2026 Chapmanville LB Preston Kovach Preston Kovach 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Chapmanville | 2026 State WV took a big leap in his senior season for the Tigers on both sides of the ball. He emerged as a running back this year and had a strong year on the ground. Kovach will play on the defensive side of the ball at the next level, but his ability on offense further proved his ability as a pure football player with a great mindset for the game that will be attractive to college programs.

2026 Chapmanville LB/ RB Preston Kovach Preston Kovach 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Chapmanville | 2026 State WV has been a force for the Tigers as they enter the playoffs, excelling on both offense and defense. As the team’s lead running back, he’s bulldozed his way to 1,200 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, wearing down opponents with a physical, downhill running style that’s hard to stop late in games. On the defensive side, Kovach has continued to be a key presence at linebacker, racking up 17 tackles while controlling the middle of the field and making plays around the ball. His versatility and production make him a standout D2 prospect with his stock climbing as the postseason unfolds.

The Chapmanville Tigers have had an excellent season with an unblemished 10-0 record, and the emergence of 2026 RB/LB Preston Kovach Preston Kovach 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Chapmanville | 2026 State WV at running back has been a big reason why. He was well known for his linebacker play in the past, but has carried the load on offense with 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns as their power back. At 6’2 230, defenses won’t want to see Kovach running at them late in the game and in cold weather, especially if he can get healthy. He’s still making a big impact on defense as well, with 65 stops, and can be a difference maker on that side of the ball if his health hinders his ability to carry the ball.

2026 Chapmanville LB Preston Kovach Preston Kovach 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Chapmanville | 2026 State WV has had an excellent start to his senior season for the Tigers on both sides of the ball. He’s emerged as their starting running back this season, where Kovach has run for nearly 600 yards and 7 touchdowns in 4 games. He brings a physical, downhill presence to their backfield and is a punishing runner who will wear down a defense late in the game. We like Kovach as a LB prospect at the next level, where he’s been very productive to date as well, with 44 tackles and 7 TFLs so far this season. He’s a must-offer for D2 programs and will see his stock rise soon.

Chapmanville’s defensive leader this season will be standout 2026 LB Preston Kovach Preston Kovach 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Chapmanville | 2026 State WV . He’s coming into his own, heading into his senior year, and should build on the momentum he built as a junior. Keep an eye on Kovach to potentially be a stock riser in the rankings again after the season with a strong senior year.

Here’s what we recently said about Kovach in our 2026 Rankings Stock Risers article:

“2026 Chapmanville LB  Preston Kovach Preston Kovach 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Chapmanville | 2026 State WV  looks the best he has yet heading into his senior year. He picked up offers from Charleston and WV State this summer and has developed well in the weight room. Kovach has great size for the position at 6’2 230, and looks the part of a college middle linebacker prospect. He has the upside to climb even higher in the rankings after seeing his senior film and will add to his list of offers this fall.”

2026 Chapmanville LB Preston Kovach Preston Kovach 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Chapmanville | 2026 State WV looks the best he has yet heading into his senior year. He picked up offers from Charleston and WV State this summer and has developed well in the weight room. Kovach has great size for the position at 6’2 230, and looks the part of a college middle linebacker prospect. He has the upside to climb even higher in the rankings after seeing his senior film and will add to his list of offers this fall.

We nearly ranked 2026 Chapmanville prospect Preston Kovach Preston Kovach 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Chapmanville | 2026 State WV as an EDGE but elected to keep him at LB for now with the potential to flip in future updates. Kovach has added size since our last update and looks noticeably bigger on film. He played much more freely and quicker this season compared to his sophomore film which also benefitted his rankings bump. Kovach led the Tigers in tackles and TFLs with 125 and 17 respectively. He comes downhill very physically often knocking back runners and stopping them in their tracks. Kovach may outgrow a traditional LB spot in time, but has the skillset to move to EDGE if needed.

The Chapmanville Tigers have a promising 2026 linebacker prospect in Preston Kovach Preston Kovach 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB Chapmanville | 2026 State WV who ranks just outside of our Top 15 for the position. Kovach was the second-leading tackler for the Tigers as a sophomore in 2023 with 64 total in just 7 games played and should take a step forward in 2024 as a junior. He has good size for the position and has put on weight since last season and is now up to 210 pounds. Kovach is a stout and rangy middle linebacker prospect who has the athleticism to roam and the strength and size to play well between the tackles. He can produce in the open field or at the line of scrimmage with versatility in his style of play. Kovach can also deliver a big hit when his shoulders are square and is a consistent tackler which led him to average nearly 10 tackles per game.

He should have a big junior season with a full season played and may challenge Pridemore as the leading tackler in 2024.