Zion Wright Zion Wright 5'10" | 195 lbs | LB New Bern | 2026 State NC has been the steady heartbeat of the New Bern defense all season, averaging around 8 tackles per game and providing the physical presence that holds the middle together. The senior plays with urgency, downhill strength, and a veteran understanding of run fits that keeps offenses from getting comfortable. But tonight, the challenge rises. Southeast Raleigh brings elite athletes at every level — speed on the perimeter, power between the tackles, and a quarterback who can stress a defense in multiple ways. For New Bern to stand toe-to-toe, Wright will need to elevate his game and deliver a double-digit tackling performance. His ability to meet runners in the gap, limit explosive plays, and rally the defense when momentum swings will be essential. If New Bern is going to match SE Raleigh’s talent and stay in control, Wright has to set the tone from the first snap.

Zion Wright Zion Wright 5'10" | 195 lbs | LB New Bern | 2026 State NC | LB | 2026 | New Bern
Wright was all over the field in last Friday’s game, racking up 10 tackles and a sack to lead the Bears’ defense. The 2026 linebacker plays with great pursuit and effort, consistently finding his way to the football. With another tough matchup ahead, Wright will have plenty of opportunities to post another double-digit tackle performance and continue establishing himself as one of the top young defensive playmakers in the region.

In full transparency, Wright is a guy who probably should have been in the rankings far earlier than he was, but I missed him in several updates. We’ve fixed that now and the sound tackler with pass-rushing upside is ranked and has the potential to move up later. I really like how he can operate in the open field as a defender.

Wright has been a hard evaluation for us. His stats have been good, but his film was just average. But he really turned things up at the end of last season and is a guy who will definitely be in the next rankings update. Wright lacks elite size, but makes up for it by always putting himself in the best position to make plays. He’s a linebacker who can play at every level, even flashing defensive back skills in the passing game.

Wright isn’t the biggest linebacker you’ll find, but he excels at sticking his nose in the middle and sifting through offensive linemen to make the tackle. Let me emphasize that he loves to tackle. Through four games, he’s averaging 14.2 tackles a game. A lot of those are assists, but he’s still getting in there and making his presence felt.