Football Class of 2027 Player Rankings: Linebackers

Over the next few weeks we will be releasing our Player Rankings for the football Class of 2027. Player rankings are compiled by Bound Wisconsin football writer Travis Wilson and are based on a combination of college potential, recruiting interest/offers, in-person evaluations, film evaluations, coach evaluations, stats, post-season awards, and more.

Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight End/Fullbacks
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
Edge Defenders

1. Keaton Wollan, Amery – Wollan is a tackling machine on defense for the Warriors, recording 125 stops last year with nine tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three interceptions, and 1.5 sacks. He was the Middle Border Defensive Player of the Year and a WFCA Small School All-State pick. Wollan also excelled on offense with a team-high 932 rushing yards. He flies around the field with outstanding athletic ability and a pop that sends blockers and ballcarriers backwards. After initially committing to Iowa State, he flipped his commitment to the University of Wisconsin.

2. Cayden Cavanaugh, De Pere – Cavanaugh is another highly productive inside linebacker, with 112 tackles last season. He was also responsible for two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. A First Team All-Conference selection, he also earned WFCA Honorable Mention All-State. Cavanaugh does a nice job flowing through traffic to get to the ball, and is outstanding playing in space. He holds offers from Northwest Missouri, Upper Iowa, Sioux Falls, Ferris State, and Northern Michigan.

3. Jack Guenzler-Soda, Verona – Jack took home First Team All-Conference recognition in the Big Eight Conference last year, adding WFCA All-Region recognition. He was tops on the Wildcats with 104 tackles last year, with 10 tackles for loss, and three sacks. Guenzler-Soda does an excellent job attacking downhill but has the ability to pursue to the outside as well. He holds offers from Drake, St. Thomas, Western Illinois, Butler, and several D2’s.

4. Connor Stuckel, Neenah – Stuckel is a heavy hitter from his inside linebacker spot in the Neenah defense. At 6’2”, 215 pounds, he has the size and strength to take on blockers and punish the running back. A First Team All-FVA selection, Stuckel recorded 68 tackles last year with eight tackles for loss, and three sacks. He also forced two fumbles and recorded two interceptions. He has given a commitment to Drake.

5. Corbin Burrell-Warfield, Kenosha Bradford – A defensive weapon for the Red Devils, Burrell-Warfield was used in a variety of ways, and excelled in all of them. He’s outstanding in space, doing a nice job to drop into coverage, where he had two interceptions. He added 51 total tackles, earning First Team All-Conference recognition in the Southeast. He has D1 offers from Army, Eastern Michigan, and Drake.

6. Jack Whitehouse, Notre Dame – Whitehouse was the leading tackler for Notre Dame last year, recording 72 total stops for the D2 runners-up. A First Team All-Conference pick as a linebacker and fullback, he was WFCA All-Region at both positions as well. Whitehouse is an extremely physical linebacker who does a nice job taking on blockers at the point of attack. He gave a commitment to Northern Michigan earlier this year.

7. Naverion Flowers, Catholic Memorial – Flowers will be a four-year varsity standout for the Crusaders, as the tackling machine is part of a really talented defense at Catholic Memorial. A First Team All-Conference pick last season, he has a handful of Division 2 offers.

8. John Cramer, Waterford – Waterford’s defense is designed to funnel things to the inside linebackers, and that means Cramer has a lot of responsibility. He delivers in a big way, putting up an outstanding junior season with 119 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and six sacks. He gets to the ball quickly, with excellent diagnosis skills and a burst to step into a hole in a hurry. Cramer was a First Team All-Conference pick and holds several D2 and D3 offers to this point.

9. Mason Flury, Holmen – Flury played with a fury last year in earning not only First Team All-Conference recognition, but also Defensive Player of the Year honors in the Mississippi Valley. He led the team with 97 tackles, 16 of which came for loss. He also had an interception, a fumble recovery, and forced fumble. He isn’t the biggest guy out there, but he plays with a big stature, not afraid to bring the wood in the tackle box. He’s outstanding at diagnosing the play and quickly finding the ball, usually pretty close to the line of scrimmage.

10. Jayden Adams, Muskego – Adams earned Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition in the Classic Eight Conference last season, when he recorded 67 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and four sacks. He was used both inside and outside for the Warriors, but he found a way to make an impact whether dropping into coverage, rushing the passer, or serving as a run filler. He holds a D1 offer from Drake plus multiple other D2 and D3 offers.

11. Eli Maier, Mt. Horeb/Barneveld – Like several on this list, Maier excels as a running back and linebacker for the Vikings. Going for 658 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground, he also recorded 103 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks per game on defense. He does a nice job to take on or side step blockers and find a way to the football, and shows a very good ability to play in space.

12. Erik Ynnocencio, Racine Case – Ynnocencio has a nose for the football and the speed and agility to get there in a hurry, where he’s a very sound tackler. Those qualities helped him to a First Team All-Conference selection in the Southeast Conference a year ago, when he recorded 95 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and three sacks. He holds offers from UW-Whitewater and UW-Oshkosh.

13. Calum Crist, Darlington – Crist earned all kinds of accolades last season as the Redbirds claimed the Division 6 state championship. He was First Team All-Conference at linebacker and running back, the SWAL Defensive Player of the Year, and a WFCA Small School All-State selection, despite missing several games to injury. Holding an offer from UW-Platteville, he is an old-school inside linebacker that looks to punish the offense.

14. Bryce Seefeldt, Coleman – Seefeldt was First Team All-Conference and WFCA All-Region as a linebacker and offensive lineman last season. He proved he’s a very good athlete regardless of the size of his school, performing very well at the WFCA Combine in May, where he ran a 4.75-second 40 with a 9’10” broad jump, 33” vertical, and 24 reps of 185 pounds on the bench press. Last year he recorded 91 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and two sacks on defense, and earned an offer from Sioux Falls earlier this year.

15. Isaiah Laack, West Salem – Laack was a First Team All-Conference and WFCA All-Region choice last year for the Panthers, when he led the team with 78 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss. He’s at his best playing in the box and attacking the line of scrimmage to make plays. Laack holds an offer from UW-Oshkosh.