Inside Linebackers to Buy Stock in This Season

The Tennessee high school football season continues this week. After a long offseason, we are finally back to the sport that we all love. With new seasons come breakout players, unknown commodities who make a name for themselves and even players who were good but have taken that next step in their football journey.   I'm doing a new series about each position where I find five players whom you and college coaches need to buy stock in. Continuing, I have the inside linebackers. Each one is a bit different in their own way, but definitely good enough to buy stock in for this season.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />    Octavius Flynn Jr. was one of my first finds when I started at Prep Redzone over a year ago. He stood out as just a sophomore, but has taken the next step and looks to have another great season in 2026.   He's a well-built linebacker, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 210 pounds. I would like him to put on additional weight to maximize his potential, but he has time.   Flynn Jr. is very explosive, is an elite tackler, gets downhill quickly, plays with great intensity, can shut down a running game and communicates at a high level.    ---    [player_tooltip player_id='1704682' first='Ethan' last='Starling'] saw a good amount of playing time last season, flashing big potential. He received five Division I offers this offseason, kickstarting his recruitment.   He's a compact linebacker, standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 185 pounds with a stout frame. He needs to add weight, but I'm not worried about it right now. Starling has shown good things and possesses nice traits.   The junior is one of the better run stuffers in Tennessee, is extremely athletic, moves well laterally, can get downhill quickly and is physical.    ---    [player_tooltip player_id='1177918' first='Jacob' last='Kreis'] had a good sophomore season before taking another step forward this offseason. Trent Dilfer and his staff have done a great job of developing players, including the 2028 linebacker.   He offers good size, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 215 pounds. Kreis is well-built with plenty of muscle and good movement. The 2028 prospect has a very high ceiling, with multiple Power Four schools interested in his talents.   Kreis is explosive, has high football IQ, excels at stopping the run, offers some pass-rush upside, covers well and is a fluid mover.    ---    I came across [player_tooltip player_id='1721153' first='Bruno' last='Prater']'s film at the end of last season and was very impressed with what he looked like as a freshman.   He offers excellent size for his age, standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 215 pounds. Prater has a well-built frame with plenty of muscle, but excellent fluidity.   The 2029 prospect is elite against the run, can get after the quarterback, is a smart football player, brings great physicality and plays hard.    ---    [player_tooltip player_id='1669977' first='J'Mari' last='Hall'] from Columbia Central is one of the most underrated players in Tennessee. He's shown some good stuff and holds two Division I offers from Southern Miss and Memphis.   He offers good size, standing 6-foot and weighing 210 pounds. The 2028 prospect is lean, fluid, physical and plays with a high motor. Through the first two games this season, Hall has nine tackles, one being for a loss and a pass deflection.   He's versatile and can play multiple positions on defense, but I think his future is at inside linebacker. I want to see him add weight and maintain his athleticism, but Hall has a high ceiling.

The Tennessee high school football season continues this week. After a long offseason, we are finally back to the sport that we all love. With new seasons come breakout players, unknown commodities who make a name for themselves and even players who were good but have taken that next step in their football journey.