Linebacker Nation: Kansas Backers Among State Leaders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Before watching the Chicago Bears' Tremaine Edmunds and the Houston Texans' Jake Hansen head-hunt ball carriers on Sunday night, I thought I would feature five Kansas linebackers who did work this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I also can't mention it often enough that athletes and coaches can reach out to me to share stats, but also if coaches use Max Preps or other sites to report and share stats, please list a player's height, weight, and position. I skipped over several players with higher tackle totals whose information was missing. Athletes should also include their height, weight, position, and SPELL-OUT their high school on social media and HUDL accounts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1452304' first='Ayden' last='Juarez'],</strong> LB, 5'8”, 202, Liberal, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Juarez is off to a hot start for Liberal. He has 21 total tackles in the first two Redskin games. He can wreak havoc in the backfield or play solid pass coverage. Four of his tackles this season have been for lost yardage and he has three pass breakups.  Liberal is 2-0 with two wins against Wichita Public Schools. The Redskins knocked off North 70-6 and defeated South 18-6.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1452308' first='Stone' last='Peery'],</strong> LB, 5'10”, 200, Pittsburg, ‘25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peery is an unranked “People Eating Purple Dragon.” In two games played Peery has gobbled up 18 ball carriers in two games. Stone plays a “Stone Cold” game forcing 5 TFLs, one quarterback hurry, one quarterback sack, and one pass breakup in two games. Pittsburg 1-1 has a win over Emporia and a loss to Shawnee Mission South which is the bottom line because Deck The Scout said so!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1452313' first='Hendrix' last='Starbuck']</strong>, LB, 5'9”, 210, Lyons, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So one of the best names I have come across this season belongs to Lyons Lions prospect Starbuck. His name sounds like a David Bowie persona or a professional wrestler. Starbuck is roasting runners like the Seattle coffee-chain roasts beans. In two games for Lyons, the unranked backer has 16 total tackles. I can't find any deep stats, game film, or an X account for this Central Kansas athlete, so if you know him have him reach out!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1452348' first='Andre' last='Johnson'],</strong> LB/RB, 6'0”, 205, Rossville, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rossville which has dropped down to class 1A is off to a slow start, but Johnson has been carrying the Bulldog defense. He is an unranked backer who has collected 17 total tackles in two games. He moves well both running downhill or moving lateral. He will shake off blockers with his strength or beat them with speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='812781' first='Trent' last='Rymer']</strong>, LB, 5'10”, 160, Piper, ‘26</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The only ranked athlete to make this report is Piper's Rymer. He is ranked No. 81 overall in the Kansas Class of 2026 and is currently listed as an athlete. He has the versatility to play multiple positions and right now has the ability to bulk up or increase his speed based on team needs. Through two games, he has 29 total tackles, 2 TFLs, and one forced fumble. Piper has started the season 0-2, but they have been playing larger schools and could be a team to watch in the class 4A postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->