7 Junior Linebackers to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linebackers are the heart of any defense and these are 7 juniors to look out for in the next two years; many of these players are breakout stars, while others have been gradually getting better each year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1371661' first='Jon' last='Landen'] (North Tonawanda) - Landen is having an exceptional season leading Section VI with 57 tackles and also recording an INT through the first half of the season. Jon mans the "Mike" position and has excellent sideline to sideline speed. He has good intuition and can sniff out the ball carriers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1649119' first='Matthew' last='Wright'] (Orchard Park) - After a stellar sophomore campaign where he racked up 64 tackles, Wright has already tallied 52 stops in 4 games in 2025. I pegged him as an X Factor going into the season and he has not disappointed. He is versatile as he can lineup inside or out and has all the intangibles needed to be a premiere LB in Class AA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1513261' first='Davion' last='Blackwell'] (Maritime-Tapestry) - Blackwell, along with the rest of the Seahawks team, is having a huge breakout year. Blackwell is leading Maritime/Tapestry to a 3-1 record, the best start in their brief history. Davion is an aggressive tackler that has taken charge of this defense with 39 tackles, a sack and an INT to date.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1513378' first='Micah' last='Anderson'] (West Seneca West) - Anderson is one of the toughest players in Section VI. He is a hard nosed inside backer that attacks with aggression. Through the first half of his junior year, Micah has 22 tackles (5 for a loss), a forced fumble and 2 recoveries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1814175' first='Danny' last='Lares'] (Williamsville South) - Lares is an agile OLB that can also play in coverage in the slot. He can come down to stuff the run but also has fluid hips to defend the pass. So far in 2025, he has racked up 23 tackles, a sack and an INT.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1924517' first='Cole' last='Urban'] (Lancaster) - Urban is making his varsity debut this season and has already been a factor racking up 30 tackles, a sack and 2 INTs; including a pick 6. He is quick on his feet and has fantastic closing speed. This is a player that will only get better as the weeks go along.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jack Baron (Maryvale) - Baron is a name that is new to me but Maryvale graduated several defensive players last year, plus they have suffered a few key injuries in 2025. Jack has taken advantage racking up 24 tackles, 2 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries in his first varsity season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->