Closer Look at The Top Linebackers in the 2026 Class

[player_tooltip player_id='566881' first='Nathan' last='Gersh'] | <a href="https://x.com/GershNathan">@GershNathan</a>   Size: He has ideal size for the position, listed at 6-2, 215 lbs. Gersh has a strong muscular build, equally proportioned build in the upper and lower body.   Utilization: Dexter, plays Gersh at the Mike linebacker position in their 3-4 defensive scheme. They will have him blitz off the edge, blitz up the middle, drop back into coverage, and ask him stop the run. Dexter will have Gersh drop into zone coverage often.   Strengths: He reacts to plays quickly and does not hesitate to fly to ball carriers. Gersh has very quick feet and will get his feet chopping just before the ball is snapped so he can be moving when the play starts. He has good lateral quickness and change of direction and it helps him when dropping into zone coverage.   Gersh plays fast and has good burst, it is very apparent when he closing on ball carriers. Gersh looks very comfortable getting through traffic and pursuing ball carriers. Gersh is a physical tackler who can stop running backs momentum with his initial contact. He does a good job of keeping good leverage when working past blockers, his low pad level help his tackling as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='568196' first='Charlie' last='Jilek'] | <a href="http://@charlie_jilek">@charlie_jilek</a>   Size: Jilek has good size at 6-4, 230 lbs (listed height and weight on Prep Redzone). He has long arms as well, which is very helpful for the linebacker position.   Utilization: Jilek's team, Portage Central, runs a 3-3-5 defense and has outside linebackers hang over, almost as extra outside linebackers. In 2023, Jilek played the mike linebacker position, this year he will move to outside linebacker, saying "he is more comfortable with it," referring to the outside linebacker position.   Strengths: Jilek moves laterally very well and it really helps him to work through traffic. He does have the ability to rush the passer and that is why I believe he will have success playing outside linebacker this year. He does have the speed to pursue and tackle ball carriers. He does show strength at the point of attack when taking on blockers. Jilek does play with good leverage and that is a plays a role in him being able to work through traffic effectively. He does have the ability to shed blocks using his hands. His team will have him drop into coverage, and he shows the ability to deflect passes. Jilek plays fast, and is burst really helps him to quickly meet ball carriers at the hole.   [player_tooltip player_id='568150' first='Brayden' last='Sweeney'] | <a href="https://x.com/bsweeney07">@bsweeney07</a>   Size: Sweeney has good size at 6-1, 185 lbs (listed height and weight on Prep Redzone). Like [player_tooltip player_id='568196' first='Charlie' last='Jilek'], Sweeney has a long arms.   Utilization: Grand Rapids Catholic Central, Sweeney's team, runs a 3-4 defense. Sweeney plays the strong safety position. When opposing teams go to no receiver sets, such as T Formation (2 tight ends, 3 running backs), Catholic Central will put Sweeney in the box as essentially an extra linebacker creating an 8 man box. Catholic Central plays mostly zone coverage from what I saw in Sweeney's highlights, but he does has the ability to play man coverage. Sweeney will line up across from slot receivers and in between slot receivers, usually about 6 or 7 yards away from them.   Strengths: Sweeney reacts to run plays quickly and his burst allows him to close on ball carriers quickly. Sweeney's good lateral quickness and ability to change direction well allow him to play zone coverage. He does have the ability with his speed, burst and lateral quickness to pursue and track down ball carriers. Sweeney can play man to man coverage and his speed allows him to stay close to receivers. Sweeney is a very good tackler who does a great job of wrapping up. He has good play strength and shows the ability to shed blocks with his hands.   [player_tooltip player_id='1298766' first='Isaac' last='Codde'] | <a href="https://x.com/Codde_Isaac">@Codde_Isaac</a>   Size: Codde has good size at 6-0, 210 lbs.   Utilization: St. Joeseph, Codde's team, runs a 4-4-3 defense. Codde plays off the ball at the mike linebacker position. His team will have him cover and play the run.   Strengths: Codde reacts to run plays very quickly. He does play fast and shows good initial burst that allows him to get to ball carriers quickly. Codde has the ability to pursue ball carriers while working through traffic. He is a physical tackler who wraps up well. He has good explosive power when taking on blockers. He does have the ability to detach from blockers quickly. Codde has the ability to move laterally and it helps him to work past blockers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1298710' first='Ben' last='Bullock'] | <a href="https://x.com/Ben_Bull0ck7">@Ben_Bull0ck7</a>   Size: Bullock has good size for the position at 6-0, 210 lbs.   Utilization: Bullock plays the mike linebacker position on his team, Berkley. They run a 3-4 as their base defense and have Bullock play the run primarily.   Strengths: Bullock has very good agility and lateral quickness. He does an excellent job of working through traffic, and with his burst, can close in on ball carriers in a hurry. He is a strong tackler and does a good job of exploding into ball carriers to stop their forward momentum. He does play with good leverage and it helps to work through traffic and with his tackling.   <div class="css-175oi2r r-1awozwy r-z2wwpe r-6koalj r-1q142lx" style="align-items: center;border-color: black;flex-basis: auto;flex-direction: column;flex-shrink: 0;margin: 0px;min-height: 0px;min-width: 0px;padding: 0px;position: relative;z-index: 0;border-radius: 4px;font-family: Times;font-size: 15px"></div><div></div>

Nathan Gersh Nathan Gersh 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Dexter | 2026 State MI | @GershNathan