As teams get set for scrimmages now is as good a time to examine the best players at each position.
Here’s a look at the top linebackers to watch in the Knoxville area entering the 2024 TSSAA football season.
Drew Armbrister
Greeneville, Sr.
Armbrister was the Region 1-4A Newcomer of the Year in 2022 and made the All-Region 1-4A team last year. He had 60 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, two sacks, three pass breakups one interception and two quarterback pressures. He has offers from Sewanee and Maryville College.
Joseph Armenta
Carter, Jr.
Armenta made the All-Region 2-4A team after having 92 tackles, 4.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, one interception, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Bearden, Jr.
Brown had 72 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks. He has an offer from the UT-Martin.
Matthew Covert
Maryville, Sr.
Covert had 124 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception. He made the All-Region 2-6A team in 2023.
Ben Gilbert
Oneida, Jr.
Gilbert had 136 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, one interception, one sack, seven pass breakups and forced three fumbles with seven pass breakups in 2023. He was the Region 2-2A Newcomer of the Year.
Eli Harrison
Lenoir City, Sr.
Harrison had 88 tackles one sack and one interception. He was the Region 3-5A Linebacker of the Year.
Brady Hughes
Gibbs, Sr.
Hughes made the All-Region 2-4A team after he had 121 tackles, two interceptions, 10 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and three pass breakups a season ago.
D’Andre Hundley
Austin-East, Jr.
Hundley had 52 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He made the All-Region 2-3A team.
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Abu Keefer
Powell, Jr.
Keefer had 100 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 11 quarterback pressures, one interception, 11 quarterback pressures and one fumble recovery. He has offers from the University of the Cumberlands, Grinnell College and Maryville College.
Tyler Mann
Sevier County, Sr.
Mann had 171 tackles,12 tackles for loss, four sacks and two pass breakups.
Wyatt McClure
Alcoa, Sr.
McClure had 38.5 tackles and one sack.
Gavin Owens
Campbell County, Sr
Owens had 80 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three pass breakups and one forced fumble.
JP Peace
Knoxville West, So.
Peace has an offer from UAB.
Samuel Proffitt
Jellico, Sr.
Proffitt had 112 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries with one returned for a touchdown and one pass breakup.
Brody Rogers
Halls, Jr.
Rogers had 73 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two sacks. On offense, he had 19 catches for 270 yards and six touchdowns.
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Wyatt West
Gibbs, Sr.
The Maryville College commit had 92 tackles, two sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.
Parker Whittaker
Grace Christian Academy, Jr.
Whittaker had 118 tackles, four tackles for loss and one fumble recovery.
Toyloy Brown III is a Knox News sports reporter. Email toyloy.brown@knoxnews.com. On X, formerly Twitter, @TJ3rd_.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Top TSSAA football players in 2024? Best LBs in Knoxville area
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