-A 2026 linebacker that I am surprised hasn’t gotten more attention, has been Josh Elder Josh Elder 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB St Thomas More | 2026 State SD out of St. Thomas More as he has continued with his agile footwork down to the ball carrier.

-He is a linebacker that certainly has great vision especially in short areas, and can turn on a dime to change directions to still get the ideal pursuit angle. Great athletic movement for a 6’1 220 pounder.

-Oddly, Josh is still waiting on his first offer and I can’t figure out why as the tape is out there for this young man to play at the next-level.

A 2026 linebacker that impressed me out of nowhere during our last 2026 rankings update was Rapid City STM’s Josh Elder Josh Elder 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB St Thomas More | 2026 State SD . He has a quick twitch off the snap and just as quick with his processing time with use of his vision to the ball carrier. When you watch Josh’s pursuit angles, you can grasp quickly how well-versed his football IQ appears to be and flashed ideal next-level linebacker size already at 6’1 220 pounds. With Rapid City St. Thomas More rising quickly in 11B, hopefully more flood gates of college coaches come Josh’s way as they will find with him and others, there is plenty of next-level talent to see within the Cavaliders program. No offers as of yet, which is quite surprise

As if this Rapid City St. Thomas More group couldn’t get even more stacked, it does with 2026 newcomer Josh Elder Josh Elder 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB St Thomas More | 2026 State SD . The 6’1 220 pound linebacker is one of the more consistent middle linebackers I have seen on tape in the inside box as you see him getting penetration with his vision quickly on tape. Josh also shows off well-versed pursuit angles and does so with a sound balance of physicality on contact. Coming in as our LB5, I will be intrigued to see Josh at camps this summer in like I said is a stacked 2026 class for the Cavaliers.

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