5 2027 Linebackers Turning Heads

We've been hitting the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/09/predicting-winners-and-mvps-for-every-top-10-matchup-in-the-east/">preview</a> and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/09/monday-musings-week-3/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">analysis</a> parts of North Carolina's 2026 high school football season, and we're also taking the time to highlight <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/09/5-union-county-offensive-linemen-impressing-early/">underappreciated players</a>. We've been looking through positions that don't get as much notoriety, especially in the week-to-week rhythm of the season. Here, we're looking at five impressive linebackers who have stepped up as seniors.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Which Linebackers Have Impressed as Seniors?</h2>   Editor's Note: Check out our other positional pieces from the past week:   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/09/5-2027-edge-rushers-stepping-up-as-seniors/">Edge Rushers </a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/09/5-2027-idls-who-have-impressed-early/">Interior Defensive Linemen </a><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/09/5-union-county-offensive-linemen-impressing-early/">Union County Offensive Linemen</a>    Weycker had arguably the best game by a defensive player all year last Friday when he had 12 tackles, three picks, and a forced fumble. He's among the state tackle leaders, has multiple tackles for loss in every game, has blocked a kick, and snaps for the Panthers. He's a massive middle linebacker with fantastic closing speed. The Lenoir-Rhyne commit looks like an absolute steal for the Bears.     Cody has stuffed the stat sheet for an ascending North Stanly team. Per MaxPreps, he leads the 2027 class in tackling, and the film backs up that claim. They're not cheap tackles, either. He's making an impact close to the line of scrimmage in the running game. He's not just racking up tackles, though; he also has a sack, a forced and recovered fumble, and an interception.     Stevenson has predictably been all over the field for the Catamounts. He has multiple fumble recoveries and a blocked kick this year. Most impressively, he's raised the bar behind an inexperienced defensive line, compared to the group that graduated last season. He rarely takes false steps, and there's a reason he often ends up in the correct place to make a play. He's also abnormally strong for the position, able to go toe-to-toe with offensive linemen and still make plays.     Linebacker was perhaps the only question mark for the Bulldogs defensively. Heath has answered the bell, though, and taken his game to another level. After eight tackles for loss last season, he has six through three games. He's not the biggest guy, but he's thriving against top competition. He gets sideline to sideline in a hurry. I've been highly impressed with the former watchlister. He won't be on the watchlist in October, though.     Elmenshawi put a ton of work in during the offseason, and the results are noticeable. As he gained weight, his role on defense has changed. He's flying around the field, making plays all over the place in both the running and passing games. The senior looks at home in the middle of the field, but he's also lining up in the slot and down on the line of scrimmage as a sort of stand-up edge rusher. I've been impressed with the progression from his junior to senior season.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Impressive 2027 LBs</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='1398025' first='Thomas' last='Kieffer'] | Pine Lake Prep   [player_tooltip player_id='1705626' first='Noah' last='LeBlanc'] | East Duplin   [player_tooltip player_id='1429533' first='Evan' last='Culicerto'] | Marvin Ridge   [player_tooltip player_id='451403' first='Cody' last='Hernandez'] | Starmount   [player_tooltip player_id='2084495' first='Tony' last='King'] | Hickory   We'll have more on overlooked players throughout the state this season. Follow Prep Redzone for coverage of regions, areas, teams, and players from across the entire state. What did we miss? Who needs to be highlighted? Help us help players, and let me know on Twitter (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>).

We've been hitting the preview and analysis parts of North Carolina's 2026 high school football season, and we're also taking the time to highlight underappreciated players. We've been looking through positions that don't get as much notoriety, especially in the week-to-week rhythm of the season. Here, we're looking at five impressive linebackers who have stepped up as seniors.