Class of 2018

The linebacker class for 2018 is arguably one of the best in recent memory for the state of Michigan. Every player in the top 10 is a high-level D-I recruit, while many outside the top 10 are also big-time next level prospects. Here are the top 10 linebacker prospects for Michigan's class of 2018.

Top 10 LB Prospects --

1. Ladarius Jefferson-6-2, 210-Muskegon- My No. 3 overall prospect in the state of Michigan, Jefferson is a D-I talent at LB or QB. What makes Jefferson a cut above others in my opinion is his leadership abilities and natural football instincts. He's the kind of player who might not be an instant sensation, but by the time he's a redshirt sophomore or junior, he'll be a beast of a player/competitor and the face/attitude/heart of a program. He helped lead the Big Reds to a Division 3 state runner-up spot last season. With speed, strength and tackling ability, Jefferson is one of the Midwest's best. Despite a recent verbal, he has Big Ten/SEC-level talent. Verbal to Central Florida.
2. Kolin Demens-6-2, 220-Detroit Country Day-A heat-seeking missile if there ever was one, Demens uses his 4.5 speed to track down practically any running back or quarterback, while making tackles from sideline to sideline. The younger brother of former Country Day/U-M/NFL linebacker Kenny Demens, Kolin has an upside just as high as his talented older sibling. Behind Demens, the Yellowjackets finished as the Division 4 state runner-up last year.
3. Ovie Oghoufo-6-3, 220-Farmington Hills Harrison- A physical specimen, Oghoufo is a two-way talent as a wide receiver or linebacker. With outstanding pass rushing skills from his outside linebacker position, Oghoufo uses strength and long arms to shed any blocker in his path. With edge speed, Oghoufo could potentially add weight in college and play defensive end. From a legendary suburban Detroit program, Oghoufo is a big-time prospect. Verbal to Notre Dame.
4. Kyren Cunningham-6-1, 220-Orchard Lake St. Mary's-In one word, this kid is just a "gamer." He proved it last season, catching the game-winning touchdown pass in the final seconds to lead the Eaglets to a thrilling victory over Muskegon in the D-3 state championship contest. Also a bruising running back, Cunningham's future, however, is at linebacker. With speed to burn, Cunningham, who runs a 4.5 40, was a member of OLSM's state record-setting 800-meter relay last spring (along with WR K.J. Hamler, DB Shermond Dabney and DB Richard Bowens, all of whom are playing D-I college football this fall), showing a burst and an explosiveness not often seen by a prep linebacker prospect. U-M, MSU, where are you on this kid?
5. DeAndre Square-6-1, 215-Detroit Cass Tech-The next, great linebacker from a Technician program which, in recent years, has churned out D-I college football (and future NFL) players like the auto factory assembly lines which made the Motor City famous worldwide. With 4.5 speed, Square, a former safety, uses his DB agility to blanket receivers in space, while utilizing his added size and strength to make plays at the line of scrimmage and pressure the quarterback. Last season, he helped lead Cass Tech to the D-1 state championship. Verbal to Kentucky.
6. Caleb Murphy-6-4, 215-Dowagiac-One of the most intriguing players in the state of Michigan, Murphy is a physical freak. Like Jefferson, Murphy excels on both sides of the line of scrimmage. I like him as a big, physical wide receiver who can out-jump and out-muscle any DB at the high school level, but I love him as a LB or a bulked up DE at the collegiate level. He could add 15 pounds and be 6-4, 230 at OLB or a 6-4, 245-255 pass rushing DE of the highest level. Though a bit raw, with 4.5 quickness, leaping ability and impressive closing speed, Murphy, a sleeper-type player at the moment, is a Big Ten-level talent.
7. C.J. Gildersleeve-6-2, 220-Saline-This kid is money. He's a coach's son, playing for one of the state's top programs, led by one of Michigan's best up and coming coaches (Joe Palka, relatively new to Michigan, but formerly a highly successful prep coach in the Toledo area), while being a three-year starter for the Ann Arbor-area powerhouse Hornets. Gildersleeve uses his 4.5 speed to hunt down ball carriers and defend the pass. He's the type of player who can thrive in open space or hunker down and get physical inside. Verbal to CMU.
8. Keith Johnson-6-3, 245-Detroit Loyola-A bruising, physical presence inside, Johnson punishes opposing running backs and quarterbacks. Already man-size at the LB position, Johnson is a three-year starter and leader of a Bulldog squad that finished as Division 7 state runner-up last season. Though he could bulk up and play DL or TE or even FB at the next level, Johnson could possibly play MLB at 6-3, 255-260 in college. Whatever position he plays at the next level, Johnson will bring a physicality and intensity rarely seen from a high schooler.
9. NeVen Simington-6-4, 225-Saginaw-A returning Detroit Free Press Division 4 first-team All-State selection, Simington is a rangy, fast and powerful pass rusher for the Trojans. His upside could be as high as any player above him on this list. From a tradition-rich program which has produced some of Michigan's greatest players, Simington is a Big Ten-level prospect who will take his talents to the MAC. Verbal to CMU.
10. Brett Taylor-5-10, 220-Comstock Park-Like Dowagiac's Murphy, Taylor is also a physical freak. A supremely talented athlete, Taylor is one of the Grand Rapids area's best baseball players, as well as being a D-I college football prospect. With a reported 4.4 blazing fast 40 time, Taylor is perfectly suited to defend today's wide open, four or five wide receiver offensive sets and formations. An OG on offense, Taylor has the toughness to play inside as a LB and close to the line of scrimmage and the speed/mobility to play outside in space and defend the pass. A four-year starter for the Panthers, Taylor is a bit under-the-radar, but a bonafide D-I football talent.


Other top LB prospects for Michigan's class of 2018 (all are D-I level players) -- Eric Chenault-6-0, 215-River Rouge, Malique Foster-6-2, 230-Saginaw Arthur Hill, Justin McMurren-6-1, 230-Saginaw Heritage, Vaughn Walker-6-3, 210-Midland, Dyontae Johnson-6-3, 215-Detroit Cass Tech (Toledo verbal), Sam Kinne-6-3, 225-Lake Orion (103 tackles, 12 TFL, two sacks, Flint Journal Dream Team, Detroit Free Press Div. 1 All-State selection as junior at Lapeer), Bryce Chamberlain-6-3, 215-Ortonville-Brandon (4.5 40), Qaadir Ali-6-2, 215-Detroit King, Nolan Fugate-6-1, 210-Grand Rapids Catholic Central (also top RB, 4.5 40), Isaac Darkangelo-6-1, 235-Detroit Catholic Central (two-way starter, also FB, on Div. 1 state runner-up), Taylor Purnell-6-2, 225-Grosse Pointe North, Devon Mills-6-0, 220-Lincoln-Alcona (AP Div. 7-8 All-State first team as junior), Javante Van Buren-6-3, 210-Southfield A & T (CMU, WMU offers), Henry Janeway-6-4, 220-Utica Eisenhower, Christian Brooks-6-2, 220-North Muskegon (runs 4.6 40), Jon Kennedy-6-1, 215-Portage Central, Michael Munderloh-6-3, 195-St. Louis (also top flight WR, 4.6 40), Ramani Williams-5-10, 210-Detroit Cass Tech, Khale Showers-5-11, 215-Rockford (Grand Rapids Press Dream Team), Damien Arnold-6-2, 240-Crosswell-Lexington, Wyatt O'Brien-6-4, 215-Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central, JaMichael Johnson-6-1, 215-St. Clair Shores South Lake, Toby Hulst-6-1, 215-Grand Rapids South Christian (Grand Rapids All-South), Gleo Wade-5-11, 205-Clintondale (73 tackles, 8 TFL, five sacks, two fumble recoveries, Detroit Free Press All-East first team), Carson Kovath-6-1, 215-Detroit Catholic Central (4.6 40), Chaim Austin-5-10, 240-Detroit Central (Detroit Free Press All-Detroit first team, 113 tackles, 13 sacks, seven interceptions), Gabe Ellis-6-3, 205-Davison, Nathaniel Conner-6-2, 210-Southfield Bradford Academy (4.5 40), Nick Apsey-6-0, 200-Maple City Glen Lake, Briar Bearss-6-1, 210-Millington, Colton Hyble-6-5, 225-Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, Liam Cavanaugh-6-4, 215-Holland West Ottawa, Zach Jacobs-6-3, 220-Frankenmuth, Jon Mayhue-6-2, 220-East Kentwood, DeMarcus Bush-6-0, 205-Burton-Atherton (102 tackles, four sacks, Flint Journal Dream Team), Trevor Brock-6-1, 205-Fowlerville (120 tackles, eight TFL, six sacks, Lansing State Journal Dream Team), Jakob Huysken-6-1, 205-Schoolcraft (AP Division 5-6 All-State first team as junior, seven sacks, 4.5 40), Jacob Ager-6-1, 230-Boyne City (97 tackles, eight TFL, Traverse City Record-Eagle Dream Team).