Deep Dive: Top Wake County LBs

If you're new to Prep Redzone, we're in the middle of a months-long deep dive series where we take a few counties and rank the top players at every position, evaluating them in the process. We've reached the defensive side of the ball. And after looking at a young and unproven interior defensive line group, we're hitting a loaded group of edge rushers, one so deep, we had to cut a Power Four recruit out of the top five. It's deep dive time, who are the best linebackers in Wake County?   Past Wake County Deep Dives   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/deep-dive-wake-county-qbs/">Quarterbacks</a></li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/deep-dive-wake-county-rbs/">Running Backs</a></li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/deep-dive-wake-county-qbs/">Wide Receivers</a></li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/deep-dive-wake-county-ol/">Offensive Line</a></li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/deep-dive-wake-county-idls/">Interior Defensive Line</a></li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/deep-dive-wake-county-edge-rushers/">Edge Rushers</a></li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top 5 Linebackers in Wake County</h2>    Cypher is a heat-seeking missile in the running game, as he gets downhill as fast as anybody you'll see. He's decisive and doesn't hesitate, moving at full-speed once he makes a decision. As a sophomore, he flashed in coverage as well, with eight pass deflections and three picks. It shouldn't surprise people that he has so many sacks to his name either, and most aren't even on blitzes. He can get moving so quickly that if a quarterback breaks contain or he's acting as a spy, he can fire off his line and make the stop.     It's hard to find any prospect at any position in any class across the state who has had as meteoric of a recruiting rise as Alston has this offseason. He's getting offers left and right from some of the top schools in the country. With above average size and quickness for the linebacker position, he's the epitome of a modern off-ball backer, with elite coverage upside and the ability to stick his head inside and bang in the running game.     While this is still an upside pick, Griffin-Haynes looks as comfortable as he's ever been on a football field since the switch to off-ball linebacker. He's supremely athletic and has a unique skillset, given his combination of length and footwork. He can flex out into the slot, or play safety in a pinch and the explosion and length work well for Griffin-Haynes as a blitzer off the edge as well.     Wicker isn't ever going to be an "off the bus" guy who turns heads with pure size or athleticism, but he's a thumper who always puts himself in a position to make plays. He has time to continue growing and burst onto the scene as a sophomore with over 100 tackles. He's a solid player who rarely overcommits or makes mistakes in the running game, and a guy we continue to closely monitor.     Bordelon is the perfect example of why it helps to make a strategic visit schedule. We had him ranked in the low-200s until he ran in the mid-4.7s at our Prep Redzone camp, adding an impressive shuttle as well. He was fantastic that day and it completely changed my perception of him. I went back to the film and loved what I saw: a free-moving thumper who isn't afraid to take risks or seek out contact. He's a guy who could see his stock soar as a senior.    <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mentions</h3>   [player_tooltip player_id='1159917' first='Robert' last='McCullough'], Southeast Raleigh   [player_tooltip player_id='682099' first='Avery' last='Fleet'], Rolesville   [player_tooltip player_id='1027755' first='Tamaury' last='Scott'], Apex   [player_tooltip player_id='1679986' first='Lacina' last='Coulibaly'], Panther Creek

If you're new to Prep Redzone, we're in the middle of a months-long deep dive series where we take a few counties and rank the top players at every position, evaluating them in the process. We've reached the defensive side of the ball. And after looking at a young and unproven interior defensive line group, we're hitting a loaded group of edge rushers, one so deep, we had to cut a Power Four recruit out of the top five. It's deep dive time, who are the best linebackers in Wake County?