2023 Linebackers Breakdown

<em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em> We've updated our 2023 prospect rankings with the Top 50 sophomores in Oklahoma. You can check out the complete rankings <a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2023-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>RIGHT HERE</strong></a>. Right now, we're taking a look and putting a spotlight on four linebackers who find themselves in the rankings and on the border of being ranked. The 2023 class of linebackers is still pretty lean as of right now, but we have no doubt it's on the verge of exploding when you consider the 2021 and 2022 class are loaded with linebackers. We've been putting out content over the last few days on this 2023 class. For more than just positional breakdowns, you can check out these breakdowns on <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/01/2023-newcomers-jan-update/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Newcomers</strong></a> and <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/01/2023-stock-risers-jan-update/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Stock Risers</strong></a>. Stay dialed into Prep Redzone Oklahoma as we finish breaking down the class of 2023! <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Braeden Foster - Owasso</strong></span> Our first player spotlight is on the first of two linebackers who were right on the border of being ranked in our recent update. Braeden Foster enjoyed a breakout season for Skiatook in 2020 and in the last few months, he has moved to Owasso and will be joining the Rams in 2021. Two of Skiatook's better sophomore athletes are Foster and QB [player_tooltip player_id="38821" first="Mason" last="Willingham"] and both will be suiting up for Owasso this fall. Foster certainly fills a need for the Rams who had two of the best senior linebackers in [player_tooltip player_id="38516" first="Emaud" last="Triplett"] and [player_tooltip player_id="45655" first="Brenden" last="Dye"]. With both graduating, that left a pretty significant hole at that position and Foster has an opportunity to deliver an immediate impact for a Ram defense that has talent elsewhere. Foster is a big bruising linebacker that will continue to rise up the ranks in the 2023 class as he continues to get faster to go with his size. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="57166" first="Braylen" last="Irvin-Fisher"] - Union</strong></span> The second player that is a borderline player right now is Union's [player_tooltip player_id="57166" first="Braylen" last="Irvin-Fisher"]. We first saw Fisher following his freshman season when he was playing as a tight end for Sooner7's travel 7v7 team. While we're interested in potentially seeing Fisher line up as a tight end on Friday night's, that isn't what happened during his sophomore campaign. Fisher established himself as one of Union's better young linebackers and would end up making plenty of plays on the defensive side of the ball. However, when it comes down to it, Fisher is without a doubt one of Union's best athletes and we wouldn't be surprised if they end up moving him around and having him play some different positions in the future. But for now, we'll list Fisher as a linebacker and if he continues to grow into that position, we won't be surprised at all given his athletic ability. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38789" first="Dietrich" last="Moore"] - Broken Arrow (Ranked #36 Overall)</strong></span> The highest rated linebacker prospect in our recent update was Broken Arrow sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="38789" first="Dietrich" last="Moore"]. Last season, Broken Arrow had a very unique linebacker group where they had a strong senior, junior and sophomore at the linebacker position. Moore is that sophomore and had a chance to learn from Senior [player_tooltip player_id="38511" first="Darryan" last="Moss"] and junior [player_tooltip player_id="47299" first="Buddy" last="Mack"]. Moore and Mack will return in 2021 and headline one of the better linebacker groups in the state, regardless of class. Moore has great size, speed and raw athletic ability. Based off that raw athletic ability, Moore has a very high ceiling of what he could end up being as a prospect. He doesn't have the size that Moss has but he has a fantastic blend of strength and speed. He will without a doubt be a prospect to keep circled as we head into a new season with first year head coach Josh Blankenship. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38813" first="Reese" last="Roller"] - Verdigris (Ranked #50 Overall)</strong></span> Our final prospect is one of the bigger breakout stars from the 2020 season. There is no doubt that Verdigris has a bright future with a very special 2023 class. Leading the way is linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="38813" first="Reese" last="Roller"]. The young linebacker was a dynamic player for the Cardinals this week. He finished with over 20 sacks on the season. He had a two-week stretch where he totaled ten sacks in just two games. We're on the record that after the first game where Roller totaled five sacks, we said he should really remember that moment because five sacks in a game is quite rare. The very next week he did it again and we gave it up to Roller as being one of the breakout stars from this season. As a prospect, Roller will have to continue to grow because he's one of the more undersized prospects at his position. But you can't argue the production that he put on the field.