The Top Sophomore Linebacker In Mississippi: Kaiden Buchanan

Kaiden Buchanan is a 4 Star recruit who plays Linebacker at Tupelo High School. Buchanan is ranked as the 60th best recruit in the class of 2028 and is ranked as the #4 Linebacker in the class as well. In addition, Buchanan is listed as the #4 recruit in the state of Mississippi and is listed as the #1 Linebacker in the state of Mississippi. He holds offers from schools such as Alabama, Michigan and Oklahoma.

Who are some role models in your life?
My first role model is my father. He’s the reason I began to love football. He played football in college when I was about 4 or 5, and seeing him do it stuck with me. He had a shot in the NFL. He always pushes me to be my best in whatever I’m doing. My mom as well—she went back to school and finished her Master’s Degree and showed me that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. My grandad is another one. He had a rough year last year. Doctors told him he would only live a couple of months, and he’s still here today, a year later. I thank God for him.

What artists do you listen to pregame to get you hyped up?
I listen to NBA YoungBoy, NoCap, and Lil Baby.

What are the strengths of your game?
I think my strengths are my quickness off the line when lined up at edge. I played receiver up until 8th grade, and I think that helps with coming off the edge. Another strength is paying attention to detail and watching film. It helps a lot when you somewhat know what’s coming.

What is your favorite memory of your career?
My favorite memory is winning the Super Bowl in peewee. I also won 8U Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018. Those are memories I won’t forget and ones that helped me get to where I am now.

Who is the best player you have ever played with or played against in your career?
The best players I’ve played with in my career would be Asher Ghioto, JaReylan McCoy, and DeVontrey Brewer.

What is some advice you would give to an aspiring D1 athlete?
I would say work hard and fall in love with the weight room. Fall in love with getting at least 1% better every day. Also, stay in your lane and focus on your journey, because sometimes offers don’t come as quickly as others. Stay grounded and keep working, and let your work speak for itself. Be willing to work when no one is watching.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I want to go to China. I’ve heard it’s one of the cleanest places in the world, and I love Chinese food.

How old were you when you fell in love with the game?
I was 5 or 6 years old, and my dad asked me if this is what I really wanted to do. I said yes, and we got to training.

If you could meet one sports hero, who would it be?
LeBron James or Micah Parsons.

What is your favorite sports moment as a fan?
My favorite sports moment is when LeBron and the Cavaliers fought back from being down 3-1 against the Warriors and won the Championship. It was intense and exciting to watch.