Polk All Star Team Watch: Private and Small School Linebackers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1581765' first='Mekhi' last='Berrien'] | LB | 2026 | Fort Meade | @MekhiBerrien</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Berrien put together another high-production season for Fort Meade, finishing with 82 total tackles to lead the team. He's been one of the most steady and overlooked defenders in the county the last two years. His film shows a physical linebacker who plays square, takes clean angles, and brings consistent force on contact. Berrien's reliability and effort stand out — a true under-the-radar prospect who deserves more attention from college staffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1773843' first='Reese' last='Nunez'] | LB | 2028 | Victory Christian | @Reese_Nunez6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nunez flashed high upside this season and looks like one of Polk's better young linebackers. With 39 tackles and 6.0 TFLs, he showed quickness, versatility, and improved physicality from offseason work. Victory Christian moves him across the front seven, and he handles it well — plays fast, diagnoses plays early, and competes every snap. His long-term ceiling is strong.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bryson Jones | ATH | 2026 | Santa Fe | @BeastlyB9</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones brought a physical edge to Santa Fe all season, finishing with 44 tackles and 13.5 TFLs. He plays downhill with real urgency and embraces contact. Whether he's carrying the ball or delivering a hit, the mentality is the same: aggressive and relentless. One of the top tone-setters in the county for a small-school program.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mateo Martinez | LB/DE | 2026 | Victory Christian | @MateoMarti51670</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Martinez wrapped up the season with 47 tackles and a team-leading 14.0 TFLs, showing the same block-destruction and leverage skills that make him stand out on film. He's undersized but technically advanced — a high-motor defender who wins with hands, leverage, and effort. Fits well as a hybrid LB/DE and is the type of competitor programs shouldn't overlook.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1986628' first='Joseph' last='Bustos'] | EDGE | 2028 | Lakeland Christian | @bustos_football</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bustos put together one of the strongest defensive seasons in Polk among young prospects, finishing with 79 tackles and 13.5 TFLs. He's explosive off the edge with a fast first step and natural instinct for finding the ball. For a 2028 player, his motor and feel for timing stand out. High-upside pass rusher with strong early production.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Antonio Glover | LB | 2027 | Fort Meade | @AntonioGlover_0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Glover finished with 70 tackles and a team-high 18 TFLs, proving he's one of the most disruptive young defenders in the area. He plays with speed and urgency, consistently slipping blocks and creating negative plays. His growth from last season to now is obvious, and he projects as one of Fort Meade's defensive leaders moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->