Nine linebackers are part of Linfield College's 50-member football recruiting class announced by head coach Joseph Smith. Each incoming student-athlete has been accepted to Linfield and paid their matriculation fee.
 
Logan Carr, Colby Carson, Greg Filardo, Owen Hand, Zack Kanahele-Mone, Chase Michalczik, Blake Rybar, Mateo Vincent, Alex Wong make up the linebacker class. Four hail from California, three are from Oregon and one each are headed to Linfield from Washington and Hawaii.
 
"The group of incoming players to the linebacking corps is very impressive. When I think of this group three years from now, playing behind last season's freshman class of defensive linemen, wow, that's going to be one powerful front seven," said Smith. "Not only is there depth in this group, but there's nice talent variation and high talent ceilings.
 
"We love players with high ceilings. I believe this program allows young men to approach their ceilings, if they are willing to sacrifice for that end. I am very impressed with the character and dedication of this group of young men, and we look forward to great things from this group."
 
LOGAN CARR
5-10 • 215 • VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
SHERWOOD HIGH SCHOOL • SHERWOOD, ORE.

• Four-time letter winner.
• Two-time first-team all-Pacific League honoree.
• 2017 honorable mention all-Three Rivers League.

 
Coach Smith's thoughts: "Logan has good size and is very physical in his tackling. He will be very strong in the middle. Coming out of Sherwood High School has exposed him to a very similar system to Linfield and I believe he will transition easily."
 
Why Linfield? "I chose Linfield because of the strong relationships I made with the football coaches and the tight-knit community that Linfield provides."
 
COLBY CARSON
6-0 • 190 • VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
SANDY HIGH SCHOOL • SANDY, ORE.

• Lettered in football, baseball, and basketball.
• Two-time second-team all-league running back.
• Two-time second-team all-league linebacker.
• Three-time honorable mention all-league in basketball.
• Three-time honorable mention all-league in baseball.

 
Coach Smith's thoughts: "Colby has had an incredible career at Sandy High School and was integral to the success of so many different teams throughout his high school career. I love the success he had in multiple sports; it bodes exceptionally well for his time at Linfield. Colby is very athletic and used to making plays and I see him excelling on the field in the Catdome, just as he did for coach Josh Dill at Sandy High School."
 
Why Linfield? "I chose Linfield because of the awesome campus! One thing that got me interested was how interactive the coaching staff is. I also chose Linfield because of the family vibe and the success of the football program."
 
GREG FILARDO
6-0 • 200 • VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
HERITAGE HIGH SCHOOL • BRENTWOOD, CALIF.

• Four-time letter winner.
• 2019 first-team all-league.
• 2018 second-team all-league.
• All-North California linebacker.
• Two-time team leader in tackles.

 
Coach Smith's thoughts: "Greg is very physical, that jumps out at you right away. He was very good on both sides of the ball, and his dependable and consistent play is definitely noted."
 
Why Linfield? "I chose Linfield because of its great academics and the winning tradition of the football program."
 
OWEN HAND
5-10 • 215 • VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
VALENCIA HIGH SCHOOL • SANTA CLARITA, CALIF.

• Three-time letter winner.
• First team Los Angeles Daily News all-area team.
• 2019 Foothill League Defensive Lineman of the Year.
• 2018 first-team all-Foothill League linebacker.
• Two-time all-Santa Clarita Valley linebacker.

 
Coach Smith's thoughts: "Owen is strong physical presence in the middl, and was the heart of Valencia's defense. He has great knockdown power and we look forward to getting him into our system and see what he can do."
 
Why Linfield? "I chose Linfield because I have the opportunity to play football and study a major I am very interested in."
 
ZACK KANAHELE-MONE
6-2 • 220 • VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
KAPOLEI HIGH SCHOOL • KAPOLEI, HAWAII

• Competed in football, basketball and volleyball.

 
Coach Smith's thoughts: "Zack has so much potential at linebacker. He is fast and strong, and he will hit and tackle. A multi-faceted three-sport athlete, he can do just about anything asked of him on the football field. He is very fine young man and we are excited about Zack."
 
Why Linfield? "I chose Linfield because the coaching staff keeps it real to the players, and the atmosphere is really good here."
 
CHASE MICHALCZIK
6-1 • 200 • VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
CRESCENT VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL • CORVALLIS, ORE.

• Four-time letter winner in football and wrestling.
• 2019 second-team all-conference linebacker and defensive lineman.

 
Coach Smith's thoughts: "Chase has a large upside as he can do so many things. He runs well, is very physical, can long snap, and his best days athletically are certainly ahead of him. Chase comes from an uncommon football family and we are very excited to have Chase with us and to see how he develops."
 
Why Linfield? "I chose Linfield for its strong academics, culture and the great group of guys."
 
BLAKE RYBAR
6-1 • 190 • VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
MONROE HIGH SCHOOL • MONROE, WASH.
 
Coach Smith's thoughts: "Blake was a force for Monroe High School in Washington, he plays with passion and physicality, the hallmarks of a linebacker. He is a tremendous all-around athlete as he did just about everything for Monroe. We look for great things from Blake."
 
MATEO VINCENT
5-11 • 205 • VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
ARCATA HIGH SCHOOL • ARCATA, CALIF.

• Four-time letter winner in football and track & field.
• Two-time first-team all-league.

Coach Smith's thoughts: "Mateo can play both inside and outside linebacker based upon his movement abilities and high football awareness. He is a very consistent tackler. We are excited to have Mateo with us as his quiet confidence is contagious."                                         
 
Why Linfield? "I chose Linfield because I really loved the campus and the brotherhood that the team has. I also want to be a part of the true football culture that Linfield has."
 
ALEX WONG
6-0 • 190 • VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
FOLSOM HIGH SCHOOL • FOLSOM, CALIF.

• First-team all-league selection.
• Two-time California Division 1-AA state champion.

 
Coach Smith's thoughts: "Alex has tremendous athleticism, good length and can be very effective out in space. We see a young man who can develop into a very versatile defender. Coming from Folsom High School, he is used to the speed of the game that he will find in college. Alex can be very successful here in this system."
 
Why Linfield? "I chose Linfield because I have the opportunity to have a great education in a small town while playing the sport I love."
 
To sum this year's incoming linebackers, Smith said, "At Linfield we expect our players to be men of action, to the do the heavy lifting, to be walls for those in need, and to be the hammer when necessary."
 
"This group of linebackers exemplify those traits and I expect them to raise the intensity and energy level every time they take the field."