DE Season Preview: Top Uncommitted 2026 Linebackers

This edition of the Delaware Season focuses on the players at the heart of any defense: the linebackers. Here are several who college coaches should keep eyes on throughout their senior seasons:    Overview: Brooks is a seek and destroy linebacker who can run-and-chase or play downhill. A plus athlete at the second level, he gets deployed in a variety of ways. Coming off the edge, he can create negative plays for the offense. Brooks can also drop into zone coverage or pickup backs out of the backfield because he is one. On offense, it takes multiple defenders to bring him down when he's rushing or catching passes as an h-back. His physical ability and aptitude as an all-around football player give him positional flexibility on defense in college. Brooks can be an overhang defender on the weak side, a strong inside backer, or even a middle linebacker.   GPA: 3.6     Overview: Devane is a stout linebacker with some pop in his pads. He can click and close, quickly diagnosing where the ball is going and getting there in a hurry. The powerful athlete has good speed for his size. That's how he makes plays in the backfield or runs sideline-to-sideline. Devane can take on fullbacks or linemen, shed them, and still make the tackle. In coverage, he's best at covering tight ends and backs man-to-man. His toughness in run support also shows up when he lines up at fullback and has to clear the way. Devane projects as an off-ball inside backer who can fill the gap and blitz up the middle.   Offers: Brown, Bryant, Cornell, Dartmouth, Monmouth, Morgan St., UPenn & Villanova   GPA: 3.86     Overview: Melton is a dynamic middle linebacker and an instinctive runningback. He's a violent tackler, unafraid to let his pads pop. Against the pass, he's an asset whether he's dropping in coverage between the hashes or blitzing off the edge. On offense, Melton is shifty, running behind his pads as he accelerates up the middle or shaking a defender on the outside. He'll even lower his shoulder as a wildcat QB in goalline and short-yardage situations. Although his abilities as a ball-carrier are interesting, they make Melton an even more intriguing college prospect as a Mike backer.   Offer: Delaware St.     Overview: Shute is a do-it-all middle linebacker, as well as a sure-handed tight end. In zone coverage, he changes directions very well, reading the QB's eyes then quickly closing ground to punish whoever has the football. And versus the run, he maneuvers through traffic and still lays the boom. Shute is a real weapon on offense. In-line next to the tackle or in the slot, he has the speed to beat defenders up the seam. He can also line up at h-back to chip d-ends before leaking out into the flats or take screens for chunk yards. Shute is a clean cut projection to stay at inside backer going forward.   GPA: 4.2     Overview: Trubiano is a traditional Mike backer through and through. A tackling machine, he has great instincts against the run and, as such, probably plays bigger and faster than he tests. He will either take on offensive linemen head-on then disengage to find the football or slip by them to do the same. And once he gets there, Trubiano is going to lay the wood. When he's back in zone, he surveys what's in front of him, reads the QB, then comes up to put a hat on anyone catching a pass between the hashes. The quarterback of the defense, Trubiano is a prime candidate to stick at middle linebacker at the next level.   GPA: 4.36     Overview: [player_tooltip player_id='1256586' first='Wilson' last=''] is a rugged football player who also plays inside linebacker and long snapper. He plays with his hair on fire, running up-and-down the sidelines to the ball and bringing bad intentions when he gets there. [player_tooltip player_id='1256586' first='Wilson' last=''] can also patiently scrape over the top or run through or around blockers before cutting down bigger ball-carriers. When snapping, he gets the ball out clean and hustles down the field to the returner. So if he doesn't get the opportunity to play either inside backer position on college, he definitely has the ability to be a specialist.   Offer: Delaware St   GPA: 3.33    Follow me on X/IG @ CGraham_Sports for more sports coverage

This edition of the Delaware Season focuses on the players at the heart of any defense: the linebackers. Here are several who college coaches should keep eyes on throughout their senior seasons: