College Football Recruiting 2013: Power Ranking Top 3 LB Recruits in the Nation
Unlike a number of positions in the 2013 recruiting class, the linebackers are pretty set at the very top.
The top prospect of the bunch is already committed to the reigning BCS champions and nobody is going to catch him at the top of the rankings.
Not only is he the best linebacker in the country, but he's arguably the best player in the country.
Being No. 2 or No. 3 on any list behind Reuben Foster is not anything to be upset about at all.
1. Reuben Foster, Troupe County (LaGrange, GA) -- Committed to Alabama
The consensus 5-star recruit and Crimson Tide commit has a bit too much buzz around him for coach Nick Saban and his staff to be comfortable with his pledge. However, the most recent news indicates they actually get their hands on him earlier than they expected.
As a player, Foster is as dangerous as they come. At 6'2", 230 pounds, the Georgia native is incredibly fast and strong for his age and size.
He's not just one of the best recruits in the country, but he's one of the best linebackers we've seen coming out of high school in some time. He loves to hit, is a true downhill screamer and has a knack for taking down opposing quarterbacks.
Foster's combination of athleticism and instincts make him a can't-miss recruit.
2. Matthew Thomas, Booker T. Washington (Miami, FL) -- Undecided
Everything about Matthew Thomas has to do with potential. The nearly 6'4", 205-pound Florida native is a gifted athlete who has played both defensive end and linebacker in high school.
The chances of him filling out to defensive end size are unlikely, so he's better suited as an outside backer with his combination of size, speed and athleticism.
The Scout 5-star recruit has offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Oklahoma and Texas A&M.
He recorded 117 tackles and 13 sacks last season as a junior.
3. Michael Hutchings, De La Salle (Concord, CA) -- Undecided
At roughly 6'2", 210 pounds, Michael Hutchings is as intriguing a prospect as there is at the linebacker position.
He's a gifted coverage linebacker, but doesn't have elite speed. He plays with great instincts and runs through ball carriers with ease.
He'll continue to grow and fill out, and a player with his type of instincts could be a real force when that happens.
The California native has offers from almost every Pac-12 school as well as the likes of Notre Dame, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska and Oklahoma.
Here at Signed, Sealed, Delivered we'll power rank the top players at each position in one of our many daily features. Be sure to check it out and, more often than not, argue your case against what we have to say—we're all ears.
You can catch me talking talking football and throwing seven different kinds of smoke on Twitter.
