The Brighton LB, led his Defense to a state championship berth, where they fell short against Rye. Heininger, was the defensive anchor for his squad and played on both sides of the ball, and contributing as a TE.

Henininger is heading to Buffalo, and is one of the top LB’s in the state. He has an outstanding IQ, and can move sideline to sideline. I like his burst, and he plays with a high motor, attacking ball carriers. He wasn’t seen much in coverage snaps, but he displays a basic understanding of man coverage, and has fluid hips allowing him to compete in Coverage Reps. Buffalo is getting a beast at LB.

Congratulations Matthew!

Heininger is the defensive leader on this Brighton squad. Rye has been led by an outstanding offense and looks to continue that in the championship. Heininger will be a major factor on the defensive side of the ball, as he will face one of the toughest offenses this Brighton squad has this season.

The Senior Bruin, is the top LB in the state, and is heading to Buffalo next season. The Brighton pass rusher, will be the leader of the defense, which is 0-2, when allowing 20 or more points this season. Loom for Heininger, to have a major impact on the outcome of this game.

What isn’t there to love about Matthew Heininger Matthew Heininger 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Brighton | 2026 State NY !? He is a cornerstone playmaker at the LB position for Brighton High School and has now committed to the University of Buffalo. Moreover, the athleticism is a star point for him. Conversely, he covers ground quickly and make plays all over the field. Breaking through the LOS and making TFLs was a constant for him.

Brighton certainly will lean on Heininger heavily to go a long way this season. Locking down the defense and making an impact on offense as a TE. This is a special player that we all will be watching.

To this point, Heininger is the best physically built LB prospect in the state. Combine that with the positional skills you see on tape, and he holds onto the #1 LB spot for the second consecutive season.

Heininger shows great hand use at the point of attack, the ability to get off blocks, and is a dynamic/explosive athlete. His defensive tape also shows some violent finishing. There are a few clips on tape, including an INT I saw live, that showcase Heininger’s ball skills. He has good TE tape, but his best college position is clearly LB.

Heininger checks the size box, is a good athlete on tape, and has positional skills that translate to the Division 1 level—one of the few LBs in this class who can check all those boxes.

Heininger, at 6’1.5 225, already looks the part heading into his Junior season. There are not any linebackers in the 2026 class in New York who close on the ball like Heininger does. He shows patience off the snap and does a great job of attacking open lanes to get in the backfield. He shows on tape he can shed blocks, but he shows he does an even better job of using that patience, chance of tempo, change of direction, and explosiveness to avoid and evade them while closing on the ball carrier.

There are not a ton of coverage reps on tape for Heininger, but you do get to see the way he moves in space when you see him play the TE position. Heininger shows fluid hips and can change direction in space at TE, which should translate to the defensive side of the ball in space.

Heininger checks a lot of boxes as a potential Division 1 prospect. The Brighton LB prospect has the measurables at over 6′ and 220+. Heading into his Junior season, he does not need to get much bigger. He should just continue to refine his body and develop more strength in the weight room.

On tape, Heininger plays with a great motor, gets involved with tackles sideline to sideline, and is willing to chase from behind. His best trait is his instincts and vision. He sees the backfield well and has a quick trigger downhill. He evades blocks well and shows some ability to shed and use his hands well at the point of attack.

Matthew Heininger Matthew Heininger 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Brighton | 2026 State NY is an upcoming junior for Brighton High School that was 2nd team AGR. Coming into this season, Heininger is looking to continue upon his success and improve his dominant game even more. Heininger stands at 6’1” and weighs 220-pounds. When it comes to the LB position, getting behind the LOS and causing problems was the name of the game for Matthew. So many times, Heininger was able to read the play quickly, and attack with explosive speed on ball carriers. Many times, Heininger was able to run down the QB and running backs on tape. This is a very polished and balanced tackler that is very excellent at making tackles in space. I also loved how excellent Heininger’s coverage ability was in space with the opposition. In addition to the LB spot, Heininger also plays the TE position where he was able to make big-time grabs. The speed that Heininger has over the middle of the field to create separation was a huge benefactor for his play at the TE spot. Brighton has a huge star here with Matthew Heininger Matthew Heininger 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Brighton | 2026 State NY and if he continues to put in the effort, he will go a long way.