Small-Town 2026 Sleeper Linebackers To Know This Fall

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These small-town under-the-radar linebackers are bound for massive senior seasons in 2025...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1629291"],"_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-680f90c7ed608"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A physical defender with a compact frame at 5-foot-9 210-pounds, Gordon is a small-town defender with impressive instincts and pursuit of the ball-carrier. He fights off blocks and shows impressive closing speed when chasing down the running back. He can sneak his way into the backfield and is coming off a strong junior season where he made 110 tackles, 14 TFLs and two sacks. Look for him to be one of the top defenders in the area as a senior in 2025. He's ranked as the No. 54 linebacker in the state for the 2025 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1663748"],"_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-680f90c7ed65a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">An active linebacker out of Oakwood, Wagner is one of the hardest-hitting linebackers in the area who deserves to be added to the next 2026 Prep Redzone update. He may not be the biggest or fastest linebacker in his class, but he's smart, plays hard, and does a good job of striking the ball-carrier. He's a technically sound tackler who hits behind his pads and leaves a bruise on the ball-carrier. This sleeper linebacker made 105 tackles, 16 TFLs and six sacks to go along with eight forced fumbles and five more fumble recoveries. Look for him to light up the stat sheet once again as a senior next fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1663753"],"_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-6810e863ee16d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another gritty,instinctive lineman who deserves recognition after a giant junior season, Daley is a sleeper linebacker out of Chatsworth who lit up the stat sheet in 2024. He's a max-effort defender who plays hard and has a true nose for the football. He made an eye-opening 135 tackles last season, averaging over 12 tackles per game. He's a consistent tackler who should have another giant season as a senior in 2025. He'll be an easy addition to the next Prep Redzone update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401483"],"_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-6810e863ee1d3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A tough, disruptive linebacker with natural instincts and big-play ability, Trupp is one of the top sleeper linebackers across the state in the 2026 class. He brings a promising frame at 6-foot-2 230-pounds and shows outstanding closing speed when attacking the ball-carrier. One of the more productive linebackers in the Augusta-area, Trupp made an impressive 103 tackles with six TFLs. He can absolutely play at the D1 level and should see a big rise in the next 2026 rankings update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1664463"],"_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-6810e863ee22a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">He may not be the biggest defender around, but McCarty was clearly one of the more productive linebackers across Cherokee County last fall as a junior. He plays hard, he gives great effort, and knows how to strike the ball-carrier behind his pads. He's a guy that teammates can rally behind who plays every play like it's his last. He brought his very best every game and lit up the stat sheet with 100 tackles, 12 TFLs and one sack. He constantly found his way to the ball and could see those numbers increase even more in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->