Final KY 2026 Rankings: LB

<!-- 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":"2494","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-694445d5977ef"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get deeper into the month of December, we have been completing our final round of rankings updates for the year. To wrap up these updates, we have released our final Top 300 rankings in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky. With these final rankings being posted, I have been taking the past week to break them down by position. After already covering the offensive side of the ball, I have turned my attention to the defensive side of the ball. With the defensive line and edge defenders already being taken care of, here are our top linebackers in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1175788"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6944495fdd0fa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1175788' first='Karsten' last='Busch'] has been high on our radar for a while now but he continued to climb all the way to the top overall ranking in his class with a strong senior year. Busch lines up at inside linebacker where he is dominant against the run. He does a great job of diagnosing the play quickly then using his speed to close in on the ball carrier with a sense of urgency. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he does a great job of running his feet through contact to secure the tackle, finishing this season with a team-high 110 tackles and 10 tackles for loss in 14 games. He also recorded one sack this season and made an impact on offense, catching 13 passes for 274 yards and five touchdowns. Karsten signed with Miami (FL) where I can see him having a very successful collegiate career. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["283969"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6944495fdd178"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='283969' first='Jackson' last='Settle'] is another 2026 inside linebacker who continued to impress this season. He is very impressive against the run, showing the ability to read his keys effectively then come downhill in a hurry to get to the ball carrier. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he has shown the ability to finish tackles quickly without allowing any extra yards to be gained. Settle finished his senior year with 120 tackles and 17 tackles for loss in 15 games. He also showed the ability to make plays against the pass, accounting for two sacks and an interception this season. Settle currently holds several Division I offers and I expect him to make an impact wherever he decides to play at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1706076"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6944495fdd1d7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1706076' first='Cohen' last='Campbell'] jumped onto our radar last season and continued to stand out as a senior. Campbell lined up at inside linebacker where he proved to be very effective when asked to blitz. He does a great job of timing the snap count perfectly then bursting through his gap to get to the quarterback before the opposing offensive line has a chance to block him. Campbell finished this past season with nine sacks in 11 games. He also came away with an interception this season and continued to impress against the run, recording a team-high 95 tackles and 16 tackles for loss. Cohen currently holds multiple offers, including a Division I offer from Murray State, and I can see him finding success wherever he plays at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1211382"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69444a134638f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1211382' first='Montez' last='Trussell'] has been on our radar for a while now and continued to impress in his final season. He lined up mainly at middle linebacker but has shown the ability to play on the outside as well. Trussell is dominant against the run, showing the ability to fight through blocks and use his speed to get to the ball carrier in a hurry. When he gets to the ball carrier, Montez explodes through contact and finishes his tackles with a ton of physicality. Trussell finished his senior year with a team-leading 123 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss in 13 games. He also proved to be very reliable against the pass, both as a rusher and in coverage, recording six sacks and one interception this season. Montez currently holds offers from Thomas More, Georgetown (KY), and Kentucky Wesleyan, and I can see him being a very productive college linebacker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1706059"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69444a1346407"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To wrap up our top five linebackers in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='1706059' first='Simon' last='Rickman']. Rickman lines up at outside linebacker where he is very reliable against the run. He reads the play quickly then uses his speed to run sideline to sideline to make tackles in the open field. Rickman finished his senior season with a team-leading 163 tackles in 15 games. He also showed the ability to make plays against the pass, finishing the year with eight sacks and an interception. Simon also played a key role on offense this season, running the ball 62 times for 352 yards and 10 touchdowns while also catching 10 passes for 103 yards. Rickman currently holds offers from Pikeville, Muskingum, and Bethel (TN), and I can see him developing into a productive player wherever he ends up playing at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->