Watchlist To Ranked: 2026 LBs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While we don't always have enough new players to run a "watchlist to ranked" list for every position, we have plenty of linebackers to discuss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've already hit the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/spring-stock-risers-2026-lb-report/">2026 LB Stock-Risers</a> from our spring rankings update. Here, the concept is just a bit different. These guys started on the watchlist and have been moved into the rankings (some as high as the top 150). These are guys who were on our radar, but hadn't quite shown enough to enter our rankings. Now, they're safely in the rankings, and we're breaking down what we like about them and why they moved in. Check out these seven watchlist to ranked LBs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2026 LBs: Watchlist to Ranked</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1129856"],"_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-682dd80c38ea6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I had originally assumed Bordelon was in our rankings, and when I realized he wasn't, I immediately corrected the mistake. He can really move and is a sure tackler, a candidate to be one of the top tacklers in the class as a senior. He's a smooth mover, something that was evident when we saw him at our Prep Redzone NC combine in early May.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1027755"],"_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-682dd80c38f01"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When evaluating watchlist linebackers earlier this offseason, I got a second look at Scott's film and he really popped. The raw tackling numbers had originally held him back on first glance, but in diving into the film, he's always around the ball and has true sideline-to-sideline speed, two traits that could foreshadow huge senior numbers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1572073"],"_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-682dd80c38f48"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Shoutout to the Union Pines coaching staff not only for Clayton's development, but also for publicly singing his praises and putting a guy on my radar that I previously knew little about. Clayton can really move and he's proved that this offseason, running a 4.72 laser-timed 40 and a shuttle in the high 4.4s. He's strong, with impressive bench and squat maxes for his size. Often playing as an edge rusher, he's a future full-time off-ball linebacker and the movement skills should translate there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["711397"],"_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-682dd80c38faf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A multi-sport athlete, Solomon can really move, giving him some athletic upside that you don't always see from players on our watchlist. He had a breakout junior season for Eastern Guilford, doing plenty to catch our attention and earn a spot in the rankings. One of the few true off-ball outside linebackers in the D2 area of our rankings, he's a guy who go on a late recruiting run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1101224"],"_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-682dd80c38ff6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After gaining a bit of weight, Turner looks like a true middle linebacker, with the athleticism to play sideline-to-sideline and a developing ability to take on blockers and make plays between the tackles. When I went back and checked the film for our watchlist series in March, I immediately moved him into the rankings, given his athleticism and performance in the fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1068199"],"_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-682dd80c39039"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">In full transparency, Wright is a guy who probably should have been in the rankings far earlier than he was, but I missed him in several updates. We've fixed that now and the sound tackler with pass-rushing upside is ranked and has the potential to move up later. I really like how he can operate in the open field as a defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1278435"],"_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-682dd80c3907a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Echevarria doesn't have a ton of film and he's a positional tweener, but his length and athleticism against the run have him safely in the rankings. His flashes are excellent as he has several highlights where he's able to bully opposing blockers on his way to a big tackle. He's still developing, but I really like his upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->