Vote for Ponce Law's Preseason Top LB for 2026 TSSAA football season
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The Tennessean ranked the top 20 Nashville area linebackers returning for the 2026 TSSAA football season.
Now, you get to choose the best.
Vote for the Ponce Law 2026 Preseason Top Linebacker. Voting will close Thursday at noon.
Rankings are based on 2025 statistics, strength of schedule, observations, recruiting interest, and coach feedback. Players are listed by their grade for the 2025-26 school year.
Noah Anliker, Grace Christian, Sr.: Anliker logged 103 tackles, eight TFLs, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
Chevy Armour, Oakland, Sr.: The 5-10, 190-pound Armour was a second-team DNJ all-area performer with 59 tackles, seven TFLs, 1.5 sacks, six hurries and two interceptions.
Colby Barone, Lipscomb Academy, Sr.: Barone, who transferred from Independence, recorded 107 tackles, six TFLs and two forced fumbles.
Isaiah Boles, Blackman, Sr.: Boles led Blackman with 68 tackles and added six TFLs, two sacks and one forced fumble as a junior.
Carsen Carter, Lincoln County, Sr.: Carter had 107 tackles, 10 TFLs, two forced fumbles, two blocked extra points, one blocked punt and a defensive touchdown.
Mannie Fentress, Battle Ground Academy, Sr.: Fentress was BGA’s second-leading tackler with 69 stops, 12 TFLs, two sacks and two interceptions. His offers include Navy, UT-Martin, Samford, Butler and Georgia State.
Kwadir Fletcher, Franklin Road Academy, Sr.: Fletcher totaled 62 tackles, five sacks, six TFLs, two interceptions, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and two defensive TDs. His offers include ETSU, EKU, Tennessee State and UT-Martin.
Ahvare Galbreath, Clarksville, Sr.: Galbreath was the Region 5-6A Region Defensive Player of the Year. He logged 67 tackles, 10 TFLs, two sacks and a forced fumble.
J’Mari Hall, Columbia, Jr.: Hall, who holds offers from Tulane, Memphis and more, had 66 tackles, five for a loss, four sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Vinny Henry, Friendship Christian, Jr.: Henry recorded 74 tackles, 21 TFLs, two sacks, one interception and one defensive TD.
Noah Jaeger, Smyrna, Sr.: Jaeger had 64 tackles, seven TFLs, two sacks, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.
Roman Jennings, Brentwood Academy, Sr.: Jennings, a three-star Liberty commitment, compiled 8.5 TFLs, two sacks, two interceptions, one fumble recovery, three pass breakups, one blocked kick and 53 total tackles.
Colton Johnson, Upperman, Sr.: Johnson, a four-star tight end prospect with offers including Alabama and Ohio State, totaled 147 tackles, five TFLs, one sack and one forced fumble as a TSWA All-State linebacker.
Lloyd Lisenbee, Kirkwood, Sr.: Lisenbee recorded 83 tackles, 10 TFLs, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
Jackson Lucas, Montgomery Bell Academy, Sr.: The Denison commitment logged 71 tackles, four TFLs, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one sack.
Eli Overton, Dickson County, Sr.: Overton logged 109 total tackles (66 solo), seven sacks, 12 TFLs and two forced fumbles.
Cayson Rasch, Montgomery Central, Sr.: Rasch led Montgomery County with 133 tackles (80 solo) and added three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two pass deflections.
Omarii Sanders, Franklin Road Academy, Sr.: Sanders, a four-star Vanderbilt commitment, logged 82 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He’s the No. 2 player in Tennessee from the 2027 class and No. 3 linebacker nationally.
Kenneth Simon II, Brentwood Academy, Sr.: Simon, a four-star Tennessee commitment, finished with eight TFLs, 4.5 sacks, one interception, one blocked kick and one pass breakup. He also had 129 yards in kick returns and rushed for 64 yards and a TD. The former Alabama commitment is the No. 6 player in Tennessee from the 2027 class and No. 10 linebacker nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite.
DK Williams, Beech, Sr.: Williams, whose offers include Bowling Green and Eastern Kentucky, was the Region 6-5A Defensive MVP with 145 tackles, 10 TFLs, four sacks and four forced fumbles.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also contributes to The Tennessean's high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vote for Ponce Law's Preseason Top LB for 2026 TSSAA football season
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