2026 Rankings Release: Linebackers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2023 high school football season being officially underway, it is the time of the year where initial rankings for the current season are being finalized. After releasing our initial 2024 and 2025 rankings updates for this season, we have now turned our attention to a class debut in our rankings. The 2026 class is loaded with several talented players but some stood out above the rest to make our initial Top 100. With those rankings being officially posted, I will now be breaking them down by position. After covering the offensive side of the ball, I have now turned my attention to defensive side of the ball. With the defensive line already being covered, I will now focus on our top linebackers in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["971508"],"_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_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='971508' first='Isaac' last='Estrada'] is a linebacker that is coming off a very impressive freshman year. Estrada led his team last season with 111 total tackles along with six tackles for loss. Isaac lines up at middle linebacker where he does a great job of reading his keys and flowing to the ball in a hurry. He has shown the ability to fight through blocks on his way to the ball carrier and is a very reliable open field tackler once he gets there. Isaac doesn't currently hold any offers but he is definitely a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["840738"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='840738' first='Wyatt' last='Raney'] is another linebacker that caught my attention as a freshman. Last season, Raney finished with 101 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and one sack. Raney has shown the versatility to play inside and outside linebacker, and is very reliable agains the run. He does a great job of reading his keys and flowing to the ball quickly to make tackles in the open field. Raney is also a reliable blitzer, showing the ability to time the snap count and burst into the backfield to get to the ball carrier before the opposing offensive linemen can react. Through his first two games this season, Raney has 12 tackles. Wyatt doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player for college coaches to keep an eye on over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["283962"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='283962' first='Dalton' last='Matney'] is a player that has recently jumped onto my radar. Matney is coming off a solid freshman year in which he finished with 51 tackles,  two tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. Dalton lines up at middle linebacker where he does a great job of reading his keys and coming downhill in a hurry to meet the ball carrier in the gap on inside runs. On outside runs, Matney takes great angles to the ball and is a very reliable tackler in the open field. Matney is off to a strong start to his sophomore season as he has 19 tackles and two tackles for loss through the first two weeks. Dalton doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player that college coaches will want to pay attention to over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["971513"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Another linebacker that has recently jumped onto my radar is [player_tooltip player_id='971513' first='Austin' last='Tremblay']. After mainly playing in a reserve role last season, Tremblay has stepped into a starting role this year. Tremblay is a big, physical linebacker that is very impressive against the run. He comes downhill in a hurry and has shown the ability to meet the ball carrier in the gap to stop them in their tracks before they can get going. Austin also does a great job of flowing to the ball on outside runs and fighting through blocks on his way to the ball carrier, and is a very reliable open field tackler once he gets there. While Austin doesn't currently hold any offers, he is definitely a player to keep an eye on as his role in the Madison Central defense continues to grow.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["971527"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"To wrap up our top five linebackers in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='971527' first='Stryker' last='Davidson'] from Montgomery County. Davidson is coming off a strong freshman year in which he finished with 80 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. Stryker lines up at outside linebacker where he is very impressive against the run. He does a great job of reading the play and flowing to the ball quickly to make tackles in the open field. Davidson has also shown the ability to use his speed off the edge to burst into the backfield to cause disruption before opposing offensive tackles have a chance to block him. Stryker doesn't currently hold any offers but he should be a player for college coaches to keep an eye on as he continues to develop.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64f10bf530617"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best of the Rest (Players Included in Top 100):</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6. [player_tooltip player_id='283959' first='Chapman' last='Russell'] (Christian Academy of Louisville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7. [player_tooltip player_id='401697' first='Cooper' last='Mobley'] (Caldwell County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8. [player_tooltip player_id='971511' first='Mac' last='Darland'] (Lexington Christian Academy)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9. [player_tooltip player_id='401705' first='Eli' last='Hampton'] (Owensboro)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10. [player_tooltip player_id='971512' first='Caden' last='Caldwell'] (Leslie County)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11. [player_tooltip player_id='952673' first='Kadin' last='Thompson'] (West Carter)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12. [player_tooltip player_id='971507' first='Zackary' last='Carroll'] (Knox Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->