Five 2030 LB Prospects to Know in Tennessee

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With each new offseason comes a new wave of talent at the high school level with the arrival of a potential-filled rising freshman group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the state keeps investing more and more into youth development, the young talent in the state of Tennessee has become exponentially better at an earlier stage as the state began to see with the impact that 2029 class immediately made last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a strong group of rising freshman linebackers, these five 2030 prospects will be players to know as they look to start within the next two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2030 ILB [player_tooltip player_id='2162840' first='Hudson' last='Cain'] — Baylor School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2162840"],"_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-6a862bfedd3b7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2162840' first='Hudson' last='Cain'] is a very exciting young linebacker prospect with a high floor and elite upside as he enters the high school ranks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has great length for a young linebacker, standing at six-foot and 200 pounds entering his freshman season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He displays strong burst when he breaks downhill in pursuit of the ball carrier and can finish plays as a strong tackler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has the natural athleticism and length to develop into a player that can be reliable in zone coverage as he gets more opportunity there naturally.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has good genetics and is the son of two-time FCS All-American Josh Cain, who has been inducted into the UTC Hall of Fame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EXPECTED ROLE IN 2026:</strong> He will have some rotational opportunity during his freshman season before stepping into a large role as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2030 EDGE [player_tooltip player_id='2060400' first='Edward' last='Brewer'] — Baylor School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2060400"],"_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-6a862bfedd465"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2060400' first='Edward' last='Brewer'] is an exciting young prospect that is new to the state and brings a skillset consisting of solid size, good athleticism and a strong motor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He officially measured in at 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds during the spring, but projects to grow into more of a frame built for an edge rusher. Right now, he offers a versatile skillset that impacts the game from both the linebacker and edge positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has good athleticism and long arms, helping him maintain leverage when working the edge, with the potential to convert speed to power as he continues to grow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He started at the high school varsity level as an 8th grader in Alabama and should make an instant impact as a rotational front seven defender as a freshman against strong competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EXPECTED ROLE IN 2026:</strong> He will rotate in as a freshman and learn behind [player_tooltip player_id='1357924' first='Hans' last='Emery Julien'], before stepping into a large role during his sophomore season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2030 ILB [player_tooltip player_id='2160485' first='Cole' last='Carpenter'] — Briarcrest Christian School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2160485"],"_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-6a862bfedd4d3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2160485' first='Cole' last='Carpenter'] is an exciting linebacker prospect with an intriguing frame, athleticism and versatility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has great length for a young linebacker, claiming a 6-foot-2 and 185 pound frame.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has good athleticism and that is evident when he is in pursuit, already showing the ability to chase down ball carriers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is a versatile player that made a large impact at linebacker, edge rusher, tailback and tight end in middle schools and that should translate well to his comfortability in space as a young player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As he continues to add more explosiveness, he has the potential to be a versatile playmaker in the front seven that is very good against the run and can even add some raw pass-rush value.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has flashed strong instincts in zone coverage, even baiting a quarterback into an interception in one clip.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EXPECTED ROLE IN 2026:</strong> He should keep filling out his frame and adjusting to the high school game, while he should find his way onto the field eventually as a freshman. He should be in a major role for the team early in his high school career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2030 ILB [player_tooltip player_id='2229978' first='Cameron' last='Jones'] — Boyd-Buchanan School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2229978"],"_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-6a862bfedd524"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2229978' first='Cameron' last='Jones'] is an exciting young linebacker with a great frame and natural athleticism, giving him a lot of upside as he enters the high school level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has a strong frame, standing around six-foot and 190 pounds, with the frame to pack on a good amount of weight as he continues to grow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is a natural athlete that is an efficient mover with good straight-line speed once he puts his foot in the ground, traits that were evident as the lead tailback for a talented middle school team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As he continues to improve his processing as a linebacker while he keeps growing, he has all the baseline tools to become a dynamic presence from the second level of the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EXPECTED ROLE IN 2026:</strong> Boyd-Buchanan has a young team and will likely utilize his skillset in the rotation this season while still focusing on developing him for his intriguing long-term future under "new" head coach Charles Fant.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2030 ILB [player_tooltip player_id='1701989' first='Gavin' last='Guy'] — Fairview High School</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1701989"],"_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-6a862bfedd56d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1701989' first='Gavin' last='Guy'] is a young linebacker prospect with the intangibles to develop into a playmaker from the second level of the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has a good frame for a young linebacker, claiming a 6-foot-1 and 175 pound frame entering his freshman season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His raw speed and athleticism is very impressive, helping him become a star on the football field and the track.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ultimately, he has the length, strong frame and natural athleticism to develop into an exciting linebacker prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EXPECTED ROLE IN 2026:</strong> He should rotate in as a freshman as the Fairley staff finds different ways to utilize his skillset. As he continues to develop both with his body and on the field, he should quickly become a playmaker at the high school level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->