The linebacker room has completely flipped this class with the signing of four players at the position. One of those key additions is Miami Palmetto (FL)'s Bobby Washington.

Washington is a heat-seeking missile that brings a physicality and thirst for contact that is not currently on the roster. His combination of length, speed, and reckless abandon for his body gives Miami a high-ceiling player at either linebacker spot. Here at CanesCounty, we see him projecting out like one of the NFL's hardest hitters.

Miami grabbed a number of brother tandems this cycle and Washington coupled with his brother Robby to provide two local four-star signees with premium athletic profiles. Both players locked in back in March and stuck with head coach Mario Cristobal through a 5-7 campaign and several other additions at linebacker. Louisville and others tried to get a flip but to no avail.

The linebacker of the Washington brothers fits the prototype of the modern linebacker. Lean and long with coverage ability plus a highlight reel of neutralizing hits should have coaches and fans excited about the future of Bobby Washington.

His throwback mentality brings an attitude to the program that seems to have been missing for years. Miami has struggled to find linebackers that even approach 100 tackles, let alone get the energy up via contact.

The last star linebacker to come out of Miami was fellow South Florida native Denzel Perryman, who was DRAFTED back in 2015.

Washington provided Palmetto with a productive senior year, collecting over 60 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and eight sacks.

"A guy that doesn't get spoken about enough is Bobby Washington. You want to talk about a guy that could run and strike and is really, really gifted."

There are not many linebackers with the combination of Washington's length and pop at the point of contact, but a player with the same physicality is NFL veteran and former LSU linebacker Kwon Alexander.

Much like Washington, Alexander was a top-25 linebacker coming out of high school, earning a four-star rating and both had 18 offers. Alexander was considered a big-time athlete at the position, running an 11.24 100-meter time. Washington is said to be able to run a 4.5 second 40-yard time or better, similar to the eventual 4.55 second time Alexander ran at the NFL combine.

At LSU, Alexander was a two-year starter that finished with 156 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles. He lasted just three seasons in college before entering the draft. He earned All-SEC first-team honors his junior year.

The speed and striking ability of both players are examples of players that may have ended up as big safeties in the past transitioning into the box, providing a versatile skill set that translates to all three downs, whether that be covering, playing the run or rushing the passer.

Alexander has had moments of greatness in the league. In 2017, he was selected to the Pro Bowl and was one the All-Rookie Team in 2015. He completely revived his career with the Jets this season, playing all 17 games and producing 69 tackles, six tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

The competition with the three other linebackers signed (Raul Aguirre, Malik Bryant, and Marcellius Pulliam) freshman star Wesley Bissainthe and Washington State transfer Francisco Mauigoa will be stiff, but if Washington can develop the same way Alexander did at LSU, the issues at linebacker for Miami will be a thing of the past.

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