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In advance of the 2026 high school football season, the Gainesville Sun is honoring the best of the best at each position in the Gainesville area.
After naming quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, we moved onto the defensive side. That began with the defensive line. Now we move to the "quarterback of the defense." Those are linebackers. After this, we’ll conclude with defensive backs before returning to the offense with offensive line.
Finding players for this list posed some challenges. All six (three first-team and three second-team) All-Area selectees from the big schools from last season graduated. Nearly half did for the same schools as well. However, talent still remains strong at new Sunshine State Athletic Associations (SSAA) teams Trenton and Lafayette, as well as more traditional squads Bell and Oak Hall.
Thursday, we released who we thought were the seven best linebackers in the Gainesville area for the 2026 season, but we didn’t pick the top one.
We’re leaving that up to you — the fans.
Below is a poll to determine who the best linebacker in the Gainesville area will be for the 2026 season.
That makes nine nominees from which to choose, and you can vote as many times as you'd like. The poll closes at noon Tuesday, August 11.
Please share this poll with family and friends, and congratulations to all of those on the All-Area teams and their families!
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1, Instagram @Ramreporter and Facebook Noah Ram - Reporter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Vote now for who the Gainesville area's best LB will be in the 2026 season
Continue reading...
After naming quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers, we moved onto the defensive side. That began with the defensive line. Now we move to the "quarterback of the defense." Those are linebackers. After this, we’ll conclude with defensive backs before returning to the offense with offensive line.
Finding players for this list posed some challenges. All six (three first-team and three second-team) All-Area selectees from the big schools from last season graduated. Nearly half did for the same schools as well. However, talent still remains strong at new Sunshine State Athletic Associations (SSAA) teams Trenton and Lafayette, as well as more traditional squads Bell and Oak Hall.
Thursday, we released who we thought were the seven best linebackers in the Gainesville area for the 2026 season, but we didn’t pick the top one.
We’re leaving that up to you — the fans.
Below is a poll to determine who the best linebacker in the Gainesville area will be for the 2026 season.
That makes nine nominees from which to choose, and you can vote as many times as you'd like. The poll closes at noon Tuesday, August 11.
Please share this poll with family and friends, and congratulations to all of those on the All-Area teams and their families!
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1, Instagram @Ramreporter and Facebook Noah Ram - Reporter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Vote now for who the Gainesville area's best LB will be in the 2026 season
Continue reading...
