Ranking the Five Best LB Groups for Class 4A-2A

4A

5. Austin LBJ

Austin LBJ is one of the few inner-city football powers in the state. The sustained success is a credit to the Jaguars’ standout defenses (think of alums like Andrew Mukuba and Latrell McCutchin Sr., who are now in the NFL). This year’s linebacking corps should be no different.

It starts with Joshua Covington (6-foot, 205), a four-year starter who earned Second Team All-District honors with 68 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, four sacks, and an interception. But head coach Joe Rauls says Covington’s impact on the team can’t be measured on the stat sheet.

“He’s that passionate leader,” Rauls said. “He’s that guy that’s going to be fiery. When he starts off fast, our defense plays better. We try to get him involved rushing the quarterback or blitzing early. When he starts to have some fun, he’s like that Ray Lewis type. He’s going to inspire the guys around him to elevate their play as well.”

Josh Walker-Washington certainly elevated his play last fall, earning First Team All-District honors. The 5-foot-8, 185-pounder sifts through blockers and is always around the ball. He led the Jaguars with 117 tackles. 

Trevor Moreno-Tubbs (5-foot-11, 210) and Jacob Organ (6-foot-3, 195) should bolster an already deep linebacker room after moving from defensive end in the offseason. Moreno-Tubbs was an Honorable Mention All-District selection who is now transitioning to Mike LB. He is a thumper and excellent communicator who’ll call the defense. Organ started his high school career at safety, transitioned to defensive end, and has found a home at linebacker. He had 26 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and three pass breakups last season. His length and athleticism – which used to shine through at wide receiver – will now wreak havoc for opposing offenses.

4. Brock

Full disclosure – I try to spread the love in the position group rankings by choosing different programs for each one. I tried to leave Brock off this list after picking them as one of the top five defensive lines. But the Eagles forced my hand. 

How could you leave a guy like Hayden Waller off this list? The 6-foot-2, 220-pound inside linebacker was the District Defensive Player of the Year last fall with 104 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. Coach Billy Mathis describes him as a ‘banger’ in the run game who also possesses the athleticism to muddy up passing windows. Waller’s film study habits display the work ethic that got him into the Air Force Academy.

While Waller is a wall on the inside, Jack Farhat (5-foot-11, 200) is a hybrid strong safety/outside linebacker who earned First Team All-District honors as a sophomore with 117 tackles and two tackles for loss. After playing extensively as a freshman – which rarely happens at Brock – Farhat is a junior with senior-type experience.

When Farhat plays running back, look for seniors Graham Coleman and Logan Gordon to spell him. Mathis was also extremely high on Braxon Roberts (6-foot, 215), describing him as a Tasmanian Devil-esque linebacker. 

“He’s a hammerhead,” Mathis said. “He is constantly one of those guys who seems to be in the right spot. When he hits somebody, he seems to make a turnover. I don’t know how many forced fumbles he had last year. He’s just a magnet for the ball.”

3. Bridge City

Coming off their best season (11-2) since 2002, coach Josh Smalley’s group seeks more history by repeating as district champions for the first time since 1965-66. They’ll rely on one of Class 4A’s best linebacker tandems – Bryce Breeden and Keagan Trahan – to do so.

Breeden (6-foot-2, 215) is a Preseason First Team All-State selection in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine. The Arkansas commit is the No.2-ranked inside linebacker recruit in the DCTX Hot 100 after racking up 109 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and eight sacks as a junior. And while all the accolades are great, Smalley says Breeden is the type of kid who would play football even if he knew there was no chance for a scholarship. That’s what makes him one of the state’s best. 

“He genuinely loves playing football,” Smalley said. “Everything he does is 100 percent. There’s a lot of kids that play high school football because it’s something to do. It’s fun. Their buddies are doing it. There’s very few kids that play high school football because they really freakin’ love the weight room, practice, and hitting people. He’s one of those very few.”

Trahan (6-foot, 220) is just as physical as Breeden, finishing last season with 107 tackles and 15 tackles for loss. Over three years as a starter, Smalley has come to expect Trahan giving it everything he’s got every day of the week. He is the strong-side Sam linebacker paired with Breeden at weakside Will LB. On obvious passing downs, Breeden has the athleticism to rush off the edge, while Trahan has the strength to line up in a three-point stance, head-up with the tight end.

“He’s as tough as you can get,” Smalley said. “He doesn’t complain about anything. You can’t overwork him. He shows up to work every day. He’s consistent – that’s his best quality.”

Luke Nelson (6-foot-2, 210) was a Second Team All-District wide receiver/tight end with 34 catches for 500 yards and five touchdowns. He’ll start on offense, but can also play in spots at linebacker. When he’s on the field, Bridge City will have one of the most physically imposing linebacker trios in the state.

Sophomore Jacob Trahan (Keagan's cousin) is pushing to start at Mike LB after a tremendous offseason. Smalley says he has a chance to be special once he gets some starts under his belt.

2. Springtown

Springtown was the preseason Region I Championship pick in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine. The 12-1 Porcupines have one of the state’s most underrated coaches in Brian Hulett, a certified star quarterback in Kaine Hill, and one of the most ferocious linebacker trios in the state.

Rome Ewell (6-foot-3, 220) is the headliner, a District Defensive MVP who had 148 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries as a junior. The DCTX three-star is committed to Arizona.

Kasen Beaman (6-foot-3, 225) is just as physically imposing – and talented. He was a First Team All-District selection with 180 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and seven sacks.

Luis Lazcano (5-foot-9, 180) may not have the size of the other two linebackers, but he’s every bit as productive. He was a First Team All-District selection with 106 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

1. Waco La Vega

The trademark of a Don Hyde-coached ballclub is that they get better as the season goes on. And with multiple returning starters, Hyde says no group better exemplifies constant improvement than his linebackers.

“They’ve gotten a lot better,” Hyde said. “The beauty of it is, most of them have played a lot of football games for us. Experience is going to be at a premium. Anytime you get guys out there that are experienced, that can make checks and get your defense in the right situation, it can’t help but make you better. We’re extremely excited about that.”

Hyde is also excited about Craig Davis’ offseason. Davis was a First Team All-District outside linebacker last fall, but Hyde has transitioned him inside after he added 20 pounds of muscle to his frame. Davis is a striker who is fast to the football – perfect traits for a Mike linebacker.

Caden Roland (5-foot-10, 185) has started 42 games at Mike linebacker for Hyde, but he’ll move to the outside so the defense can take advantage of his open-field tackling ability. Caden is the second Roland brother to shine in a Pirates uniform. His brother, Bryson, was a 2,000-yard rusher for Waco La Vega a couple of years ago.

Hyde is also moving a third First Team All-District performer, Jayce Wiley, from defensive end to linebacker. The coach believes Wiley’s 4.6 40-yard dash and 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame can wreak havoc from the second level of the defense.

Again, let me re-emphasize, those are three First Team All-District guys who are moving positions ahead of their senior year, a testament to the unselfishness that separates Waco La Vega’s program from most.

“Our kids understand that La Vega comes first, and they come second,” Hyde said. “They understand that we’re going to do what’s best for the team while trying to do what’s best for them as well. Anytime your kids embrace that, and they just want to play football and want to be successful, you can’t help but benefit from that as a coach.”

3A

5. Peaster

Coach Trevor Owens only returns three starters on defense from a 13-2 season, by far the best in Peaster’s young history. The good news for him is that two of them are stud linebackers.

“It helps us with our defense (formation, a 4-2-5), especially,” Owens said. “A lot of times, our linebackers are the ones that are kind of our erasers. They’re helping the D-Line and making them right.”

Slayte Robertson (6-foot, 190) was a First Team All-District selection last fall with 93 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. Last year, he played as an overhang outside linebacker at 175 pounds, but is transitioning to Mike linebacker now that he’s bulked up to 190. The move is consistent with Owens’s preference for a smaller, faster defense. Robertson is a “see ball, get ball” type of linebacker.

Walker Lacy (5-foot-10, 180), a fellow First Team All-District selection, is the inside Will linebacker. Owens says that Lacy is a savvy player from a football family – his older brother was a starting Mike linebacker, and his younger brother is a freshman safety. Lacy used that football IQ to notch 123 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two interceptions. Owens says he always seems to be around the ball.

Two seniors are fighting for the starting outside linebacker spot. Brody Aydelotte (6-foot-3, 175) is transitioning from safety, while Joseph Ramirez (6-foot-1, 170) has also had a great offseason. Both will see significant snaps and could be the X-Factor to Peaster replicating the defensive success from last season.

4. Hamilton

Fresh off their first state championship in program history, Hamilton’s linebacker room gives Coach Ryan Marwitz confidence his Bulldogs can handle the jump from Class 2A DI to 3A DII.

He shares a name – and, sometimes, it feels like a brain – with sophomore Mike linebacker Easton Marwitz. Easton performed like a coaches’ son who’d spent every waking moment on the football field growing up, racking up 179 tackles as a freshman and earning TSWA Second Team All-State honors. At 5-foot-8, 175 pounds, Marwitz has a low center of gravity, which makes it difficult for offensive linemen to get a clean block on him. 

But Marwitz isn’t the only All-State player in the rotation. Colton DeLaGarza (6-foot-2, 180) was a First Team selection with 141 tackles and six interceptions. DeLaGarza is a hybrid safety/outside linebacker, dubbed the ‘Joker’ in Hamilton’s defense. He’s a three-year starter and a sure tackler. 

Cooper Turner (5-foot-9, 160) was a Second Team All-District Offensive Utility Player last fall, but expect him to start at Sam linebacker. Two years ago as a sophomore, he showed a lot of potential at that position in the state semifinal against Stamford. 

Senior Cade Branquinho (5-foot-10, 185) is the favorite to start at Will linebacker. Branquinho was the JV’s star player last season as a quarterback, running back, and linebacker. Marwitz says he’s an instinctive football player who’ll make a big impact.

3. Gunter

Gunter missed out on AT&T Stadium for the first time in four seasons last fall, but coach Jordan Gill believes his 13-2 ballclub can be even better in 2026. His confidence starts on defense, where a talented linebacker corps headlines seven returning starters.

Seniors David Puga (5-foot-9, 185) and Blake Boland (5-foot-8, 175) were each First Team All-District selections at inside linebacker. Puga tallied 80 tackles, three forced fumbles, and an interception. Boland, meanwhile, has an offer from Friends University.

Kris Grimaldo (6-foot, 230) was the District Defensive Newcomer of the Year last fall with 105 tackles, nine sacks, and three forced fumbles. He is a hybrid defensive end/edge rusher who brings the boom wherever he lines up.

2. Ingram Moore

Ingram Moore shocked the state last fall by winning their first playoff game since 2014 – and reaching the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time in 41 years – just months after the devastating Kerr County floods. But Coach Tate DeMasco’s bunch wasn’t just a one-time, feel-good story. The Warriors have plenty more fight in them, especially in the linebacker room.

It starts with Will Symm, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound two-way star. Symm was a First Team All-District inside linebacker with 107 tackles and also put up 863 rushing yards with 12 touchdowns on offense. Symm is instinctual and smart on the defensive side, but DeMasco says leadership is his best quality.

“He’s a tremendous leader for our program,” DeMasco said. “He’s a go-hard guy, where no matter what we’re doing, you’re gonna get his best every rep.” 

He forms a scary tandem with Keithan Garcia (5-foot-10, 205). Garcia was the District Defensive MVP as a sophomore with 93 tackles. DeMasco describes him as a violent player who’s always in the right spot – and arriving with bad intentions.

Victor Corral (5-foot-8, 168) is Ingram’s plug-and-play linebacker option, a versatile linebacker who can play any position. In a blue-collar neighborhood where everyone banded together to rebuild the town after last year’s natural disaster, Corral and his family still stand out as one of the toughest of the bunch.

“He comes from a tremendous family that’s known around our area as a hardworking family,” DeMasco said. “Today, we just got off the practice field, and he’s probably already putting a roof on a house.” 

Ingram’s linebacker room got even more formidable this offseason with the addition of Gerrardo Delgadillo. The senior played defensive end last fall to fill a team need, and earned Second Team All-District accolades in the process. He now moves to his more natural spot at outside linebacker.

1. Vernon

Vernon is under new leadership after former head coach Kevin Sherrill took the Blooming Grove job. Sherrill took Vernon from 1-9 in his inaugural 2021 season to back-to-back nine-win campaigns. The Lions may have a new head coach, but Brock Payne, elevated from defensive coordinator, has been here for every step of the rebuild. He’ll rely on a stout linebacker corps to keep the momentum.

The good news for Brock is that his son, Tyce, brings the Payne to opposing offenses every Friday night. In fact, he’s been doing it since his freshman year. Brock wanted him to play sub-varsity, not knowing if his freshman son was ready for the game’s physicality. Tyce answered any doubt when he lined up at inside receiver and blocked the outside linebacker so hard his helmet popped off. Since then, Tyce has made two TSWA All-State teams ahead of his junior year.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder only played in seven games last fall. He still managed 70 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks. Tyce also spells as a running back on offense, where he racked up 600 yards and 14 touchdowns on just 70 carries. Tyce is an ultimate competitor. In one week this “off-season,” he had five competitions: two basketball games, a wrestling duel, a wrestling tournament, and a powerlifting meet. He lost ten pounds, but he competed in everything.

Tyce has earned scholarship offers from Michigan, Tennessee, Kansas State, and more this offseason after shining at collegiate camps. 

“I’ve coached a long time,” Brock said. “I’ve been in San Antonio, Austin, South Texas, and back up here. I’ve seen a lot of good players. He’s pretty special. He’s got the speed. He’s got the size.”

Coach Payne has almost seen it all, but he’s never had a player quite like Bowie Eakin (5-foot-9, 180). Eakin was a TSWA All-State selection at Mike linebacker with 123.5 tackles, 20.5 TFL, and six sacks. He’s also in the top two of his graduating class in terms of GPA. And, as if that wasn’t interesting enough, Eakin is also a national competitor in steer wrestling, a passion he shares with his uncle, Mark, the rodeo coach at Tarleton University in Stephenville. 

“He’s got great grip strength,” Payne said. “He’s a phenomenal wrestler. When he gets a hold of you, it’s hard to get away from him. So, anyway, he’s a lot of fun. And, man, you talk about muscled up.”

Turns out, Eakin comes from a pretty good gene pool. His cousin, Coy, is a former state champion wide receiver at Stephenville who now starts for Texas Tech. 

But Eakin isn’t the only dual-sport athlete in Vernon’s linebacker room. Thomas Gonzales (5-foot-9, 175) was a Second Team All-District linebacker as a sophomore with 45 tackles, six tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. He’s also an elite tennis player. Those skill sets on the court translate to the football field, where his quick hands and agility make him almost impossible to block.

2A

5. Thorndale

As I said on the Brock blurb above, I try to spread the love by picking different programs for each of the top 5 position group rankings. After selecting Thorndale as one of the best offensive lines, I looked for every reason to pick another team in this linebacker spot. But these Bulldogs are just too loaded.

Kale Meadors (6-foot-1, 215) was a TSWA All-State selection and the District Defensive MVP with 88 solo tackles, 80 assists, 12 tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception. Defensive coordinator Lance Betak describes the three-year starter as a sideline-to-sideline defender. He is the heartbeat of the defense – Thorndale tries funneling everything to him – and the entire team. Thorndale practices at 7:00 a.m. The coaches will see Meadors out there in the dark by himself doing his own extended warm up session because he’s so excited to practice. 

“He’s out there head-butting the other guys, trying to get them fired up before practice if they’re dragging their rear-ends,” Betak said. “He is a kid who loves practice more than any kid I’ve ever had in my 28 years.” 

If Meadors is the most passionate, Kade Becker (5-foot-8, 185) is one of the smartest football players on the team. The four-year starter was a Second Team All-District selection. The coaches describe him as the brains of the operation. He knows everyone’s position on the field.

While Meadors and Becker are multi-year starters, Cole Harkins (5-foot-10, 180) was a late bloomer who is one of the most improved players since freshman year. He was the second-leading tackler last season and earned First Team All-District honors. Head coach John Kovar says he’s a hard-nosed player who’s worked for every honor he’s received. 

“He doesn’t talk as much as the other two on defense,” Kovar said. “But he is just steady as the day is long on the other side about being where he’s supposed to be and making the tackle.”

Jackson Escheberger (WR) and Garrett Schramm (center) are both All-District starters on offense who provide valuable depth in spurts on the defense side.

4. Goldthwaite

Goldthwaite was a team we said to buy stock in after a superb showing at the Texas State 7-on-7 Tournament. But you should also buy stock in these Eagles for a tremendous linebacker corps in the 3-3 stack formation.

Hagen Greenway and Walt Thompson are both three-year starters who earned First Team All-District accolades last season.

Greenway (6-foot, 210), the nephew of head coach Andy Howard, has started at boundary outside linebacker since his freshman year. Goldthwaite puts a lot of responsibility on that position, and Greenway has flourished with the challenge. The rising junior can cover the hook and flat routes, blitz off the edge and get after quarterbacks, and can even read guards like a traditional linebacker in the tackle box. 

“Everything he gets, that kid earns it,” Howard said. “He doesn’t miss anything. He’s highly successful because he’s really intelligent and he’s 100 percent bought into whatever we’re trying to accomplish.”

Thompson (6-foot-1, 220) is an old-school Mike linebacker who is a plugger in between the tackles. When Goldthwaite gets into their four-man front, look for Thompson to roll down as weakside defensive end. Howard says he’s the captain of the defense who makes all the calls.

Landry Sanderson is the field-side outside linebacker. Howard says Sanderson is a special talent who doesn’t have the stats of the other two because he’s also the team’s main running back. Sanderson toted the pill about 20 times per game last fall, earning Second Team All-District honors. On defense, he’s a nickel safety/linebacker hybrid who can fit rushing lanes and blitz off the edge.

3. Mason

After a rocky 1-3 start to the Wade Griffin era last fall, these Punchers showed a lot of fight by going on a 9-1 tear and reaching the regional final. Now, with 17 starters back, Mason has a lot of momentum entering 2026.

The excitement starts with Slade Buell (6-foot-2, 205). It’s more efficient to ask what position Buell doesn’t play for Mason. The QB/RB/LB was the District Overall MVP and a THSCA Super Elite Team honoree after rushing for 1,400 yards and racking up 87 tackles and 11 tackles for loss last fall. Buel is big, physical, and versatile. He can play any of the four linebacker spots but will base out of the Will outside linebacker spot. 

“He’s the go button for our team,” Griffin said. “He doesn’t miss workouts. He’s the vocal guy at practice. He’s a great kid, and it means a lot to him to be a good football player.”

George Velez (5-foot-7, 170) may not be as physically imposing as Buell, but he’s every bit as effective. Velez earned First Team All-District inside linebacker honors after posting 76 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Griffin says he is extremely fundamentally sound and reads keys quickly, making it difficult for bigger offensive linemen to find him.

Mason also got a move-in who’ll play a big role this offseason. Zane Huff comes over from Jim Ned after his father took a new coaching job. Taking after his dad, Huff is a coach on the field.

Cass Dutton (6-foot-2, 245) can stand up as a nine-technique edge rusher or put his hand in the dirt. He’s a nightmare wherever he lines up. Dutton won District Defensive Lineman of the Year with 117 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, and four sacks. Griffin describes him as a violent player with a motor that won’t quit.

2. Shiner

After back-to-back trips to the State Championship, coach Daniel Boedeker believes eight returning starters on defense – and the return of a State Championship Defensive MVP from injury – gives his Comanches a chance to return to Jerry World despite jumping from Division II to Division I.

The confidence starts with Brody Popp (5-foot-10, 195), a preseason First Team All-State selection in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football magazine. Shiner head coach Daniel Boedeker says that, even in a football-crazy town, Popp’s passion for the game stands out.

“The biggest thing is he just loves football,” Boedeker said. “He’s one of those kids that football is his favorite sport. Obviously, he’s a good athlete, and he does some other things. But football is his true love. The energy and passion that he plays with is contagious.” 

Clayton Fric (5-foot-9, 155) is a speed demon who burns opponents on both sides of the ball. He was a two-way First Team All-District selection at running back (922 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns) and outside linebacker (102 tackles). Boedeker says he has the versatility and athleticism to play in the box or drop in coverage.

Triston Vesely (6-foot, 180) earned State Championship Game Defensive MVP two years ago in an almost unheard-of achievement for two reasons: he was a freshman, and Shiner came up short. After an excellent start to last season, Vesely tore his ACL in Week 5. Boedeker says he’s back to his pre-injury self as one of the fastest guys in the program. Shiner can drop him into coverage or even put him on the line of scrimmage as a stand-up defensive end. Senior Grant Baros stepped up in a big way when Vesely went down last year and is now more experienced.

1. Ganado

Ganado was the preseason Class 2A DI State Championship pick in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine after returning 18 starters from an 11-2 team. Our confidence in these Indians starts in the linebacker room.

Senior Logan Bures was the magazine pick for Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in Class 2A. Bures had 1,413 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns on offense, but he took home District Defensive MVP honors for his two-way prowess. Ganado head coach Josh Ervin says Bures is an ultra-aggressive inside linebacker who flies around the field making tackles. But his brain is perhaps his best trait.

“He was the piece that kind of brought the puzzle together,” Ervin said. “He makes a lot of the calls that we have. He helps get everyone lined up and is kind of just another coach on the field.”

On offense, Bures and QB Landyn Arriaga power Ganado’s high-flying attack. But on defense, they’re a fearsome linebacker duo. Arriaga was the District Offensive MVP, but also took home First Team All-District outside linebacker honors. 

“His athleticism is what really sets him apart,” Ervin said. “Not only is he physical and can come and play the run, but he’s really good at playing in space defensively. He had some big interceptions for us at times last year. If you send him on a blitz, with how quick and fast he is, he gets back there pretty quick.”

There’s another Bures in the fold at linebacker, where Logan’s cousin, freshman Beau Bures, is already pushing for a starting spot. Ervin says Beau is a physical player who’s mature for his age – both in stature and demeanor. He is extremely intelligent and gives 100 percent effort.

Junior Brandon Moreno is back after a First Team All-District season at outside linebacker. Ervin says Moreno is remarkably similar in skill set to Arriaga, with a willingness to stick his nose in the run game and the athleticism to cover the flats in the passing game.

Moreno missed the State 7-on-7 Tournament in College Station, and rising senior DJ Cortright performed admirably in his place. The coaches expect Cortright to play a large role in the defense, no matter what position they need him at. 

“He’s a Swiss-Army Knife,” Ervin said. “He can play inside and outside. He’s a really versatile player and a great, great kid. He’s contributed a lot to the program over the past six years he’s been here. We’re super excited to see how he helps us out this year.”