2026 Pos. Breakdown: Top ND LB Analysis (5-1)

LB5:    If you are looking for a linebacker in this 2026 class with a well-versed motor, you might want to look at [player_tooltip player_id='1261686' first='Zach' last='Bense'] from 11AAA state champion West Fargo Sheyenne. Zach shows that he can process downhill utilizing his agile movement, shedding off blocks quickly and in the end showing off the pursuit angles on contact you will want at the next-level with sound physicality. He also shows off excellent vision as one that identifies the ball carrier very quickly and its no wonder he find the backfield consistently on his junior tape. Could we see Zach as a stockriser by next update? I for sure wouldn't doubt it.    LB4:    Henry is a workhorse showing off his agile movement to get to the ball carrier and shows off impressive quick hands with his shedding ability. The 6'0 192 pounder from Fargo South, packs one of the biggest punches when he contacts the ball carriers amongst linebackers in this class with outstanding physicality at the point of attack. His shedding ability also shows off great instincts as I like the level of difficulty that is shown with Henry on tape getting down to the ball. He seems like a young man that loves the weight room as he reports a 500 pound squat which is a weight room number I love coming from this linebacker that surely looks like a target you will see on Saturdays and another with possible rising stock too.     Wilmot has one of the most explosive first steps I have seen amongst this batch of top linebackers in the state as an All-State linebacker as a junior at Fargo Davies. The 6'1 now 220 pounder, is lethal when he makes contact as a certified smash mouth linebacker that wastes no time slowing down the ball carrier. He also shows off great finesse as a pass-rusher which to me is another skillset in his arsenal that will improve college coaches at the next-level due to his fluidity you constantly see on tape. This young man to me doesn't get enough credit for the lengthy range he plays with, as one that I would love to see where his tests this summer with his change of direction especially in the pro agility as our LB3 within our top 35 that could do some damage on the camp trail this summer.    LB2:    Although he missed most of his junior season due to injury, the upside that Velva 2026 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1037663' first='Luke' last='Selzler'] brings to the table is going to be fun to watch unvail this summer and into the 2025 season. The 6'2 215 pounder, is a rumbler downhill and shows off the ideal pursuit angles that college coaches will want to see even with his tape from his sophomore season as our former LB1 in this 2026 class. Luke is another one that I can tell watches enough film, as what he processes pre-snap has an edge carried with how his quick instincts can move to the ball. Luke has the prototypical measurables you want at linebacker at the next-level and I cannot wait to see how this young man's summer plays out on the camp trail.    LB1:    Our new LB1 in the 2026 class, [player_tooltip player_id='1590961' first='Carson' last='Quam'] out of Shiloh Christian, made quite the splash when I first watched his tape as a target I was excited to unleash as not only a new addition, but our top linebacker in the North Dakota 2026 class. Carson has the sideline to sideline range I love at the linebacker position and processes with his athletic movement more as a hybrid defensive end which also intrigues me from a position flexibility perspective. He is VERY fast getting off his sheds down to the ball carrier and has the athleticsm with those sheds that really intrigues me on tape. He shows off as a quick processor that also shows off the work off the field that Carson does watching tape, as he plays way bigger than the 6'2 190 pounds he shows off with his measurables. He should have an exciting summer on the camp trail.

LB5: