Rivals Rankings Week: Storylines to follow with top 2026 linebackers
The first Rivals250 for the 2026 class has been released and now it’s time to break down each position. We continue with the linebackers by looking at four big storylines moving forward.
NEW 2026 POSITION RANKINGS: Pro-Style QB | Dual-Threat QB | Running Back | All-Purpose Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Offensive Tackle | Offensive Guard | Center | Defensive Tackle | Strongside Defensive End | Weakside Defensive End | Inside linebacker | Outside linebacker
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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Sunday: Who could unseat Jahkeem Stewart in the 2026 class?
Monday: Five-Star Countdown | Meet the new five-stars
Tuesday: Rivals250 released | Ten highest debuts | Position-by-position
Wednesday: Offensive position rankings released | Quarterback rankings breakdown | Running back breakdown | Wide receiver & tight end breakdown | Offensive line breakdown
Thursday: Defensive position rankings released | Rivals Rankings Podcast | Defensive line breakdown | Linebacker breakdown | Defensive back breakdown | Athlete breakdown
Friday: State rankings released | Who's No. 1 in each state?
Saturday: Roundtable on the 2026 rankings
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FINAL 2023 TEAM RANKINGS: Comprehensive (overall) ranking | High school/JUCO ranking | Transfer portal ranking
CLASS OF 2024 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
CLASS OF 2025 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | Position | State
TRANSFER PORTAL: Latest news | Transfer portal player ranking | Transfer portal team ranking | Transfer Tracker | Message board
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THREE LINEBACKERS DEBUT IN THE TOP 100
This initial Rivals250 expanded the rankings from 100. In the expanded rankings, there were three linebackers who made their debuts within the top-100 prospects in the country.
Mobile (Ala.) outside linebacker Shadarius Toodle has the highest debut of the trio, being slotted as the No. 50 overall prospect in the class. Down the list was Houston (Texas) Mayde Creek outside linebacker Kosi Okpala at No. 91 and Port Arthur (Texas) Memorial inside linebacker Tai'Yon King at No. 98.
With their debuts inside the top 100, I am very intrigued to see their development. All three still have untapped potential that we will see break through in the future. These three could prove to be quality early evaluations.
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TYLER ATKINSON OR ANTHONY JONES FOR NO. 1?
There are two linebackers ranked inside the top 10, both outside linebackers. Loganville (Ga.) five-star Tyler Atkinson is ranked as the No. 5 overall prospect while Mobile (Ala.) four-star Anthony Jones is ranked as the No. 8 prospect. Jones is the first prospect ranked outside the five-stars.
Both prospects possess a similar athletic profile at 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds (Atkinson) and 6-3, 205 (Jones). They also posted similar production as sophomores with 10 sacks each. Watching their progression against each other will be a fun storyline over the next two years. They will push each other for the No. 1 linebacker spot.
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A POTENTIALLY WEAK INSIDE LINEBACKER CLASS?
There are some very impressive linebacker prospects that have emerged in the early stages of the 2026 class, so I am not worried about the quality of the prospects we have ranked at this time. It is the quantity that has me interested in the position, especially at inside linebacker.
In the last five recruiting classes, there has been an average of five inside linebackers ranked inside the top 100. In the initial Rivals250 of the 2026 class, there are just two inside linebackers in the top 100, and neither is inside the top half of the group. To go with this, there are only seven inside linebackers in the full 250 at this time.
So, the question is … have prospects at the position just not developed quite yet to truly project as inside linebackers or is there simply a lack of talent at the position in this class? There will likely be outside linebacker and safety prospects who add mass and eventually grow into the mold for the position. But, as of right now, the inside 'backer position is lacking in numbers.
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A STRONG SHOWING FROM ALABAMA
When taking a look at the linebacker position in the 2026 class, one of the first things I noticed was the amount of prospects coming out of the state of Alabama. Of 20 total linebackers ranked inside the Rivals250, four of them come from the Yellowhammer State, meaning 20 percent of the nationally ranked group. In the 2025 class, there are 30 linebackers ranked inside the Rivals250 and only two of them come from Alabama, just 6 percent of the total group.
Alabama routinely has an impressive crop of prospects and as it stands right now, the linebackers will be the headlining position.