2027 Wheeling Central RB/LB Dustin Sanner Dustin Sanner 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB/RB Wheeling Central Catholic | 2027 State WV heads into his senior season with a chance to remind people why he is considered one of the top linebacker prospects in the 2027 class. An early injury limited him to just five games as a junior, but even in that short stretch, he managed to finish among the team’s top tacklers and showed the same disruptive traits that have made him such a highly regarded defender. Sanner plays with a relentless motor and burst off the edge, regularly generating pressure and making momentum-shifting plays behind the line of scrimmage. Against the run, he sets firm edges and forces ball carriers back into traffic, the type of physical presence that anchors a defense. Now fully healthy, the expectation is that he returns to being one of the Maroon Knights’ most impactful players with an opportunity to emerge at running back in 2026 as well. If he stays on the field and produces the way he has when healthy, Sanner has every tool to put together a dominant senior campaign on both sides of the ball and solidify himself among the top linebackers in the class.

2027 Wheeling Central Catholic LB Dustin Sanner Dustin Sanner 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB/RB Wheeling Central Catholic | 2027 State WV was able to play in just five games for the Maroon Knights in his junior season due to an early injury, but he finished strong. Sanner still finished in the Top 10 for tackles on the team in 7 fewer games and is extremely productive when healty. We’re big believers in his game, ranking him as a Top 3 linebacker in the class, and expect him to produce a huge senior year in 2026.

2027 LB Dustin Sanner Dustin Sanner 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB/RB Wheeling Central Catholic | 2027 State WV is back in the lineup for Wheeling Central just in time for the postseason, and his return gives the defense a major boost. After emerging as an every-down linebacker as an underclassman, he’s continued to grow into a physical, rangy defender who can cover ground and play downhill. Sanner has steadily refined his technique and frame, and his athletic profile still points toward significant long-term upside. With the Knights pushing deeper into November, his presence in the middle of the defense makes them tougher to game-plan against, and he’ll be one of the key pieces they lean on as the competition ramps up.

2027 Wheeling Central LB Dustin Sanner Dustin Sanner 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB/RB Wheeling Central Catholic | 2027 State WV is beginning to receive the recognition we thought he was deserving of after producing a standout sophomore year. He’ll have colleges after his services if he produces again as a junior and should see his recruitment take off next offseason.

Here’s what we recently said about Sanner in our 2027 Rankings Stock Risers article:

“Another 2027 linebacker who impressed as a sophomore varsity starter was Wheeling Central’s  Dustin Sanner Dustin Sanner 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB/RB Wheeling Central Catholic | 2027 State WV . He was the second-leading tackler for the Knights in 2024, posting 90 total stops, 6.5 for a loss, and 3.5 for sacks. Sanner is growing well into his 6’1 frame, with high-level athleticism that will allow him to develop into a complete linebacker prospect by his senior year. He has all of the physical tools and is steadily working on his own time to become a top prospect in the 2027 class, and is a name that colleges will want to keep an eye on over the next two seasons.”

Another 2027 linebacker who impressed as a sophomore varsity starter was Wheeling Central’s Dustin Sanner Dustin Sanner 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB/RB Wheeling Central Catholic | 2027 State WV . He was the second-leading tackler for the Knights in 2024, posting 90 total stops, 6.5 for a loss, and 3.5 for sacks. Sanner is growing well into his 6’1 frame, with high-level athleticism that will allow him to develop into a complete linebacker prospect by his senior year. He has all of the physical tools and is steadily working on his own time to become a top prospect in the 2027 class, and is a name that colleges will want to keep an eye on over the next two seasons.

Another 2027 Wheeling Central prospect who made his way into the Top 50 in this update is LB Dustin Sanner Dustin Sanner 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB/RB Wheeling Central Catholic | 2027 State WV , who produced a strong first season of varsity. Sanner totaled 90 tackles, 6.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks as a sophomore. He’s a good athlete with speed and quickness that will translate well in the future as he continues to learn the position. Sanner has a lot of raw ability and athletic upside that will allow him to develop into a top LB prospect in the 2027 class by his senior year if he continues to progress.

2027 Wheeling Central LB Dustin Sanner Dustin Sanner 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB/RB Wheeling Central Catholic | 2027 State WV has had an impressive start to his sophomore season and is another linebacker to know for the Maroon Knights.

Sanner saw some spot duty as a freshman last season but has earned a starting role as a sophomore. and he’s making the most of it. He’s tied with Brady for the top tackler on the team through four weeks and has totaled 45 stops thus far. Sanner has good young size at 6’1 195 and is a good athlete which gives him a great foundation to continue building on over the next two and a half years. Walking him up to the line of scrimmage proves to be a difficult block for opposing offensive linemen with how quick he is, and Sanner is able to shoot through to blow up the play in the backfield. He’s still just scratching the surface of what he’ll become by the time he’s a senior and should develop into a very good prospect by that time.