Who are Nashville area's top returning high school linebackers?

With a month until opening week, here’s a look at some of the top returning Nashville area linebackers for the 2017 high school football season, as ranked by the USA Today Network - Tennessee high school sports staff.

► RELATED: QBs / ATHs / RBs / WRs / OL / DL

Michael Jackson

Waverly 
Basics: 5-8, 180, Sr.

Last year’s Region 4-2A Defensive MVP posted a team-leading 91 stops — 17 for loss — six sacks, two forced fumbles a fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown for the Class 2A semifinalist Tigers.

Taylor Carman

Friendship Christian
Basics: 5-11, 190, Sr.

A 2016 all-district selection, Carman tallied a team-leading 102 tackles — 11 for loss — with two sacks and a forced fumble for the Commanders last season.

Watson Tansil

Franklin Road Academy
Basics: 6-3, 215, Sr.

Three-year starter and 2016 all-district selection was one of the lone bright spots on a defense that surrendered more than 30 points per game en route to a 1-9 finish. 

Jake Stafford

Lipscomb
Basics: 6-0, 200, Sr.

An All-Region 6-4A selection a season ago, Stafford, made 67 tackles — nine for loss — with 1.5 sacks, an interception and a blocked kick.

Nathan Kimble

Overton
Basics: 5-11, 220, Sr.

Kimble, a 2016 All-Metro selection, tallied 56 total tackles for the Bobcats last season.

Xa’Vone Johnson

Kenwood
Basics: 6-0, 185, Sr.

Johnson, a 2016 All-Region 6-4A selection, recorded a team-best 85 tackles — 9 for loss — with two sacks an interception, a forced fumble and a recovery for the Knights.

Heath Crabtree

Beech
Basics: 6-0, 190, Sr.

A 2016 All-Region 6-5A selection, Crabtree, the son of Beech coach Anthony Crabtree, tallied 80 tackles — three for loss — and a pair of pass deflections for the Buccaneers last season.

Gabriel Magalei

East Nashville
Basics: 6-0, 210, Sr.

Magalei, a Mt. Juliet transfer who has been offered by Tennessee Tech, will make his East Nashville debut this fall after sitting out last season.

Bryce McCormick

Christ Presbyterian Academy
Basics: 6-2, 210, Jr.

McCormick, also the starting point guard for CPA’s basketball team, tallied a team-leading 80 tackles — 10 for loss — with a sack, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery for the Class 3A semifinalist Lions.

Harrison Graves

Montgomery Bell Academy
Basics: 6-2, 210, Sr.

Graves, also a key contributor for MBA’s state semifinalist lacrosse squad, posted 61 stops— 13.5 for loss — with seven sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery for last year’s Division II-AA runner-up Big Red.

Josh Rowan

Centennial
Basics: 5-11, 205, Sr.

An All-Region 7-5A selection a season ago, Rowan recorded 58 tackles — 10 for loss — with a sack, two forced fumbles and a pair of recoveries for the Class 5A quarterfinalist Cougars.

Javontae Wiggins

Hillsboro
Basics: 6-0, 237, Sr.

Two-year starter posted 59 tackles — 5.5 for loss — and two sacks for the Region 6-5A champion Burros last season.

Michael Scavo

Cookeville
Basics: 5-11, 217, Sr.

A two-time All-Region 2-6A selection, Scavo, who has received offers from a trio of NAIA schools, recorded a team-leading 125 total tackles for the Cavaliers last season.

Tyler Baron

Ensworth
Basics: 6-4, 215, So.

Baron, who has offers from Tennessee and Oregon, tallied 33 tackles — 6.5 for loss — with three sacks, four pass breakups and a forced fumble as a freshman for the Division II-AA semifinalist Tigers.

T.J. Neal

Hillsboro
Basics: 6-0, 200, Sr.

A 2016 All-Region 6-5A selection, Neal, who holds offers from Alabama A&M, Austin Peay, ETSU, Mercer and Tennessee Tech, tallied 58 tackles — 7.5 for loss — with 3.5  sacks, three pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles for the Burros.

Tony Thompson

Mt. Juliet
Basics: 6-3, 220, Sr.

Thompson, a 2016 All-District 3-6A selection with an offer from Louisville and a handful of FCS programs, posted more than 100 tackles — 24.5 for loss — with four sacks, five interceptions and a defensive touchdown.

Jahsun Bryant

Cane Ridge
Basics: 6-3, 215, Sr.

A 2016 All-Region 6-5A selection, Bryant posted 89 tackles and a pair of sacks for the Class 5A quarterfinalist Ravens.

C.J. Grissim

Brentwood
Basics: 5-10, 190, Sr.

Last year’s Region 7-5A Defensive MVP, Grissim recorded 143 total tackles — eight for loss — and two fumble recoveries for the Class 5A semifinalist Bruins.

Kane Patterson

Christ Presbyterian Academy
Basics: 6-1, 200, Jr.

A three-star prospect with offers from LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt, among others, Patterson had 75 tackles — 18 for loss — with five sacks, an interception and three fumble recoveries for last year’s Class 3A semifinalist Lions.

Jack Sirmon

Brentwood Academy
Basics: 6-2, 225, Sr.

The son of former Titans linebacker Peter Sirmon is a Washington commitment and No. 7 on the Dandy Dozen. He had 61 stops — 10.5 for loss — with two sacks, an interception and a blocked kick in 2016.

Reach Michael Murphy at mfmurphy@tennessean.com, 615-259-8026 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.