Bradley Esser brings rangy, downhill linebacker upside to Iowa State
Bradley Esser is a physically ready 6-2, 210-pound linebacker from Harrisburg, and the 2026 class stock is real: Rivals bumped him into its final Rivals300 as a four-star and the No. 23 linebacker nationally, while 247Sports lists him as a three-star. In high school, he was a captain, a two-time first-team all-state honoree, and finished with 156 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, and three sacks. The appeal is clear: speed, versatility, and a safety background that gives Iowa State a coverage-savvy, aggressive defender who sounds like he plays with some edge.
