Chattanooga’s wrestling-built linebacker and preseason all-conference anchor
In the 2025 season, Zion Rutledge emerged as one of Chattanooga’s defensive tone-setters, and he enters 2026 as a preseason first-team All-Southern Conference linebacker. The 5-foot-11, 225-pound senior has already piled up 134 career tackles, including 100 in 2025, and his background as a two-time Georgia 7A wrestling champion shows up in his leverage, toughness, and contact balance. He looks like a fit for teams that want a compact, physical, high-motor inside linebacker who brings edge, leadership, and reliable production.
