This group ranges from physical, big hitting seniors to high impact juniors with huge upsides. Here are eight names to get the ball rolling...

 

Brycen Huddleston (Sr. Highlands/Eastern Michigan commit)

No stats available

2

Sr. Hale Bohler of St. Xavier. Has offers from Southeast Missouri St. and Eastern Illinois. Will anchor St.X defense this year.

Michael Mayer of Cov Cath?

Michael Mayer of Cov Cath?

 

Absolutely. He gets so much attention on the other side of the ball that most probably overlook him as an elite linebacker. His physical attributes are so plentiful that he slid right into that MLB spot last year and looked like a natural fit.

Darren Green North Hardin

 

Michael Lunz North Hardin

Joe Kuerzi led Male’s top notch defense last year with 117 tackles. He will be Senior this year.

Darren Green North Hardin

 

Michael Lunz North Hardin

 

Between those two and Oxendine, North Hardin's not hurting for talent in the front seven.

These five may not necessarily make any all-state lists in 2019, but are solid returning linebackers in Northern Kentucky:

 

Senior Blake Shepherd from Beechwood. Beechwood is one of a disappointing abundance of NKY schools that don't report defensive stats, but he's a solid linebacker for the Tigers.

 

Junior Gavin Knight from Walton-Verona had a solid season last year for the Bearcats. He was the #6 tackler for the team as a sophomore linebacker, and had multiple forced turnovers.

 

Senior Nigel Robinson at Scott led the team with 103 tackles and 7 sacks last season.

 

Senior Ethan Bosway from Cooper led the team with 90 tackles and 1 sack.

 

Senior Luke Bradshaw from Ryle had 69 tackles.

Jase Bruner of Somerset is a ball player!

Ezarious Roller from Boyle I believe is going to have a breakout year.

Ezarious Roller from Boyle I believe is going to have a breakout year.

 

He's a solid backer especially in between the hash marks.

 

I also like Darrian Bell at Danville.

 

Give me Roller at an ILB and Bell at a MLB and I just made your run game have a whole lot of problems!

Darrian Bell Danville

As a sophomore lead a 15-0 State Championship team with 144 tackles and followed it up with 110 tackles his junior year!!!