The Headhunters: Wichita-Area Linebackers

Linebackers are a different breed at the high school level. They have to be able to do a little bit of everything and in the process hold a defensive unit together when times get tough.   The linebackers of today can be of any size, but they all bring their own brand of physicality, aggressiveness and reckless abandon that the position is noted for. In this report we will take a look at the first round of Wichita-Area linebackers, with a handful from both the '25 and '26 classes.   So without further adieu, I bring you the initial “Wichita Area Headhunters”:   [player_tooltip player_id='1241209' first='Jackson' last='Reed'], 6'1, 215, LB, Eisenhower, '26, is ranked #182 . After reviewing a ton of tape and watching some really stud linebackers, this kid is one of my favorites. He is coming off an excellent season a year ago as one of the few sophomore starters on a solid Eisenhower defensive unit. An active, aggressive, headhunter of an outside linebacker, he has excellent football instincts and is particularly adept at timing the blitz and shooting gaps. When he drops down to come off the edge, he blows by blockers with good body lean and quickness and destroys offensive tackles with his speed rush or going over the top with the bull rush. He will hit runners in the mouth when slamming the gate shut on the run game between the tackles. He moves well laterally and takes good pursuit angles. He is also a suffocating tackler who will deliver a blow in the open field. Get out and see a rising star in the Wichita area.   [player_tooltip player_id='1264072' first='Colton' last='Bannister'], 5'11, 190, LB, Wellington, '26. Is ranked #194 . He is coming off a standout sophomore season as a ball-buster of a linebacker in the Crusader scheme. An athletic, three-sport star in the making, he is one of those linebackers that reads and reacts as soon as the ball snaps. He has an aggressive stance, with good knee bend and body lean. When he explodes out of his stance he blows through gaps to make plays in the backfield or chase down speedy running backs on the perimeter. His speed is what makes him a difference-maker. The Crusader linebacker had 21 tackles for loss last season and a quarterback sack. He is also solid in pass coverage finishing with one interception and two pass breakups. He is one of those rare breed of linebackers that is always around the football no matter the traffic or who is trying to block him. Get out and see him go off this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1306198' first='Elijah' last='Dixon'], 6'2, 220, LB, Derby, '25, is ranked #220 . He is coming off an excellent junior season when he started at linebacker for Wichita Southeast. He has since transferred and will strap it on for the Derby Panthers this fall. And, by all indications, Derby is very fortunate. Last year he piled up 49 tackles, with 11 tackles for loss. Although he can play any of the linebacker positions, he excels as an outside backer who can stuff the run game inside and also hammer tackles and blocking backs coming off the edge. He has a powerful frame, with heavy hands and a rugged base that he uses to shuck blockers and blow up the opponent's run game inside and on the perimeter. He has great read and react skills and closes blazingly fast. Get out and see a master at his craft this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115473' first='Dylan' last='Sonday'], 6'2, 220, LB, Dodge City, '25, is ranked #227. He is another stud LB that is flying somewhat under the radar in western Kansas, but is rapidly making a name for himself. He is an instinctive linebacker who can play middle or any of the outside LB positions. He has great read and react skills and is a true piledriver of a hitter. He uses his top-end physicality to frustrate opposing teams in the run game or when he flies in to the backfield on the blitz. He is athletic and very effective at delivering a blow at the line of scrimmage and make the opposing team's running attack a nightmare. He is also fast and aggressive and can come hard off the edge or drop into coverage as needed. He sheds blockers and disengages well when flying to the ball. He is a versatile playmaker with excellent closing speed and gets in the backfield in a hurry. He has a high football IQ and diagnoses plays and offensive schemes very quickly. He is a stud in the making.   Ja'Mari Bland, 5'11, 215, Wichita Northwest, '26 is unranked for now. He is coming off a solid sophomore season when he established himself as a rock-solid presence on the Wichita Northwest defense. Lining up as a middle linebacker he has a powerful base and pounding hands that he uses to shuck double teams and make thundering hits between the tackles. Coming out of his stance he maintains excellent pad level and essentially walls off the running game between the tackles. He also has outstanding instincts and fast read and react skill sets that enables him to read the perimeter and with top-end closing speed make the hit on the corners. He is going to be a force in the middle this fall, get out and see a rising star.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115495' first='Jackson' last='Davis']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jackson-davis-2/"></a> , 5'10, 195, LB, Winfield, '25, is ranked #91. A strong, physical defender who can play multiple positions within legendary coach Monty Lewis' defensive scheme. He is powerful enough to blow up the hole as an inside linebacker, dominate the edge or perform like a hybrid strong safety. He is particularly effective as a strong open-field tackler in space and has excellent closing speed. He fights through blockers well with strong hands and a powerful base. He has good defensive anticipation and is good in coverage, whether it is man or zone. He is definitely one to keep in your sights.   In conclusion, keep an eye on these guys as they will be lighting up all of Kansas this fall. And, as usual, if you know of anyone “flying under the radar” let me know via DM on X.

Linebackers are a different breed at the high school level. They have to be able to do a little bit of everything and in the process hold a defensive unit together when times get tough.