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Who will be the top high school football linebacker in the Eugene-Springfield area in 2026?
With the fall sports season just around the corner, The Register-Guard will spend the next few weeks highlighting the top local football players in the area. We are continuing this year's preseason coverage with a look at Lane County's offensive linemen.
Now, it's time for you to decide which LB is the best of the bunch.
Without further ado, here are the nominees.
Information about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at www.registerguard.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Saturday, Aug. 15.
A talented transfer from Minnesota, Hogan Artz will slot in at inside linebacker and will also contribute at running back during his debut season with the Bulldogs.
The rising sophomore moved to Creswell midway through last school year. In the spring, he ran a leg on the school's state-qualifying 4x100-meter relay crew.
"In Minnesota, he was kind of outside linebacker or a hybrid safety," Creswell coach Chase Beach said. "We like him better flowing downhill. He's one of those kids who wants to strap it on and wants to hit people. But he's incredibly coachable. He's young and is coming along really fast."
Willamette coach Josh Line isn't shy about setting a high bar for his star senior linebacker, Kawai Chamberlin.
"I think he's the best linebacker in the state, and I think he might be the best player in the state," Line said. "I think he's got a mindset to show that and try to prove that."
The recruiting experts agree; Rivals tabs Chamberlin as the top linebacker prospect in Oregon and the No. 5 overall prospect in the class of 2027. An Oregon State commit, he is a three-star prospect who has also drawn interest from Boise State and Minnesota, among others.
Chamberlin ranked ninth among Class 6A players last season with 83 tackles.
Described by Elmira coach Conrad Davis as a "Swiss-army knife," senior Jonah Cooper will be the heart and soul of the Falcons' defense and could also be the team's most impactful offensive player.
"Jonah has the kind of character that makes us say, 'Hey, let's build around him,'" Davis said. "As the middle linebacker, he's going to be the leader of our defense. I feel very confident having a guy like him in the leadership role."
A first-team all-Midwestern League pick at inside linebacker last season, Churchill's Finnley Currington is coming off a stellar sophomore season. He could be one of the more impactful defenders in the conference as a junior.
Currington is also a standout tight end who will step into a big offensive role as the Lancers look to replace all-state pass-catcher Charlie Dexter.
A first-team all-league pick at linebacker last season, Pleasant Hill's Kai Davis is expected to be a star on both sides of the ball in 2026.
As a sophomore last fall, he racked up 19 tackles for loss despite missing the last few games of the year.
"Kai is extremely instinctual," Pleasant Hill coach Kenny Koberstein said. "Honestly, him being undersized in our defense kind of helps him a little bit; you see him on film cutting in, and it seems like offensive linemen almost don't see him coming. He's on ball-carriers before they realize it."
Rising junior Cash Dodson and his brother, senior defensive back Zaidensen Dodson, both made big contributions on last year's Sky-Em League champion squad.
Cash is expected to take on a much greater role this season and could create plenty of havoc at outside linebacker.
"This year I expect Cash to provide a real spark for our defense," Junction City coach Tye Rauschert said. "His commitment in the weight room and throughout the offseason has significantly improved both his physicality and speed. We're excited to watch the Dodson brothers play together this season."
Although he played on Thurston's freshman squad last year, rising sophomore Rocco Folino has been turning heads this offseason and is set to break through as a difference-maker at the varsity level at linebacker.
"He's a new kid for us, and he's incredible right now," Thurston coach Justin Starck said. "We're super excited about him. He's really impressed us on both sides of the ball — at slot receiver and linebacker."
Sheldon has shifted rising junior Isaac Moaliitele from defensive line to linebacker, and he could be a run-stuffing stalwart inside for the Irish.
"Just gives us a big, strong anchor up the middle," Sheldon coach Tyler Martell said. "He's done a really good job of figuring it out. Isaac is a guy who will play every snap on defense, and we'll kind of be able to move him around at edge and inside linebacker; he'll make a ton of plays."
Midway through his junior season, Willamette's Braeden Reyes took hold of a starting outside linebacker job and never gave it back.
Reyes spent the offseason fine-tuning the small details of the linebacker role. He could be set for a big-time senior season with the Wolverines.
"He's improved a ton over the course of the offseason on his assignments; he's dialed in on his assignments," Willamette coach Josh Line said. "He's always been physical. Always been a good tackler. He had some coverage busts at times, but he's really rectified that. The 7-on-7 season helped him a ton."
Although he missed the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury, Springfield senior Abe Rhoades is one of the strongest players on the Millers' roster, according to coach Frank Geske.
He could be a force at linebacker in 2026 and will also factor into Geske's plans on the offensive side of the ball.
"He's still squatting over 400, benching over 300 and cleaning almost that much," Geske said. "He could be a hell of a linebacker, and he could be an H-back or guard for us on offense. The only thing I've told him is that he needs to prove to me that he can hit. ... Then he'll be on the field as much as he wants."
Marist Catholic lost two-time all-state star linebacker Brody Buzzard to graduation.
But the Spartans have another standout set to lead the second level of the defense in rising senior Sawyer Whitney. He earned Class 4A honorable mention all-state honors in 2025.
"Solid middle linebacker with really good reads who loves to hit," Marist Catholic coach Zach Loboy said. "He wants to come up and show you what Marist football is all about."
Jarrid Denney is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X @jarrid_denney
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Vote! Who will be the Eugene area's top linebacker in 2026?
Continue reading...
With the fall sports season just around the corner, The Register-Guard will spend the next few weeks highlighting the top local football players in the area. We are continuing this year's preseason coverage with a look at Lane County's offensive linemen.
Now, it's time for you to decide which LB is the best of the bunch.
Without further ado, here are the nominees.
- Hogan Artz, Creswell
- Kawai Chamberlin, Willamette
- Jonah Cooper, Elmira
- Finnley Currington, Churchill
- Kai Davis, Pleasant Hill
- Cash Dodson, Junction City
- Rocco Folino, Thurston
- Isaac Moaliitele, Sheldon
- Braeden Reyes, Willamette
- Abe Rhoades, Springfield
- Sawyer Whitney, Marist Catholic
Information about each nominee is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at www.registerguard.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Saturday, Aug. 15.
Hogan Artz, Creswell
A talented transfer from Minnesota, Hogan Artz will slot in at inside linebacker and will also contribute at running back during his debut season with the Bulldogs.
The rising sophomore moved to Creswell midway through last school year. In the spring, he ran a leg on the school's state-qualifying 4x100-meter relay crew.
"In Minnesota, he was kind of outside linebacker or a hybrid safety," Creswell coach Chase Beach said. "We like him better flowing downhill. He's one of those kids who wants to strap it on and wants to hit people. But he's incredibly coachable. He's young and is coming along really fast."
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Kawai Chamberlin, Willamette
Willamette coach Josh Line isn't shy about setting a high bar for his star senior linebacker, Kawai Chamberlin.
"I think he's the best linebacker in the state, and I think he might be the best player in the state," Line said. "I think he's got a mindset to show that and try to prove that."
The recruiting experts agree; Rivals tabs Chamberlin as the top linebacker prospect in Oregon and the No. 5 overall prospect in the class of 2027. An Oregon State commit, he is a three-star prospect who has also drawn interest from Boise State and Minnesota, among others.
Chamberlin ranked ninth among Class 6A players last season with 83 tackles.
Jonah Cooper, Elmira
Described by Elmira coach Conrad Davis as a "Swiss-army knife," senior Jonah Cooper will be the heart and soul of the Falcons' defense and could also be the team's most impactful offensive player.
"Jonah has the kind of character that makes us say, 'Hey, let's build around him,'" Davis said. "As the middle linebacker, he's going to be the leader of our defense. I feel very confident having a guy like him in the leadership role."
Finnley Currington, Churchill
A first-team all-Midwestern League pick at inside linebacker last season, Churchill's Finnley Currington is coming off a stellar sophomore season. He could be one of the more impactful defenders in the conference as a junior.
Currington is also a standout tight end who will step into a big offensive role as the Lancers look to replace all-state pass-catcher Charlie Dexter.
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Kai Davis, Pleasant Hill
A first-team all-league pick at linebacker last season, Pleasant Hill's Kai Davis is expected to be a star on both sides of the ball in 2026.
As a sophomore last fall, he racked up 19 tackles for loss despite missing the last few games of the year.
"Kai is extremely instinctual," Pleasant Hill coach Kenny Koberstein said. "Honestly, him being undersized in our defense kind of helps him a little bit; you see him on film cutting in, and it seems like offensive linemen almost don't see him coming. He's on ball-carriers before they realize it."
You must be registered for see images attach
Cash Dodson, Junction City
Rising junior Cash Dodson and his brother, senior defensive back Zaidensen Dodson, both made big contributions on last year's Sky-Em League champion squad.
Cash is expected to take on a much greater role this season and could create plenty of havoc at outside linebacker.
"This year I expect Cash to provide a real spark for our defense," Junction City coach Tye Rauschert said. "His commitment in the weight room and throughout the offseason has significantly improved both his physicality and speed. We're excited to watch the Dodson brothers play together this season."
Rocco Folino, Thurston
Although he played on Thurston's freshman squad last year, rising sophomore Rocco Folino has been turning heads this offseason and is set to break through as a difference-maker at the varsity level at linebacker.
"He's a new kid for us, and he's incredible right now," Thurston coach Justin Starck said. "We're super excited about him. He's really impressed us on both sides of the ball — at slot receiver and linebacker."
Isaac Moaliitele, Sheldon
Sheldon has shifted rising junior Isaac Moaliitele from defensive line to linebacker, and he could be a run-stuffing stalwart inside for the Irish.
"Just gives us a big, strong anchor up the middle," Sheldon coach Tyler Martell said. "He's done a really good job of figuring it out. Isaac is a guy who will play every snap on defense, and we'll kind of be able to move him around at edge and inside linebacker; he'll make a ton of plays."
Braeden Reyes, Willamette
Midway through his junior season, Willamette's Braeden Reyes took hold of a starting outside linebacker job and never gave it back.
Reyes spent the offseason fine-tuning the small details of the linebacker role. He could be set for a big-time senior season with the Wolverines.
"He's improved a ton over the course of the offseason on his assignments; he's dialed in on his assignments," Willamette coach Josh Line said. "He's always been physical. Always been a good tackler. He had some coverage busts at times, but he's really rectified that. The 7-on-7 season helped him a ton."
Abe Rhoades, Springfield
Although he missed the entire 2025 season due to a knee injury, Springfield senior Abe Rhoades is one of the strongest players on the Millers' roster, according to coach Frank Geske.
He could be a force at linebacker in 2026 and will also factor into Geske's plans on the offensive side of the ball.
"He's still squatting over 400, benching over 300 and cleaning almost that much," Geske said. "He could be a hell of a linebacker, and he could be an H-back or guard for us on offense. The only thing I've told him is that he needs to prove to me that he can hit. ... Then he'll be on the field as much as he wants."
Sawyer Whitney, Marist Catholic
Marist Catholic lost two-time all-state star linebacker Brody Buzzard to graduation.
But the Spartans have another standout set to lead the second level of the defense in rising senior Sawyer Whitney. He earned Class 4A honorable mention all-state honors in 2025.
"Solid middle linebacker with really good reads who loves to hit," Marist Catholic coach Zach Loboy said. "He wants to come up and show you what Marist football is all about."
Jarrid Denney is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X @jarrid_denney
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Vote! Who will be the Eugene area's top linebacker in 2026?
Continue reading...
