The New Editions: New linebackers in the MD 2026 rankings

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Redzone Maryland's Ed O'Brien evaluates the newcomers to the Class of 2026 prospect rankings. Today's article features edge defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Note: These rankings include players from Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Delaware</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/january-rankings-update-who-was-added-to-our-maryland-2026-list/"><em>CHECK OUT THE CLASS OF 2026 RANKINGS HERE</em></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='909742' first='Chase' last='Brown'] | Outside Linebacker | 5-11 | 205 | Good Counsel | Maryland<br></strong>Position Rank: No. 25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='909742' first='Chase' last='Brown'] is a solid middle linebacker with good instincts and hustle. He quickly diagnoses plays and reacts accordingly. Brown can avoid blockers and make solid tackles. That leads to the ball carriers making minimal gains. A few of his highlights show him taking correct pursuit angles and wasting no steps when chasing ball carriers. Brown also tracks mobile quarterbacks and stays disciplined on play-action fakes. He consistently puts himself in a position to make plays. Even if he's not the primary tackler, he assists in finishing off plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At his size, Brown is slightly undersized for a true middle linebacker. I'd have to see more about his ability to shed linemen when they do engage. Brown drops into his zone well, but I need to see more highlights of him making plays on the ball. If he can add strength, improve his explosiveness, and show those other things I mentioned, he can become a more versatile linebacker prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacob Gall | Middle Linebacker | &nbsp;5-11 | 205 | &nbsp;Boys Latin | Maryland</strong><br>Position rank: No. 36<br>Jacob Gall is a solid middle linebacker with good instincts and gap-shooting ability. He reads run plays well and reacts quickly. When unblocked, Gall can make plays in the backfield and on special teams, showing his versatility and the effort he puts in to make a difference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The highlights show several tackles in which he assists. I would like to see more solo tackles where he stops ball-carriers alone. Pass-coverage plays are also minimal in the highlights, but he probably isn't called on to do that. His stock will increase if he can showcase more solo tackling, block-shedding, and pass-coverning skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1611671' first='Kevin' last='Thomas'] | 6-0 | 195 | Wicomico | Maryland</strong><br>Position rank: No. 29<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1611671' first='Kevin' last='Thomas'] is a strong, physically and technically sound linebacker who excels in pass rushing and run defense. He uses finesse (sidestep blocks) and power (bull rush, arm extensions) as a pass rusher. Against the run, he sets the edge well, takes on blockers, and tackles with physicality. Thomas uses his hands well to disengage and get to the ball carrier. He plays intensely, as shown in a play where he knocks someone trying to block him flat on his back and tackles the ball carrier. Thomas is good enough to transition to strong safety at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some more plays of him showcasing his pass coverage skills would be beneficial in his highlights. He can also continue to work on being more explosive with his first step in his pass rush and becoming quicker with his lateral movements. Thomas is versatile enough to play outside linebacker or even strong safety in the right system.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kai Jones | Middle Linebacker | 6-0 | 210 | DeMatha | Maryland</strong><br>Position rank: No. 33<br>Kai Jones is a bright, fundamentally sound middle linebacker with great discipline, pursuit, and tackling technique. He quickly diagnoses run and pass plays and makes solid reads. Jones rarely misses tackles and wraps up nicely. He chases plays downfield and doesn't give up. He does a solid job spying on the quarterback and stays disciplined on scrambles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More impact plays on his highlights would make him stand out more. He is quick enough to sidestep blocks. I would like to see how he fares when he has to engage and shed a few more offensive linemen. Pass-coverage ability cannot be evaluated at the moment. Jones would fit well in a 4-3 scheme, where his instincts, tackling ability, and pursuit angles would benefit him the most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1092005' first='Bailen' last='Boutz'] | Middle Linebacker | 6-0 | 190 |  Archbishop Curley | Maryland</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Position rank: No. 35<strong><br></strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1092005' first='Bailen' last='Boutz'] is a middle linebacker who is always around the ball. He reacts quickly to the run and the pass. He showed his pass-rushing potential on one play by forcing an incompletion while rushing the quarterback. Boutz assists on a lot of tackles as well. His highlights need more impact plays (fumbles, TFLs, etc). Boutz has several tackles where he assists; I would like to see more solos. If he were to showcase some of his better plays at the beginning of his highlights, along with shortening the length of the video, he would improve his chances of being recruited to play at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other articles to read</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-souther-maryland-skills-players-to-know-part-1/">Southern Maryland&nbsp; 2025 Season Players to Know - Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/meet-some-of-the-iacs-offensive-stars-in-the-2026-class-pt-1/">Meet some of the IAC's offensive stars in the 2026 Class – Pt . 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-1/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-2/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar - Pt. 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-3/"><strong>Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 3</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-western-maryland-skill-players-to-know-part-1/">2025 Season: Western Maryland Skill Players to Know – Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-1/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-2/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-3/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations - Part 3</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-next-wave-scouting-md-dcs-2026-class-film-review-pt-1/">The Next Wave: Scouting MD/DC's 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 1</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-next-wave-scouting-md-dcs-2026-class-film-review-pt-2/">The Next Wave: Scouting MD/DC's 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 2</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/scouting-the-ranked-2026-maryland-prospects-running-backs/">Scouting the ranked 2026 Maryland prospects: Running Backs</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/the-new-editions-evaluating-wrs-in-the-md-2026-rankings/">The New Editions: Evaluating WR's in the MD 2026 Rankings</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/02/the-new-editions-new-edge-defenders-in-the-md-2026-rankings/"><strong>The New Editions: New edge defenders in the MD 2026 rankings</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->