2026 Summer Linebackers Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the month of June, we always give our rankings a fresh update and add more players to each class. We kicked off our <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2028-rankings/">ranking update series with the 2028 class</a></strong>. Last week, we continued with the 2027 class, ranking the top 125 juniors going into the 2025 football season. In case you missed it, you can check out our 2027 rankings <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2027-rankings/">RIGHT HERE</a></strong>. And this week, we finished up the ranking update with a brand new 2026 ranking, featuring the <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2026-rankings/">Top 200 2026 prospects in Oklahoma</a></strong>. Following each ranking update, we also dive into the rankings and talk about the players that are standing out and what makes them among the best in their class. Earlier this week, we put out a breakdown on the <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/2026s-top-five-stock-risers/">top five stock risers</a></strong>, followed by the <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/2026s-top-five-newcomers/">top five newcomers</a></strong>. In this breakdown, we're putting that spotlight on the linebacker position with the top eight guys at the position in the latest update. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more 2026 prospect breakdowns!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587262' first='Ricklan' last='B Holmes II'] - Del City</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Del City standout and recent New Mexico commit [player_tooltip player_id='587262' first='Ricklan' last='B Holmes II'] took a massive step in 2024. He went from being a prospect with a lot of promise in 2023 to one of the best overall players in the state in 2024. Simply put, Holmes is your prototypical middle or inside linebacker. He's a heat-seeking missile that has one mission on every snap and that's violence. Holmes isn't a bad running back either but he plays that position like a linebacker as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1624786' first='DJ' last='Ackerson'] - Putnam City</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Putnam City standout and Kansas State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1624786' first='DJ' last='Ackerson'] has absolutely blown up over the last eight months. Towards the end of his junior season and into the start of the offseason, Ackerson went from somewhat of an unknown to one of the top prospects in Oklahoma's 2026 class. Then you throw on the tape or see him in person and you understand why. Ackerson is a terrific athlete that is just scratching the surface on what he'll be. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402387' first='Trey' last='McGlothlin'] - Bixby</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='402387' first='Trey' last='McGlothlin'] is the first of two Bixby Spartans on this breakdown. He first got on our radar following his freshman season and we could tell early on that his athleticism would make him a name to follow. Last year was his breakout season at linebacker after being a force in special teams. He continues to be one of the state's top defensive athletes. Earlier this spring, McGlothlin would commit to Oklahoma State and he's been riding with the Cowboys ever since. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='414994' first='Cord' last='Nolan'] - Bixby</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bixby's [player_tooltip player_id='414994' first='Cord' last='Nolan'] has been on the radar since the very first game of his freshman season. Nolan has bounced back and forth from linebacker to tight end to overall athlete but it's clear that he's a linebacker and one of the very best in the state. With Nolan and McGlothlin returning, Bixby has two future Big 12 linebackers roaming their defense as Nolan is committed to Texas Tech. He'll be one of the most experienced players in the state this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1097273' first='Coda' last='Barnoski'] - Broken Arrow</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Broken Arrow Tiger [player_tooltip player_id='1097273' first='Coda' last='Barnoski'] has come over from Muskgoee, where he was an absolute tackling machine for the last two seasons. Barnoski emerged early on in his high school career but he was also on a Rougher team full of next level stars and might have flown under the radar. Look at the production, look at him play and you'll see one of the top linebackers in the state. Now, he joins Broken Arrow and their star-studded roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1451368' first='Tucker' last='Koch'] - Union</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Union linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1451368' first='Tucker' last='Koch'] was a 2026 prospect that emerged early on during his junior season. It was the Jenks game specifically where he caught our attention. Koch was all over the field and had a battery that just never seemed to slow down. We think that the Union defensive standout is one of the hidden gems in the state's 2026 class. Even after his terrific junior season, he's still flying under the radar and some school is going to get a steal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='587272' first='Luke' last='DeBusk'] - Jones</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones standout [player_tooltip player_id='587272' first='Luke' last='DeBusk'] is in the same conversation with guys like Holmes, Nolan and Barnoski when it comes to overall experience. DeBusk has been starting for the Longhorns since his freshman season and he hasn't slowed down since. DeBusk is a tackling machine and comes into this fall with well over 300 career tackles. And the thing that makes him a highly regarded prospect is his growth as an overall leader, in addition to the production. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1332248' first='DeShon' last='Koch'] - Sapulpa</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It will be interesting to see where Sapulpa's [player_tooltip player_id='1332248' first='DeShon' last='Koch'] winds up at the next level because right now, we have him listed as a linebacker but he could very easily be considered an edge rusher. It just depends on what school he ends up at and what kind of defense fits him the best. Koch is one of the more underrated prospects in this year's class and he's still just scratching the surface on what he's going to end up being at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>COMPLETE LINEBACKER RANKINGS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2026","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"2496","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"2486","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6862f74d1e095"} /-->