2026 Rankings: But Wait? There’s More Linebackers!

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are so many linebackers in our rankings, I couldn't do them all justice with just one article. So I'm back with another deep dive on our linebacking rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1316494"],"_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-67c892f9845b5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Measuring in at 6'3 230-pounds, Brock accounted for 67 total tackles (24 solo, 43 assisted), 6 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 1 FF and 1 FR. Brock has good athletic ability due to his very good lateral agility, acceleration, and good speed. Very good strength, takes on a block 1-handed and makes the tackle. Brock has very good quickness out of his stance engaging with the OL first. Good hand placement and very good hand strength. Brock has a very good bend around the edge as well as a very good spin move. Good bull rush as well. He's a very good block shedder, consistently getting behind the line of scrimmage. He is relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback or ball carrier. Brock will chase them down in open space showing his very good competitive toughness. A thing to note about Brock is how he will try to strip/punch the ball away from the ball carrier. He's a smart player, who I'm excited to see thrive next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1297870"],"_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-67c892f984646"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Myers measures in at 6'3 215 pounds, and this OLB had 100 total tackles (58 solo, 42 assisted), 17 TFL, 5 sacks, 23 QB hurries, 8 PD, 2 FF, and 1 blocked field goal. He has good athletic ability due to good speed, good acceleration, change of direction. He starts with a low pad level and initiates contact first with the OL. Good hand placement and hand strength. He makes himself smaller to fit in between the gaps. Myers has good mental processing. If he can't reach the QB, he'll put his arms up high to create a pass deflection. He's a good block shedder living behind the line of scrimmage. Myers has good athletic ability out in space to go out in coverage. I'm interested to see how Myers does next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["214030"],"_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-67c892f9846ac"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fresh off a championship victory, Hodge was a consistent member of the Cherry Creek defense. He measures in at 6'2 210-pounds and had 50 total tackles (28 solo, 22 assisted), 4 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 2 PD, and 1 FF. Plays on the line of scrimmage, and in zone. Hodge's very good mental processing sticks out the most to me. He is very patient. He lets the play develop and then he attacks. Hodge stays calm with jet sweeps, and read options, taking the extra second to diagnose what's going on before jumping head on. Hodge has very good athletic ability due to very good speed, acceleration, and lateral agility. Smooth footwork looks like he's gliding. As an edge rusher, he uses a very good bull rush and good strength to manhandle offensive linemen. Hodge is a surefire tackler and brings them down with good tackling form. Hodge isn't afraid to lay the boom on ball carriers. In zone coverage, he's twitch and uses his good reactionary speed to give him the 1up. Hodge is a versatile linebacker who will get used more for Cherry Creek this upcoming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1311187"],"_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-67c892f98470c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Measuring in at 6'0 225-pounds, Rodriguez had 59 total tackles (49 solo, 10 assisted), 4 TFL, 1 sack, 5 QB hurries, 1 FF, and 1 FR in 7 games. Rodriguez has good athletic ability due to very good acceleration, good lateral agility, and speed. He has good sideline to sideline speed. He has good mental processing by identifying the correct gap to rush leading to a TFL. He has good reactionary skills in both zone coverage and the run game. Rodriguez has consistently watched the quarterbacks' eyes looking for the man to tackle. Very good run stopper and very good hit power. He lays the boom on defenders, or he will try to rip the ball out of their hands. He has great linebacking skills but really shines against the run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1570701"],"_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-67c892f98476b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Fresh off a championship victory from 3A is [player_tooltip player_id='1570701' first='Forest' last='Roberts']. Roberts measures in at 6'2 190-pounds, accounting for 47 total tackles (22 solo, 25 assisted), 3 TFL, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF, and 1 PD. Roberts has good athletic ability due to good acceleration, speed, and lateral agility. He has very good mental processing skills. He identifies the correct gap to rush, or he will keep looking back at the QB for an interception. He stays with his in stride with his man in coverage. As a rusher, he has a good bend around the edge, mixed with a good spin move. Good bull rush as well. Roberts eats up tackles for breakfast as well as stuffs up the run. He'll put his arms up high for a pass deflection. Roberts was one of the reasons why Thompson Valley won the 3A chip, and I expect him to have another great season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->