A Step Ahead: Jim Stefani's Underclassmen Football Recruiting Blog

Class of 2008: Some Elite Linebackers

Nigel Bradham LB 6'2 220 4.60 Crawfordville Wakulla Florida

Considered by many to be perhaps the top LB in the nation and top overall prospect in Florida…………….As a junior he was a First Team Class 3AAll-State selection and 3A Player of the Year and also earned First Team All-Big Bend honors from the Tallahassee Democrat after recording 128 tackles (66 solo, 62 assists); 2 INTs (one returned for a TD) and 4 fumble recoveries (one returned for a TD);…….Registered 139 tackles (98 solo), 8 sacks and 2 INTs as a sophomore………..On tape, he shows an innate ability to get to the ball and exceptional strength, speed and athleticism. Has the ability to just dominate a game from the defensive side of the ball. Has the speed to go from sideline-to-sideline and drop back and be very effective in pass coverage. Has the power to fill in running lanes and break through the line of scrimmage to regularly nail ball carriers behind the line of scrimmage. Has a real nasty demeanor on the field………Projects as a MLB in college……Avid weightlifter……..By early 2006 he already had offers from such programs as Florida and Florida State…….A special, special talent.


Shayne Hale LB 6'4 217 4.81 Monroeville Gateway Pennsylvania

Hale is one of the elite linebackers in the nation and top overall prospects in Pennsylvania.......A First Team Class AAAA All-Stater and Pittsburgh Poiste-Gazette All-Area selection as a junior…….Recorded 105 tackles, 13 TFL, 5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 4 forced fumbles as a junior………..As a sophomore, he had 80 tackles, 1 INT, 2 forced fumbles, and 3 fumble recoveries…….Tested well at 2006 combines (4.81 forty and has run a 10.9 100-meters, 4.51 shuttle, 34-inch vertical and an impressive 25 bench reps at 185), but his game speed is even more impressive. Once he straps it he‘s all over the field, showing the speed to go from sideline-to-sideline to chase down ball carriers………Great frame with room to fill out and very aggressive. He is also very strong. Already benches over 350 pounds even though he still appear skinny…..Already made a name for himself on the combine circuit as a freshman……..One of the top prospects to emerge out of the WPIAL in recent history, ranking up there with former teammate Justin King (Penn State)…….His school has produced quite a bit of talent recently…..Has a very, very high ceiling……….As of mid-January, 207 he had early offers from over a dozen schools, including the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Penn State.


Steven Filer LB 6'4 225 4.65 Chicago Mount Carmel Illinois

One of the nation’s elite linebacker prospects and considered by some to be the top prospect in Illinois...........A Second Team All-State selection by the Chicago Tribune as a junior……….Plays for one of the most powerful programs in the Chicago area……As a junior, he registered almost 90 tackles and 8 sacks in leading his team to a 12-2 record and another appearance in the state championship game……..As a rare sophomore starter at Mount Carmel, he recorded102 tackles and 3 sacks as the leading tackler for a defense that shut out three opponents and held six more to single digits……..Has a great frame and can go from sideline-to-sideline……Very, very tough, this young man will hit you hard, even in practice……An old school backer with new school skills………Quality young man and an excellent student….Related to former Notre Dame RB Jerome Heavens…..His coach, Frank Lenti, told the Chicago Sun-Times that as of December 2006 Filer had received more Division I scholarship offers than any other player he has coached in 23 years……As of mid-January, 2006 he already had early offers from the likes of Notre Dame, Nebraska, Stanford and Michigan…..Steven, you need to put on your sunglasses; the future looks bright!


Maurice Simmons LB/DB 6'1 190 4.66 Compton Dominguez California

One of the nation’s top linebackers and possibly the top ‘backer in California…..A First Team Underclass All-State selection as a junior after earning Sophomore All-State honors in 2005………Helped lead his team to a second consecutive CIF Division II-A title, ands along the way he earned CIF MVP and CIF Defensive Player of the Year honors while posting about 150 tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries…….As a sophomore, he recorded 109 tackles and 9 sacks……On film, he shows outstanding speed, quickness and athleticism and an innate ability to make plays. Great football instincts and he will really hit you. He can really run. Very effective going sideline-to-sideline......Plays for a program that is one of the better talent—producers in Southern California……His coach calls him probably the best linebacker Dominguez has ever had….. Tested well on the 2006 combine circuit, recording a 4.66 forty, 4.35 shuttle, 33-inch vertical and 16 reps on the bench……Looked good at the 2006 USC Skills Camp……Great bloodlines, as older brothers Melvin played at USC, Marvin at Kansas State, Marlin at California and younger brother Marquis is one of the top linebackers in the Class of 2009. I guess you could call them the “Five Mighty Ms”…..Will need to get bigger to play big-time college ball, but that shouldn’t be a problem. I like him best at OLB, but he could also possibly project at safety….3.0 GPA…..Nebraska and Mississippi already offered in 2006.


Bruce Taylor LB/DL 6'3 230 4.65 Myrtle Beach South Carolina Virginia Tech

South Carolina’s Class of 2008 is absolutely loaded and Taylor is one of the very best in addition to ranking among the best ‘backers in the nation……One of the top players to emerge out of the Grand Strand area in recent history...........A Second Team All-State selection as a sophomore after registering over 200 tackles, a remarkable 42 TFL, 8 sacks and 4 INTs. Also earned one of the nation’s best-named awards, The Sun News' Toast of the Coast Defensive Player of the Year……..Broke his arm early in his junior season but returned to excel……He is both quick and strong. He can get to the ball extremely quickly. He has excellent size and is capable of playing any of the linebacker positions at the next level………His coach calls him the best player he has ever coached…….He committed to Virginia Tech in September 2006 over offers from such programs as Florida State, Georgia, Virginia, Clemson, Colorado, South Carolina, North Carolina and Maryland

posted by Jim Stefani @ 4:32 AM