2024 Top 10 East Texas Preseason Linebackers

The linebacker position in a lot of ways is the same since 2000, but the athletes who play that position are a lot different. More speed, more skill type players are transitioning into the box, and bringing a different level of athleticism to a changing spread football game.

10. Sr. Larren Vaughn - Sulphur Springs

Vaughn is as solid as they come. He'll stop you in your tracks with great leverage. He can cover and has ball skills to catch interceptions, and he's sideline to sideline. He graded out at an 88 last season, and with a jump in plays he can see his self competing for a spot in the Top 100 in 2024.

9. Sr. Alex Jones - Texas High 

At 5'11 185, Alex Jones is one of those new breed linebackers. He's a DB, probably a corner in 2002, but in today's spread out football game, he's an outside linebacker. More like a nickel, Jones gets in the flats and dismissed passes right and left. With his athleticism he can cover a lot of ground from his starting position to the sideline. He has an incredible vertical, and if he can catch some of those tipped passes, he'll find his way into the Top 100 for 2024. 

8. Sr. Zane Shearer - Sabine

Zane Shearer is a big dude. At 6'5 220, Shearer has the size all schools covet. He has decent speed off the edge, but what I'm anxious to see if he can up his level of physicality in 2024. Shearer played a lot of outside backer/defensive end and tight end in 2024. I'm ready to see him have bigger hits, play blocks tougher. With his size and athleticism, if the physicality picks up he'll be able to go wherever he wants. 

7. Sr. Kason Brooks - Longview

Brooks is as gifted as any player in East Texas. A 2 time winner of the Lobo Ironman competition, Brooks has an uncanny combination of speed and strength and shows it in flashes on the field on Fridays. Brooks was ineligible for the top 100 last season after being names 2nd team all-district, but there ain't a school in East Texas he's not starting at linebacker for. I'm expecting a jump in production in 2024, and a guy that will make the list in 2024.

6. Sr. Seth McFarland - Pine Tree

Seth McFarland might be the best PT linebacker I've seen. At 6'3 220, McFarland has tremendous size, and he gets after it. He makes great reads, makes great tackles, and can run. He's offered up, and honestly kind of a sleeper. He graded out at 92 and was 102 overall last year. I expect a jump, and for McFarland to be one of the best players in ETX for 2024.

5. Sr. Brenden Reese - Longview 

Reese, like Brooks was named a 2nd Team All-District guy and was ineligible last year to be on the list. Keep it a buck, Reese can ball. At 6'2 220, Reese has the size and the punch to be a major impact player. He's offered up, and like McFarland, I expect a jump and for him to make the list in 2024. He can play end too, but he's best at LB, standing tall making calls and punishing the ball.

4. Sr. Klayton Ingram - Carthage

Grown man alert. Klayton Ingram hits like bricks. He's an incredible blitzer, times up the snap as well as anyone in ETX. He pursuits and makes tough tackles all over the field. He had a pick 6 last year, so is he capable of covering and taking it back. Athleticism and speed seems to be the biggest thing to improve with Klayton, and if he can improve of that he'll have a huge 2024, and go down as one of the best Ingrams to come through Carthage. 

3. Sr. D'Caanan Sueing - Tyler High

Sueing is incredible. He's not a blitzer. In the scheme he plays, in he sits, reads and goes and makes tackles. He's really good at it too. Sueing reads blocks well, fits lanes well and then brings hat when it's time. He's a tough football player and ain't taking anything from anybody. One of my favorites to watch across East Texas, I'm expecting big things from Sueing in 2014.

2. Sr. Isaiah Dowden - Texas High

After watching Darrin Finley I thought it'd be incredibly tough to unseat him as the best linebacker from Texas High and recent memory. Then comes Isaiah Dowden. Dowden graded out as a 97 last season, and there ain't nothing to kid can't do. He's a punishing hitter, great blitzer, sideline to sideline as a backer, and can cover. He reads his keys as well as any linebacker in East Texas. He's the best inside backer returning, and I expect him to be in the Top 5 this year.

1. Sr. Trevor Brooks - Chapel Hill

The only player that could be considered better than Dowden is Trevor Brooks. Brooks lines up all over the field. He plays an outside linebacker in a 4-3 over scheme, where he is chasing down things from the front side of the line and harass your QB. He had 143 tackles, 39 for loss, and 15 sacks in 16 games last year. Insane production. As a sophomore he played backed up in a nickel position where he can deflect passes and catch interceptions. He's the best athlete on the field and you've gotta deal with Micah Parsons, I mean Trevor Brooks on every play.