BY JESSE SMITHEY
If there’s one position in the 5Star Preps area that college football programs have recruited hard of late, it’s the linebacker spot.
East Tennessee is loaded with next-level linebackers.
Get to know some of the best heading into the 2026 season.
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Parker Newman of Sevier County at the Knoxville Football Officials Association Media Day at Three Ridges Golf Course on Friday, July 10, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Parker)
PARKER NEWMAN
Sevier County, senior
The reigning 5Star Preps Defensive Player of the Year might be known on the recruiting trail as a big-time tight end, but the Duke commit dominate and alter games with his defensive talents. The 6-5, 220-pound Newman logged 117 tackles, three sacks, four interceptions and eight pass breakups last fall.
WYATT WILBER
Maryville, senior
The 6-4, 225-pound Wilber is only now scratching the surface of what he could be. He’s a young senior, age wise, but he’s also a Minnesota commitment. His length and athleticism give him high potential.
DAX COLE
Maryville, senior
The 6-1, 220-pound Cole is a Florida Atlantic commit and a weight-room beast. An all-state talent in 2025, Cole had 125 tackles with 19 tackles for loss, five sacks and three forced fumbles as a junior.
J.P. PEACE
Maryville, senior
The 6-3 Peace is a longtime Tennessee football commit who transferred from West to Maryville in the offseason. He has put in serious offseason work to ensure his senior year goes down as his best of his high school career.
Alcoa linebacker Jennaris Henry. (Photo by Danny Parker)
JENNARIS HENRY
Alcoa, junior
Tennessee, Michigan, Arkansas, Maryland, Louisville, Virginia Tech and Vanderbilt are premier programs already hot on the recruitment of the 6-2, 210-pound Henry, who had 42 tackles and 6.5 sacks for the Tornadoes as a sophomore last fall.
DARIUS SUDDERTH
Alcoa, senior
The 6-2, 220-pound Sudderth also shines for the Alcoa wrestling program. But as a middle linebacker last year, Sudderth had 58 tackles, 5.5 sacks and eight QB pressures.
CARSON PEARCE
Halls, senior
The 6-1, 200-pound Pearce drew rave reviews as a junior, posting 144 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in leading Halls to the state semifinals.
GAVIN SELF
Halls, senior
The 6-foot, 220-pound Self recorded a whopping 164 tackles as a junior with 16 tackles for loss and five sacks. He and teammate Pearce return as All-5Star Preps linebackers.
LILIAN KEUDJEU
Knoxville Catholic, junior
An All-State selection in Virginia in his first season playing in the United States, the 6-foot, 215-pound Keudjeu is expected to make a similar impact playing for the Irish.
Carter’s Johnny Rosenbalm at the Knoxville Football Officials Association Media Day at Three Ridges Golf Course on Friday, July 10, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Danny Parker)
JOHNNY COLT ROSENBALM
Carter, senior
The inside linebacker has the size and ability to lead the Carter defense, just like he did in 2025 — when he made 126 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
JACKSON COFFEY
Grace Christian, senior
The 5-11, 215-pound Coffey made 106 tackles with 11 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks last fall. Coffey attacked the weight room hard in the offseason and could have an even bigger 2026.
JACK LISTER
Greeneville, senior
The Region 1-4A Newcomer of the Year logged 80 tackles for the Greene Devils last season and posed 13 tackles for loss and five QB pressures.
MARVIN WYROSDICK
CAK, junior
Just a touch undersized, Wyrosdick plays above and beyond his stature. He had 116 tackles last fall with 11 tackles for loss, three sacks and three forced fumbles.
JACKSON YOUNGER
Gatlinburg-Pittman, senior
A highly productive linebacker the last two years for the Highlanders, the 6-foot, 225-pound Younger looks poised to have his best year yet.
Conner Wheeler (28) brings down a William Blount ball carrier during the 2025 season. (Photo by Danny Parker)
CONNER WHEELER
Heritage, senior
One of the Heritage coaches’ favorite defensive players, Wheeler (5-11, 220) sets the tone for the Mountaineers’ defense. He had 72 tackles as a junior with two interceptions and a sack.
JONATHAN DIETZ
Rockwood, junior
The 6-foot, 190-pound Dietz earned All-5Star Preps Underclassman Team recognition last season for his 14 tackles for loss and four sacks.
JASPER HAMILTON
Tellico Plains, sophomore
Hamilton led Tellico Plains in tackles as a freshman last season, racking up 93 tackles with 14 tackles for loss and two sacks. The 6-1, 200-pound Hamilton also starred in the backfield for the Bears.
ISAIAH HAWKINS
Lakeway, senior
The 5-11, 185-pound Hawkins lived in the backfield the last two seasons, averaging 17 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks per season in that span.
ELLIOTT LINDSEY
Greenback, senior
The 5-9, 195-pound Lindsey — in addition to rushing for more than 1,200 yards last year — earned 2025 Region 2-1A Linebacker of the Year thanks to his 103 tackles.
MORE LINEBACKERS TO
MONITOR IN 2026
Morgan Ferrell, West, senior
Jamari Goines, West, senior
James Sutton, West, senior
Boyenga Plamedi, Lakeway, senior
Sawyer Anderson, CAK, senior
Cole Jackson, South-Doyle, senior
Reece Franklin, Concord Christian, senior
Beau Wise, Hardin Valley Academy, senior
Kayden Stuart, Oak Ridge, senior
Mason Johnson, William Blount, senior
Jude Dyer, Greeneville, senior
Hadyn Hedrick, Coalfield, senior
Kegan Lenker, Meigs County, senior
Briar Roberts, Meigs County, senior
Cam Greer, Coalfield, senior
Landon Murphy, Sweetwater, senior
Lucah Daugherty, Alcoa, junior
Ethan Shaver, Meigs County, junior
Zach Kelch, Loudon, junior
Wade Watkins, Northview, junior
Easton Britton, Eagleton, junior
Moses Bowling Greenback, junior
Justice Lane, Midway, junior
Jackson Anderson, Coalfield, junior
Charlie Turbyville, Clinton, junior
Logan Cates, Northview, junior
Oakley Helton, Concord, junior
Bo Cutshaw, Cosby, sophomore
Jayden Garmon, Coalfield, sophomore
Brayden Guinn, Coalfield, sophomore
Owen Dyke, Powell, freshman