Top 6 Johnston/Harnett County LBs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've looked at both the interior defensive linemen and the edge rushers in our 11 RDU counties of interest in this Deep Dive series. And that's after evaluating over 150 offensive prospects earlier in the month. We're moving to the off-ball linebacker position, looking at the top guys in Johnston/Harnett County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best Linebackers in Johnston/Harnett County</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Editor's Note: The ranked linebackers are listed in order from first to sixth. Rankings reflect a combination of 2025 production and predicted 2026 impact.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Other Johnston/Harnett County Deep Dives:<br></em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/johnston-harnett-county-qb-deep-dive/">QBs</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/deep-dive-top-7-rbs-in-johnston-harnett-county/">RBs</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/top-5-wrs-in-johnston-harnett-county/">WRs</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/deep-dive-top-10-tes-in-rdu/">RDU TEs</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/top-8-ol-in-wake-county/">OL</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/deep-dive-top-6-idls-in-johnston-harnett-county/">IDLs</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/03/top-6-edge-rushers-in-johnston-harnett-county/">Edge Rushers</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1665959"],"_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-69c1f05198c18"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Givens is the modern adaptation of the middle linebacker. A guy who can play in the middle and give traditional toughness against the run, he's at his best in space, with elite lateral quickness and a knack for the big play. He's one of the best you'll find in coverage, and the splash plays are impressive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1647668"],"_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-69c1f05198c9d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Though he plays in a lower classification than most of the rest of the guys on this list, Fulton is as legitimate an inclusion as there is at the linebacker position. He's an outside backer who can fill running lanes like a Mike and rush the passer like an edge. His ball production when he makes contact is elite, too, with six forced fumbles in two seasons as a varsity starter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1720935"],"_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-69c1f05198cf9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Trower went the route of watchlist-to-ranked in our midseason update, which is one of the easiest ways to know a player made an early impact. Trower is a tackling machine who lives around the football, and the switch from two-way player to a primary linebacker really helped his development. The Overhills defense was a really solid unit last season, largely due to Trower's impact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1149031"],"_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-69c1f05198d50"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pick a random play, and Kellam is likely moving forward with purpose at some point. He's not really a guy who waits around, hoping the play comes his way. Rather, he works downhill, and it's helped him become one of the most prolific tacklers in the state. I like his instincts, and he isn't afraid to leave coverage to crash a scrambling quarterback, or take a unique angle to bring ball carriers down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2140191"],"_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-69c1f05198d9f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Let's be honest: the defense isn't the first thing we all think of when we hear about Princeton, but Lee is an excellent young piece for the Bulldogs. His instincts and athleticism help him put himself in the correct position to make plays, and he made plenty of them in 2025. He made 14 tackles for loss, a number I think will rise this season, given how often he's in position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1521147"],"_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-69c1f05198e14"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Shaw moved more to the offensive side of the ball as a running back, holding his own there, but we still like him best on the defensive side of the ball. He has excellent instincts and isn't afraid to hit, two things that work well off the ball. When he gets there, he arrives violently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>This is the time of year when we have the most time to dive into film, re-evaluate prospects, and revisit past opinions about players across the state. Send your film on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>), so I can evaluate you. We'll continue Deep Dives over the next month before jumping into our spring rankings update.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->