The second level of the defense is normally home to bounty hunters or better known as the linebackers. The 2021 crop of top area players at linebacker are athletic, hard-hitting and are ready to wreak havoc on the area's high-power offenses.
As it’s proven to be a task every year to find out exactly who are the top returning players at their respective positions, Friday Game Night has put together a list of the top returning linebackers in 2021.
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Some of these guys already have accepted college offers, some have offers on the table, and some are starting to blip on the radar.
Below are the top returning defensive backs/safeties across the area:
Buford -- Sr. Aubrey Smith, 70 tackles, 11 TFL (tackles for loss) / 2.5 sacks
Buford -- Sr. Malik Spencer (Michigan State commit), 44 tackles, 4 TFL, 5 sacks, 2 INT (interceptions)
Buford -- Sr. VJ Payne, 63 tackles, 5 TFL, 3 sacks
Cherokee Bluff -- Sr. LB Brayden Nance, 81 tackles, 19 TFL
Dawson County -- Jr. Cade Moledor, 138 tackles, 4 TFL
Gainesville -- Jr. LB Stacy Hopkins, 57 tackles, 3 TFL
Jefferson -- Sr. Jordan Perry, 37 tackles, 5.5 TFL
Jefferson -- So. Sammy Brown, 51 tackles, 4 TFL, 2 sacks
Jefferson -- Sr. Kadin Bailey, 58 tackles, 15 TFL, 6.5 sacks
Lakeview -- Jr. Luke Cooper, 72 tackles, 11 TFL, 1 sack, 4 PBU (pass break up)
Lakeview -- Jr. Landon Hanes, 75 tackles, 12 TFL, 4 sacks
North Hall -- Jr. Jeremiah Telander, 143 tackles, 16 TFL, 5 sacks, 2021 All-AccessWDUN team, Region 7-3A Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team GACA All-State
Rabun County -- Sr. Will Turpin, 124 Tackles, 14.5 TFL, 5 sacks, Region 8-2A Defensive Player of the Year, 1st Team All-State GACA/AJC
Towns County -- Sr. Seth Gillis, 75 tackles, 17 TFL, 3 sacks
West Hall -- Sr. Tilil Blackwell, 65 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, All-Region 7-3A 1st Team
West Hall -- Sr. Nick Sturm, 86 tackles, 14 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 PBU, All-Region 7-3A 1st Team
White County -- Sr. LB Zion McMullen, 89 tackles, 7 TFL
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/8/1031507/lbs