Five Western Kansas Linebackers to Watch (Pt. 2)

This will be the second part of our "Five Western Kansas Linebackers to Watch" write-up. In the prior update we showcased such talent as [player_tooltip player_id='1083225' first='Trenton' last='Kern'] (Great Bend), [player_tooltip player_id='780105' first='Xavier' last='Tafoya'] (Liberal), [player_tooltip player_id='1115507' first='Jack' last='Herd'] (South Central), [player_tooltip player_id='1325120' first='Tucker' last='Goss'] (Ellsworth) and [player_tooltip player_id='1666931' first='Matt' last='Bretz'] (Hoxie).   As I had mentioned before, many of these prospects I will get a good look at this coming camp/combine/7v7 season and I also look forward in seeing them perform with their respective high school teams this coming fall. It is very exciting watch the growth these kids have from this past season to this upcoming one.   Just to give everyone a heads up but the next positional update will be showcasing defensive lineman. I plan on splitting up the defensive ends and defensive tackles. With all that being said, here are the next five linebackers to keep an eye on this coming season.   Once again profiles for each of these athletes have been created on Prep Redzone and can be claimed by using the following link.   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/prospects-index/#claim-profile-anchor">https://prepredzone.com/prospects-index/#claim-profile-anchor</a>    Last update I talked about Kale's older brother Trenton who is one of the most elite defensive prospects in the State of Kansas for the 2026 class. The younger Kern is following in the same footsteps as his brother.   Already just as big as Trenton, Kale stands 6-foot-1, 215-pounds as he enters his junior season for the Panthers. It will be quite interesting to watch his development this coming summer.   The Great Bend linebacker looks the part physically but also shows very good athletic ability from his outside linebacker position. He definitely is the type of defender that can play sideline to sideline and also capable of dropping back effectively to defend in the pass game.   He was honored as a Second Team All-Western Athletic Conference, even after missing four games this past season. This past fall he had 41 tackles (33 assisted and 8 solo), picked off two passes and scored a touchdown.   Kern also participates in track and field and takes care of business in the classroom, where he holds a 4.0 GPA. He will be one of the most highly sought after linebackers in the state when it comes to the 2027 class.     One of the most explosive linebacker prospects in the state, the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Wright will definitely have his pick of schools to choose from after this coming season.   He first and foremost takes care of business in the classroom, where he holds a 3.77 GPA and already has a 21 ACT.   The Colby native brings top of the line athleticism, where he runs a 4.49 forty and has a 34 inch vertical. He has a make-up of becoming a excellent coverage linebacker at the next level.   This past season he brought home All-Great West Activities honors at linebacker. He produced 60 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, one sack and one touchdown for the Eagles.   Wright also plays running back on offense and looks to be a much bigger part of that side of the ball after graduation of a couple studs who are now playing college ball. He is a capable runner and receiver out of the backfield.   Keep any eye on him this summer, as he will be making his rounds going to different camps, combines and playing for the Sharp Performance 7v7 team.     Last update I brought up a couple of stud 8-Man linebackers in [player_tooltip player_id='1115507' first='Jack' last='Herd'] (South Central) and [player_tooltip player_id='1666931' first='Matt' last='Bretz'] (Hoxie). Schartz is yet another highly productive backer who excels on both sides of the ball.   The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Ellis star had a staggering amount of tackles this past fall, where he hauled in 99 tackles (46 solo and 53 assisted) from his outside linebacker position.   On offense he teamed up with his younger brother [player_tooltip player_id='1542931' first='Trenton' last='Schartz'] (quarterback) and Fort Hays State bound receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1363633' first='Caleb' last='Noble'] to help guide the Railers to a 5-4 season in their first season of playing 8-Man football.   He had 87 rushes for 559 yards and nine touchdowns, good enough for a 6.4 yards per carry. He also chipped in 11 receptions for 100 yards and two more scores, while averaging 9.1 yards per reception.   He was honored as a Honorable Mention 8-Man I All-State linebacker this past season.       The Kern brothers get a lot of attention for Great Bend but the Panthers have yet a third star linebacker in the 6-foot-0, 190-pound Holladay.   This past fall he brought home Second Team All-Western Athletic Conference honors from his outside linebacker position. He even played some defensive end for the Panthers.   The uber athletic Holladay shows the ability to play all over the field as a pass defender or a high end pass rusher. He provides more than adequate strength, where he has posted such weight room numbers like a 315 pound bench, 500 pound squat and a 285 pound clean.   This past season he had 68 tackles (24 solo and 44 assisted), a whopping 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. Definitely not a linebacker who shys away from making the big plays in the offenses backfield.   Also a quality student, he holds a 3.45 GPA in the classroom. Holladay possess everything colleges look for in a high level outside linebacker prospect. He also gets some touches on offense as a running back on occasions.     One of the better all-around playmakers in the 2026 class, the 6-foot-0, 195-pound Johnson can do it all for Holcomb. He racked up huge numbers on both sides of the ball and even as a return man.   He was a Honorable Mention 3A All-State performer in basketball and a First Team 3A All-State in football at the Flex/Athlete position.   As a linebacker, he put up huge numbers for the Longhorns. He brought down just shy of 100 tackles (98), nine tackles for loss, one sack and had a pair of picks. Johnson is described a freakish athlete that also brings very good toughness from his linebacker position.   On offense he eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark with 1,172 yards rushing on 181 carries and 14 touchdowns. He also added 400+ yards receiving on 27 receptions and an additional 100+ yards in return. Overall he piled up just under 1,700 yards and 15 touchdowns this past fall.   So it doesn't matter what side of the ball Johnson plays on, he is going to produce at a very high level. He should be a dual sport athlete all college coaches would love to have.    Keep an eye on additional positional write-ups throughout the summer. Next update will likely be showcasing defensive ends from both the 11-Man and 8-Man games. Again if you knows of anyone that fits that bill and needs the proper attention, reach out to me at @Coach_Mitchum on X.