First 4 Weeks Linebacker Stock Risers

Use Code PRZWV30 at checkout for 30% off your subscription!   We're through the first four weeks of the high school football season in West Virginia and prospects are beginning to post their early season highlight videos that colleges will be searching for and evaluating for who moves up, down, and added to their recruiting board. Here are the linebackers who have been performing strongly through the first four weeks of the season and should be seeing an uptick in their college interest.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">TRENDING UP</h2>    2025 Martinsburg LB [player_tooltip player_id='1034976' first='Ace' last='Flores'] is having a great start to his senior season for the Bulldogs and is a first four weeks stock riser.   Flores is an athletic middle linebacker who moves very well and can cover a lot of ground quickly. As a result, he's gotten consistent penetration into the backfield this season while creating a large number of TFLs. Flores has been stout between the tackles and does a great job of shooting gaps and breaking down when tackling. He also does a nice job of dissecting plays and pursues the ball at a high level given his level of athleticism to do so.      2025 Wheeling Park LB [player_tooltip player_id='908990' first='Jameson' last='Maynard'] has been nothing short of dominant this season for the Patriots on defense and is one of the top tacklers in the state through four weeks.   Maynard has totaled 55 tackles, 7 TFLs, and an interception in four games while averaging nearly 14 stops per game. He's improved in the biggest aspect that we wanted to see from him this season with making plays behind the line of scrimmage, and he has answered that call in a big way. Maynard is a highly physical player which is aided by his quality wrestling background. He has the speed to get to the ball quickly and the size and power to deliver a punishing blow once he gets there. Maynard is a must-add to college prospect boards if he doesn't decide to wrestle in college.      [player_tooltip player_id='1106035' first='Lane' last='Watson'] has been impressive for Roane County again this season on both sides of the ball, and we're getting a look at him on film at linebacker this season which we were excited to see.   Watson is currently one of the top rushers in the state averaging over 200 yards per game and 11 touchdowns in 4 games but is a very good linebacker prospect who has a D1 offer from VMI. He has great size and athleticism for the position which makes him one of the better prospects in the state for the position and whose ranking will reflect that after the season. Watson gets downhill at a high level and is capable of delivering a big blow on ball carriers as one of the more physical athletes in this class.      [player_tooltip player_id='908987' first='Joey' last='Quijano'] is leading the Hurricane Redskins in tackles through the first four weeks and is having a very good start to his senior season.   The 2025 LB has totaled 41 tackles and 5 TFLs in four games this season and is the defensive leader for the Redskins. Quijano may not be quite as big as some of the other linebackers on this list, but he doesn't let that affect his play on the field. He's able to duck under traffic and get to the ball because of that and makes it tough for offensive linemen to get a clean block on him. Quijano has quick feet and pursuit of the ball but has the physicality to make plays between the tackles too at the line of scrimmage. Size may have him under-the-radar but his play is deserving of more D2 looks this season.      The Frankfort Falcons have benefited greatly from Keyser transfer [player_tooltip player_id='908991' first='Jullian' last='Pattison']'s services on both sides of the ball as a RB/LB and has played himself into a first four weeks stock riser.   Pattison is a well-built athlete in the 6'1 205 range and is moving the best he has during his high school career. He's a tough hard-nosed linebacker who loves the physicality of the game and that shows up on film. His lateral quickness looks improved from past years and that's showing up on offense too with a clear ability to run east and west in their Wing-T system with quality footwork as well. Pattison should have plenty of D2 options after the season and will see a bump in his ranking.      2025 Mingo Central LB [player_tooltip player_id='908101' first='LeQues' last='Strother'] looks the best he's ever had as a senior for the Miners and that's showing up on film and in the stat sheet.   Strother is leading the team in tackles, TFLs, and sacks through four weeks with 54, 10, and 6 respectively. He's reading and reacting more quickly this season and has good speed and quickness in pursuit of the ball. Strother is a high-effort player and tracks down ball carriers regardless of where he is at on the field. He can make plays inside or outside in space and is a versatile linebacker who has pass-coverage potential as well. Strother should receive more D2 attention this season for his level of play on the field.      A linebacker to know this season from an often-overlooked program is 2025 Preston LB [player_tooltip player_id='897606' first='Ethan' last='Likens'].   Likens has been on a tear this season for the Knights and is exactly the type of player you want in your college program. He may not be quite as big or as athletic as some other linebackers on this list, but Likens plays the position how it's meant to be played and is a throwback type of player. Likens is a force in run defense between the tackles and is a highly physical run-stopper at the line of scrimmage. He's a strong athlete with good pad level and will rarely let ball carriers fall forward. Likens packs a punch behind his pads and is a prospect who will be a steal if he falls to the D3 level.      2026 Nitro LB [player_tooltip player_id='894666' first='Wyatt' last='Sowards'] has been a great addition to the Wildcats' program this season and has really shored up their linebacking corp.   Sowards is leading the team in tackles with 52 total stops and averaging 13 per game through four weeks of the season. He sorts through traffic quickly in pursuit of the ball and takes good angles on his tackles. Sowards is physical at the point of contact and does a great job of stopping ball carriers in their tracks. He's a punishing tackler who tackles through runners and is a prospect who colleges should be looking at early from the 2026 class.     <h2 class="wp-block-heading">UNRANKED MAKING NOISE</h2>    2025 Chapmanville LB [player_tooltip player_id='1126832' first='Elijah' last='Pridemore'] has continued the momentum from a great junior season into his senior year and is once again leading the Tigers in tackles through the first four weeks.   Pridemore is an unranked linebacker to know in this class and should have plenty of small college options with the potential of some D2 looks this year. He's a relentless player who fights to the ball on every snap and gives maximum effort from the first to the fourth quarter. Pridemore may not have elite size but he's a good athlete with quick feet and quality speed to the ball. He's a physical tackler who plays above his size and is a must-know underrated player this season.      Roane County has a pair of linebackers that you need to know this season which includes fellow 2025 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1126822' first='Clay' last='Walker'].   He's unranked for now and not quite as known as [player_tooltip player_id='1106035' first='Lane' last='Watson'], but Walker has been just as good this season for the Beavers at linebacker. Walker is leading the team in tackles through four weeks and has totaled 37 stops and 5 tackles for loss as well as their third option on offense out of the Wing-T. He's a tough gritty player who gives great effort for four quarters and is a selfless player. Walker is often the lead blocker on offense which has seen the Beavers have one of the top rushing attacks in the state this season. He's just a good small college prospect who will be a great asset to whichever program he decides to attend after high school.      2026 Wheeling Central LB/LS [player_tooltip player_id='895003' first='Wyatt' last='Brady'] is having a great start to his junior year for the Maroon Knights and is tied for tackles on the team through four games.   Brady has totaled 45 tackles and 5.5 TFLs while doubling as their long snapper on special teams. He's a good small-school middle linebacker with a strong wrestling background and is a productive player who is seeing carries on offense in recent games too. Brady does a nice job fighting through traffic and shedding blockers. He has good lateral quickness and footwork when reading the play before committing to his angle to the ball. Brady is a bulldog who will have options for what he wants to play in college and could long snap or wrestle at the next level too.      2027 Wheeling Central LB [player_tooltip player_id='1304656' first='Dustin' last='Sanner'] has had an impressive start to his sophomore season and is another linebacker to know for the Maroon Knights.   Sanner saw some spot duty as a freshman last season but has earned a starting role as a sophomore. and he's making the most of it. He's tied with Brady for the top tackler on the team through four weeks and has totaled 45 stops thus far. Sanner has good young size at 6'1 195 and is a good athlete which gives him a great foundation to continue building on over the next two and a half years. Walking him up to the line of scrimmage proves to be a difficult block for opposing offensive linemen with how quick he is, and Sanner is able to shoot through to blow up the play in the backfield. He's still just scratching the surface of what he'll become by the time he's a senior and should develop into a very good prospect by that time.

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