This installment of a summer preview series takes a close look at the top linebackers in Arizona high school football heading into the 2026 season. Earlier entries in the series examined the state’s top edge rushers and defensive tackles; this piece ranks the players projected to anchor middle and off‑the‑ball defenses. Readers are invited to vote for who they believe should be No. 1 in an online poll; print readers can find the poll at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools.
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At the top of the list sits senior Gunnar Perry of Cave Creek’s Cactus Shadows. A 6-foot, 225-pound Cal commit, Perry transferred to Cactus Shadows from Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep. Because of the Arizona Interscholastic Association transfer rule, he could be unavailable for the first half of the season, but evaluators note that when he is cleared to play he immediately alters the flow of a game. Perry is described as strong and explosive, a player who consistently forces turnovers and racks up tackles. His combination of physicality and playmaking instincts makes him a prototypical high-impact linebacker when on the field.
At No. 2 is senior Nathan Jones of Desert Edge in Goodyear. Jones, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound defender, transferred to Desert Edge after a productive junior season at Gilbert Campo Verde and has given his verbal commitment to Wisconsin. Once his transfer paperwork is finalized and he is eligible, coaches expect Jones to be a transformational presence in Desert Edge’s back seven. His size and prior production are cited as reasons he could help turn the Scorpions’ defense into one of the state’s best units.
Chandler Basha’s Marc Duerson III checks in at No. 3. A 6-foot, 205-pound senior, Duerson is known around the state for delivering punishing hits that leave a clear mark on opposing running backs and receivers. He is versatile — stout against the run but also comfortable dropping into coverage and operating as a nickel defender when the game calls for it. Duerson has drawn the attention of collegiate programs and has committed to Northern Arizona. His reputation as one of the hardest hitters in Arizona high school football is at the core of Basha’s defensive identity.
Basha linebacker No. 12 reacts after a pass breakup during the Open state championship at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Dec. 6, 2025 — one of the players featured in The Republic’s Top 10 Arizona high school linebackers preview.
The No. 4 spot belongs to junior Kainalu Skipps of Mesa. Listed at 6-foot and 215 pounds, Skipps moved to Arizona from California and became eligible during the second half of last season. Once he started playing for the Jackrabbits he immediately produced big plays, finishing with three interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, along with 8.5 tackles for loss. Those statistics, combined with his tendency to create turnovers, are the foundation for a belief that he can be a difference-maker for Mesa in 2026 as a junior.
Chandler’s Iona Kupu is ranked fifth. A 6-foot, 225-pound senior, Kupu has earned a reputation as a tenacious tackler who makes life difficult for opposing receivers and ball carriers. Evaluators point to Kupu’s grit and determination as elements that strengthen Chandler’s defense, pairing with the team’s established offensive talent to form a well-rounded program. His presence in the middle of the field is expected to be central to Chandler’s defensive plans.
At No. 6, Preston Patterson of Mesa Mountain View brings both pedigree and leadership to his role. A 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior, Patterson comes from a family with deep ties to local high school football; his father starred on state championship teams at Mountain View in the late 1990s. Patterson is described as a leader on and off the field, the kind of player who sets the tone for Friday nights with his on-field presence and vocal leadership in the locker room.
Two players share the seventh spot on this list, reflecting how close evaluators view the linebacker talent this season. Brecken Garday of Peoria Liberty is a 5-foot-11, 210-pound junior who has already demonstrated his competitive edge. Last season he compiled 48 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble as part of one of the state’s stronger defenses. Reports indicate he has added strength and speed in the offseason, positioning him for a possible breakout campaign as a junior. Sharing the seventh ranking is Peoria’s Devonte Hendrix, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior. Hendrix posted a stout junior season with 99 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. His combination of size and speed makes him a physical defender capable of changing momentum with big hits.
The ninth spot goes to another Basha product: senior Kyser Wilson, a 6-foot, 195-pound defender who rounds out a deep class of senior talent at the school. Wilson is one of 14 Basha seniors who have committed to Division I programs with his pledge to Northern Arizona. He operates as a hybrid outside linebacker and also sees time at safety and nickel, a versatility that showed up in his junior numbers: 70 tackles, three interceptions and seven quarterback hurries. That blend of coverage ability and pass-rush pressure gives his coaches flexibility in deploying him across multiple packages.
Rounding out the top 10 is Ryan Lee, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior from Tempe McClintock. Lee played only half of last season but still recorded 43 tackles, including three for loss. With the expectation of a full season in 2026, Lee is projected to have a breakout year and emerge as a more prominent fixture for McClintock’s defense.
This ranking reflects a mix of veterans and rising underclassmen, transfers who could shift the balance for their new teams, and several players already on the college radar with Division I commitments. Several players noted on this list have transfer histories that may affect their availability early in the season under the AIA’s transfer rules, and a handful of seniors have attracted attention from collegiate programs. Fans and coaches around the state will be watching how these linebackers perform as fall practices turn into regular-season games.
Readers are encouraged to cast their vote in the poll to register their choice for the state’s top linebacker in 2026. The poll is available online for those with access, and local coverage of high school football will continue through the summer into the season, highlighting individual performances and team developments as they unfold.
Wisconsin recruiting accounts have amplified Nathan Jones' credentials, pointing to his two-year high school totals of 155 tackles, 42 TFLs and 25 sacks while praising his violent first step and relentless motor that draw comparisons to former Badger Nick Herbig. (@BadgerNationHQ)
Gunnar Perry officially announced his commitment to California on February 6, 2026, and recruiting services list him as a three‑star prospect in the 2027 cycle.
Nathan Jones made his verbal commitment to Wisconsin following an official visit the weekend of May 31, 2026, and is listed as a composite three‑star recruit; as a junior he posted a season line that included roughly 90 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks.
Kainalu Skipps was one of four former Bishop Montgomery players who joined Mesa after the California Interscholastic Federation ruled several Bishop Montgomery athletes ineligible amid a booster/pay scandal; that situation prompted the Arizona Interscholastic Association to adopt an emergency bylaw tightening out‑of‑state transfer rules.
Marc Duerson III was included on High School Football America’s 2025 Arizona Academic All‑Americans list, an academic honor not noted in the preview.