Who is the best Linebacker in Michigan’s Class of 2026?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The five linebackers included in this article have the chance to prove themselves as LB1. ALL of these prospects have above-average size, physicality, and overall upside. In fact, all of these prospects, except one, currently have D1 offers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["568100"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b22c2beef4a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Strengths</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Played Safety until this past season (great pass coverage)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Good athletic profile</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Great blitzer</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Wide tackle radius</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weaknesses</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Few instances of scrape &amp; fill</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Wish I saw more block sheds</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Been following Brody for a while. He's a very, very good player. Would be a low D1 prospect at Safety. Only things holding him back from B1G 10 are athletic ability, size, and maybe strength of schedule. This season, played phenomenally at LB. Blitzed fast but could have been a tad more explosive. Good tackle radius. Pursuit can be worked on, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["566881"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b22c2beefe9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Spoiler alert: Nathan is still my #1 Linebacker. He's a very, very well-rounded off-ball linebacker and seeing him play in person against a high-powered offense completely solidified his #1 ranking. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Very explosive</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Can scrape + fill, defend the boundaries, drop back in coverage, etc</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Competitive </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Low B1G 10 prospect</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1251326"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b22c2bef0b4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Elijah is the biggest "sleeper" on this list. Just a month ago I shared my evaluation of Elijah from my rankings spreadsheet. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/five-class-of-2026-linebackers-with-the-highest-upside/">Here's the link to that article</a>, and here are the cliff notes of my evaluation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Multi-positional</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Well-rounded player</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Great athletic profile </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Great size</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Performed excellent last offseason</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Injury history may impact recruiting </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["568150"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b22c2bef138"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brayden has earned quite a bit of attention in recent months, even earning some B1G 10 attention. I like Brayden- he's a tough player, a great leader, and has good athletic traits. I honestly don't think those D1s would have offered if Brayden wasn't a phenomenal athlete. Though, I saw a few things in his game against Notre Dame Prep that I didn't love. Still, that's one game out of dozens that he's played. Could Brayden turn out to be the best LB in Michigan? Absolutely. Though, I won't have him ranked #1 just yet. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["568196"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b22c2bef1b3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I'm not sure what position Charlie will play in college (likely LB or TE), but I know that Charlie has the size and skillset to be an elite college linebacker. Half the battle is size and play speed, and Charlie has both. 6'4" 230 is awesome size, and he plays with great confidence and physicality. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The one nitpick I have with Charlie is his explosiveness. He just doesn't have an elite first step, and it takes him a moment to get to top speed. He also hesitates from time to time. Still, Charlie is incredibly physical, knows how to get off blocks, and has elite size. I like him a little more than consensus right now. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->