Inside Linebackers Primed for Breakout Seasons In 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025 Tennessee high school football season concluded two weeks ago with the East-West All-Star Game, marking the start of preparations for the upcoming season. There's a plethora of young players who got their feet wet this season, and some who took the next step.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm starting a new series discussing players at each position who are poised to enjoy breakout campaigns in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Next in the series are the inside linebackers. I've selected five potential breakout stars to discuss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The majority of the student-athletes on this list are underclassmen, with two being rising seniors who have shown immense potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1177955} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Jeremy-Thompson-TN-28.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1177955" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Riverdale ILB [player_tooltip player_id='1177947' first='Jeremy' last='Thompson'] Jr.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1177947' first='Jeremy' last='Thompson'] Jr – Riverdale High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1177947' first='Jeremy' last='Thompson'] Jr. from Riverdale had a strong season in 2025 as a sophomore, showcasing a high ceiling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's an impressive prospect who can do it all for the Warrior defense, serving as that spark plug at inside linebacker. Thompson Jr. is a compact player at 5-foot-10, 205 pounds, but is built well and should grow into an FBS recruit within the next two years. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season, he recorded 82 tackles, six for a loss, two sacks and an interception for one of the better defenses in the Midstate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While that's a good year for anyone, he's due for a monster season in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2089007} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Photo-Dec-24-2025-1-06-10-PM.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2089007" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Boyd-Buchanan ILB [player_tooltip player_id='1038477' first='Corey' last='McGraw']. Photo from his Instagram @_.cj0_.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1038477' first='Corey' last='McGraw'] – Boyd-Buchanan</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boyd-Buchanan's [player_tooltip player_id='1038477' first='Corey' last='McGraw'] didn't receive a lot of playing time this past season due to the presence of many veterans in front of him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, when he got on the field, he was impressive and looked like a future star for Gary Rankin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McGraw has a good frame, standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing 190 pounds, with room to fill out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising junior is a strong, physical player who's not afraid of contact and often runs through people when he meets them head up. He's a fluid inside backer who can shift gears and get anywhere on the field quickly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To top everything off, he's solid in coverage, allowing him to be a three-down linebacker for the Buccaneers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2085009} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/43-Kwadir-Fletcher-rotated-crop-2832x1860-1766010568.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2085009" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: FRA RB [player_tooltip player_id='903954' first='Kwadir' last='Fletcher'] at a Prep Redzone camp.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='903954' first='Kwadir' last='Fletcher'] – Franklin Road Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='903954' first='Kwadir' last='Fletcher'] is one of the few players who landed on my lists at multiple positions, but it's a tribute to how talented and productive he's been. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's a good running back, but also excels on the defensive side as an inside linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds, he's a tad undersized, but Fletcher flies around the gridiron and can do whatever is needed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The FRA two-way star is a physical player who possesses a high football IQ, good tackling ability, the quickness to move sideline-to-sideline and solid coverage skills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With another offseason to improve, watch for him to explode onto the season at both positions, especially linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1598756} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/91-Clyce-Tetleton-rotated-e1736531885902.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1598756" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Halls High School ILB [player_tooltip player_id='1587383' first='Clyce' last='Tetleton'] at a Prep Redzone camp.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1587383' first='Clyce' last='Tetleton'] – Halls High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1587383' first='Clyce' last='Tetleton'] is one of the elite underclassmen in Tennessee, showing great potential as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising junior plays in the 2A classification, but stands out as a big linebacker at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, with a lean frame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's a do-it-all player with good fluidity/quickness, impressive physicality, good tackling skills and the ability to fight through multiple blockers to find the ball carrier. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 10 games this year, he recorded 61 tackles, one for a loss, a sack and two forced fumbles. Keep an eye on Tetleton heading into next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1594637} --> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/KxndTQAc_400x400.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1594637" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Upperman ILB [player_tooltip player_id='1583146' first='Jude' last='Fitzpatrick']. Photo from Upperman athletics.</figcaption></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1583146' first='Jude' last='Fitzpatrick'] – Upperman High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1583146' first='Jude' last='Fitzpatrick'] from Upperman High School is one of my favorite linebackers in the upcoming senior class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fitzpatrick is a smaller player at 5-foot-10, 200 pounds, but has another offseason to grow before his final high school season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He checks all the boxes in terms of physical tools and traits, while being athletic enough to play anywhere on the field. My favorite part of his game is the high motor he possesses, as he constantly flies around the field to make plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He was very productive this past season, totaling 76 tackles, six for a loss, one sack and a fumble recovery.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->