The state of Michigan has a long and proud history of producing outstanding linebackers. From NFL legends like Carl Banks (Flint Beecher, Michigan State), Thomas "Pepper" Johnson (Detroit Mackenzie, Ohio State), LaMarr Woodley (Saginaw, U-M), Reggie Williams (Flint Southwestern, Dartmouth) and Brad Van Pelt (Owosso, Michigan State) to current college stars like Antwan Simmons (Ann Arbor Pioneer, Michigan State) and Josh Ross (Orchard Lake St. Mary's, U-M), the Great Lakes State has no shortage of talent at the linebacker position each and every year.
For the state of Michigan's class of 2021, the linebacker group has speed, power, pass rush skill and tackling ability. Throughout the Great Lakes State, from north to south, east to west and all points in between, there are play-makers and big-time, D-I linebacker prospects scattered all over Michigan.
Here are the state of Michigan's top linebacker recruits for the class of 2021 --
Top 10 Linebacker Prospects for Michigan's Class of 2021 --
1. Kobe King-6-1, 220-Detroit Cass Tech -- King could play either outside linebacker or inside at the next level. An all-around player, King is also a powerful running back for the Technicians, one of the country's top high school football programs. Quick to the football and physical and hard-hitting at the point of attack, King is one of the best linebacker recruits in the nation. Verbal to Penn State
2. Jamari Buddin-6-3, 215-Belleville -- Buddin might have the highest ceiling of any player on this list. This kid can do it all on the football field. Buddin's head coach called his star linebacker "big, fast and violent." Last season Buddin spent a lot of time in the opponent's backfield finishing with 61 tackles, including 29 TFL, nine sacks and 18 quarterback pressures. Buddin was named to the AP Division 1-2 All-State team last year. Buddin could also put his hand in the dirt, bulk up and be a heck of a defensive end at the next level, as well. Verbal to Penn State
3. Austin Roon-6-3, 215-Byron Center -- I love this kid. I think he's being highly under-recruited at the moment. Helped lead Byron Center to a 10-1 season last year. Named to the AP Division 3-4 All-State squad and to the Grand Rapids Press Dream Team last season. Roon finished with 82 tackles, six TFL, one sack and one interception returned for a touchdown last year. Roon runs a reported 4.5 40 and has a 36-inch vertical leap. Big Ten where are you? Verbal to Syracuse
4. Jailin Howze-6-1, 210-Clinton Township Chippewa Valley -- Big, fast and athletic, Howze is a wrecking force at the linebacker position for the Big Reds, one of suburban Detroit's top programs. Howze can cover the entire field. Strong near the line of scrimmage or in space defending the pass, Howze runs a reported 4.5 40 and an 11.3 100 meters. Howze bench presses 285 pounds and squats 530 pounds. Verbal to Buffalo
5. Derek Draher-6-0, 210-Ithaca -- His head coach calls Draher the most physical player he has ever seen. A standout on either side of the football for Ithaca, one of the top mid-sized programs in the Midwest (Yellowjackets had the nation's longest winning streak at 69 games without a loss from 2010 through 2014), Draher was named to the AP Division 5-6 All-State first team last season. Selected the Saginaw News Defensive Player of the Year, Draher finished with 164 tackles, 12 TFL, four sacks and one fumble recovery last season.
6. Christian Boivin-6-1, 205-Traverse City West -- Boivin is truly a play-maker and highlight-reel-machine from the linebacker position. From the same northern Michigan city as Michigan State legendary linebacker family the Bulloughs (Max (NFL), Riley (NFL) and Byron, Traverse City St. Francis grads) and Eric Gordon (Traverse City West grad, four-year stater at LB for MSU). Boivin was selected to the AP Division 1-2 All-State first team last season. Boivin, named the Traverse City Record-Eagle Defensive Player of the Year last season, finished the year blocking a state record seven punts, returning one blocked punt for a TD, while recording 127 tackles, 18 TFL and returning one interception for a touchdown. Big Ten? MAC? Take a look at this kid...
7. Jaden Bevier-6-0, 220-Ypsilanti -- Strong and physical, Bevier, a three-year varsity performer, is a bull in the middle for Ypsilanti. A sure tackler, Bevier finished with 105 stops last season. Like the school's nickname, Bevier plays with a ferocity and nastiness of a Grizzly. Selected to the Ann Arbor News Dream Team last year.
8. Brandon Rawls-6-1, 215-Ann Arbor Huron -- Made plays all over the field for Huron last season. Recorded an Ann Arbor-area high 113 tackles last year, with 10 TFL, four sacks and two forced fumbles. Fast and physical, Rawls is a tough load to handle. Named to the Ann Arbor News Dream Team as a junior.
9. Jake Dzialowski-6-1, 225-Walled Lake Western -- Fearless, down hill, aggressive linebacker for Walled Lake Western, a suburban Detroit school which in the past couple of seasons has sent players to Northwestern, Boston College and Michigan State. Dzialowski is physical and doesn't hesitate filling the hole and striking the ball carrier. Good, solid linebacker prospect for WL Western.
10. (TIE) Brian St. Clair-6-0, 210-Romeo -- Also a high-level fullback recruit, St. Clair is just a good football player. Offensively, St. Clair rushed for 1,012 yards on 163 carries with 15 TDs last season. St. Clair runs a 4.7 40, bench presses 300 pounds and squats 350 pounds. Named to the All-Macomb Country (Detroit suburbs) first-team last year. Marlon Dawson Jr.-6-4, 220-Oak Park -- Long, lean, athletic prospect with good speed and agility, Dawson plays for one of the state of Michigan's top programs. Runs a reported 4.8 40. Could bulk up to play defensive end at the next level. Verbal to Miami (OH)
Other top linebacker prospects for Michigan's class of 2021 -- Brody Dalton-6-1, 215-Jackson Lumen Christi (tough to leave out of the Top 10, named to Jackson Citizen-Patriot Dream Team, finished with 95 tackles, led Titans to Division 7 state runner-up spot last year), Kyler Stone-6-1, 210-Carson City Crystal (top running back as well, had 1,257 yards on 155 attempts and 15 TDs last year as junior, also top hoops player for school), Luke Snyder-6-0, 210-Charlevoix (139 tackles, three interceptions last year as junior, benches 305 pounds, squats 405 pounds, named to Traverse City Record Eagle Dream team), Sheldon Huff-6-0, 215-Johannesburg-Lewiston (had 119 tackles, 10 TFL, three sacks, two blocked punts en route to Traverse City Dream Team accolades), Alex Perry-6-0, 210-Cass City (named to Bay City Times Dream Team as junior, finished with 38 tackles, seven TFL, four sacks and one interception, one of Michigan's Thumb Area top prospects), Anthony Cardamone-6-1, 205-Utica Eisenhower (108 tackles, eight TFL, three interceptions, selected All-Macomb County), Demario Young-6-2, 205-Warren Cousino (55 tackles, two TFL, named All-Macomb County), Dwight McKinney-5-11, 230-Muskegon, Luke Martin-6-2, 215-Muskegon Oakridge, Garrett Fitzgerald-6-0, 220-Breckenridge (102 tackles, 12 TFL, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, named to Saginaw News Dream Team), Jack Voll-6-0, 205-Clinton, Josh Nohel-6-3, 205-Sanford-Meridian (51 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, one interception returned for a TD, five fumble recoveries, one fumble returned for a TD, selected to the Midland Daily News Dream Team as junior), Carter Fore-6-0, 210-Britton-Deerfield, Drew Bidwell-6-0, 220-Edwardsburg, Drake Deshetsky-6-2, 230-North Branch, Zachary Sergent-6-1, 220-Croswell-Lexington, Marquez Henderson-6-0, 215-Detroit Loyola.
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