2026 Rankings Newcomers: Elite Linebackers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>With the newest 2026 rankings being released this past week, who are the top linebackers in the state heading into this summer in the 2026 class? Find out below! </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["739442"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":752281,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-642d931b9fff4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Colter is soon to be a national recruit and already holds offers from Oregon, ASU and Nevada while checking in as our top 2026 linebacker in the state. He is a violent and fluid player with good hips, elite closing speed and range at the second level while quickly diagnosing plays and shows a very high IQ, especially for his age. Able to make plays both in the box and out in space, he can blow up pullers/triggers quickly on the edge and provides pressure from various angles. Colter should continue molding into one of the top players in the country through his final three years of his prep career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["739444"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-642d931ba0097"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wade is a very active inside backer that has a natural nose for the ball and is a high motor kid with good speed and sudden movement abilities in the box. He is a downhill thumper that closes quickly, plays with a low hat and explodes through contact at the POA. A very physical player, he shows well timed pressures off the edge and up the middle while able to bend and knife into the backfield against bigger blockers while showing backside pursuit and a high motor. In the open field, he triggers on pass catchers while taking good angles in space before running through contact. Wade is a true plug in the middle of the Red Mountain defense and checks in as our number two linebacker in the 2026 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401160"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-642d931ba00f0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cronin is a very smart and fluid linebacker that had a terrific freshman campaign for Basha, and should excel over the next three years at the Varsity level. He has good size, cover abilities and fluid hips in space while excelling in zone coverage and baiting quarterbacks into bad throws while triggering quickly on the ball with closing speed and open field tackling abilities. On tape he flashes some pass rush abilities as well off the edge with active hands and bend while exploding into the backfield and showing he can pursue backside and track down ball carriers in the open field. A high motor and tough kid, he is a very balanced second level defender that provides both a pass rush and cover abilities while showing a high IQ. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Other Additions...</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401161"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-642d931ba0147"} /-->