Vote: Who is the best linebacker in the Battle Creek area?
The B.O.B. is back and better than ever.
The Best Of Battle Creek series in the Enquirer is back for another year and again will include all the teams in the area.
Each week throughout the fall, we are asking, "Who is the Best Of Battle Creek?" as we look at each position in football among the city/area high school teams.
Nominations for each position have come from the city/area coaches with a little information on each player. It's a tougher list to make this year as we expand the field, but once we do, then it will be up to the Enquirer readers to decide who is the B.O.B.?
Each week we will give readers choices and open our online poll for voting, with a winner decided by the following Monday.
Next are the linebackers on the city/area football teams.
VOTE HERE: Who is the top high school linebacker in the Battle Creek area?
Or, scroll down to the bottom of the story for online poll
Here are the nominations:
Trenten Dollaway
School: Pennfield
Class: Senior
Why he is on the list: Trenten Dollaway has provided key senior leadership for a young Pennfield team and is among the leaders in tackles. Dollaway can fill holes on defense and also works well in coverage over the middle.
Hogan McCleary
School: Marshall
Class: Senior
Why he is on the list: Always in the center of the action, looking to make a play from his middle linebacker spot, Hogan McCleary has 40 tackles and two sacks as a leader for the Marshall defense. McCleary exhibits good toughness and is always willing to take on blockers or make a tackle.
Brandon Betz
School: Lakeview
Class: Senior
Why he is on the list: A senior leader for Lakeview, Brandon Betz is a returning starter at linebacker for the Spartans. As Lakeview has fought through injuries, Betz has been a consistent force showing good instincts and the ability to close on ball carriers.
Robert Hamlin
School: Athens
Class: Senior
Why he is on the list: A hard-hitting middle linebacker in the 8-player defensive scheme for Athens, Robert Hamlin is leading the team in tackles with 56, including three tackles for loss. A leader on and off the field, Hamlin is a team captain.
James Romyak
School: Gull Lake
Class: Senior
Why he is on the list: An inside linebacker for an improved Gull Lake defense, James Romyak is a leader for a unit that has held five teams to 100 yards rushing this year. A two-way player who also runs the ball, Romyak shows good senior leadership and is among the leaders in tackles.
Ben Mead
School: Tekonsha
Class: Junior
Why he is on the list: A team leader in tackles for the division-leading Tekonsha Indians, Ben Mead already has eclipsed the 100-tackle mark this year with 14 tackles for loss. Small for an inside linebacker, Mead makes up for his size with awareness and good quickness.
Jake Miller
School: Olivet
Class: Junior
Why he is on the list: The heart and soul of the Olivet defense, he leads the 6-1 Eagles in tackles with 61, including four tackles for loss. Jake Miller heads downhill quickly on every snap and is a big hitter and difference maker on that side of the ball.
Owen Jackson
School: Union City
Class: Junior
Why he is on the list: A captain of the Union City defense as a junior, Owen Jackson is a returning starter at his linebacker spot and the field general for a squad that is allowing less than nine points a game and less than 150 yards per outing.
Kalifornia Bey
School: Battle Creek Central
Class: Sophomore
Why he is on the list: Stepping into a bigger role as a sophomore, Kalifornia Bey leads Battle Creek Central in tackles with 54, including four sacks and six tackles for loss. He is developing into a college prospect and is a leader for a defense that has helped the Bearcats stay in first place in the league all season.
Brady Lightfoot
School: St. Philip
Class: Sophomore
Why he is on the list: A first-year starter at linebacker for the Tigers, Brady Lightfoot has emerged as a leader for the 8-player team with 68 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two interceptions. He has developed to become the team's best run defender.
Jimmy Leamy
School: Harper Creek
Class: Sophomore
Why he is on the list: Part of the youth movement at Harper Creek, Jimmy Leamy didn't come up to the varsity until the second game this season, but he has led the team in tackles ever since. With a high motor and a team-first attitude, the sophomore is already one of the leaders of the Beavers' defense.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter @billbroderick.
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This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Vote: Who is the best linebacker in the Battle Creek area?
