Missouri 2023 Rankings Update: Linebackers

We unveiled our updated Class of 2023 rankings earlier this week, which includes 200 ranked prospects and more than 400 total prospects including the Watch List. <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://prepredzone.com/missouri/rankings/2023-rankings/"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>Click here to view the updated 2023 Rankings!</strong></em></span></a></p> There are 20 linebackers in the top 200 and 51 linebackers overall for the Class of 2023 in Missouri in the Prep Redzone database. Today we are taking a closer look at the top five. (Click on the player names to check out their prospect pages on PRZ, including links to their HUDL highlights.) <strong>1. [player_tooltip player_id="103445" first="Austin" last="Romaine"], Hillsboro </strong> Romaine, a 6-foot-2, 220-pounder, is the No. 33 overall prospect in Missouri in the Class of 2023 and is a versatile difference-maker for the Hillsboro Hawks as a running back, linebacker and punter. He earned first-team all-conference accolades for each position and was named the conference’s defensive player of the year and most valuable player after rushing for more than 1,000 yards, scoring 14 total TDs, recording 85 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, eight sacks and one interception. Romaine has good size, speed and instincts for the position and packs a punch at the point of contact. He received his first scholarship offer, from Southeast Missouri State, last June, but should earn more attention with his performances at camps this offseason. <strong>2. [player_tooltip player_id="103780" first="Michael" last="Teason"], CBC</strong> A 6-2, 215-pounder, Teason showed flashes of his potential in limited opportunities as a sophomore outside linebacker/safety and then emerged as a playmaker at inside linebacker in his first season as a starter this fall. Teason recorded 64 tackles, four fumble recoveries, two sacks and two interceptions in 11 games during CBC’s state championship run. He scored three touchdowns on defensive returns, including a key play in the state title game win against Liberty North. He earned all-conference, all-state and all-metro honors. Teason is a guy who could end up at linebacker or hybrid safety at the next level depending on his size, but he’s a prospect we expect to blow up this offseason after camp performances and college coaches seeing him in person. <strong>3. [player_tooltip player_id="103437" first="Kyan" last="Franklin"], CBC</strong> Franklin, a 6-3, 225-pounder, is the other inside linebacker for the state champion Cadets and like his teammate Teason is also an outstanding prospect for the next level. He’s big and strong and physical and was a key cog in CBC’s championship run in leading the defense. Franklin racked up a team-high 89 tackles with seven tackles for loss and one sack. He was overlooked for several postseason honors because linebacker teammates Teason and 2022 prospect [player_tooltip player_id="171842" first="Kendall" last="Huston"] also had outstanding seasons and put up flashier numbers (sacks, interceptions and touchdowns) but Franklin was every bit as deserving. Franklin, who is also a potential Division I baseball prospect, should have a big offseason as college coaches review his film and get a chance to see him in person. <strong>4. [player_tooltip player_id="104128" first="Kaden" last="Moore"], Holt</strong> Moore, a fast and physical 6-0, 205-pound inside linebacker, has been a tackling machine for two seasons for Holt, which had a historic season this fall in advancing to the Missouri Class 5 championship game. After racking up 86 tackles and two sacks in nine games during his breakout sophomore season a year ago, Moore followed up with 117 tackles, two fumble recoveries, one sack and one defensive touchdown in 13 games this fall. The junior standout came up big in Holt’s biggest games. Moore, who is also a high academic student with a reported 4.0 grade-point average, may have to switch to a hybrid linebacker-safety spot at the next level because of his height but he will be productive. <strong>5. [player_tooltip player_id="181655" first="Nchang" last="Ndifor"], Liberty (KC)</strong> Ndifor, a 5-11, 195-pounder, is a player who caught our attention with his sophomore film last offseason and he turned in a strong junior campaign as he racked up 78 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, eight sacks and three forced fumbles from his outside linebacker spot. Ndifor lacks ideal size for the position, but he’s quick and fast and disruptive and was a playmaker for the Liberty defense as the Blue Jays went 7-4 against a difficult schedule. <strong>Next five: </strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="172065" first="Gunner" last="Bryant"], Bowling Green</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37689" first="Dominic" last="Nenninger"], Rockwood Summit</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="262286" first="Dawson" last="Strickland"], Smithville</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="101684" first="Ceaton" last="Pennewell"], Monroe City</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104130" first="Richard" last="Meyer"], Holt</strong> &nbsp; <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Prep Redzone Missouri Rankings Updates Positional Breakdown</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2023-rankings-update-quarterbacks-2/">Quarterbacks</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2023-rankings-update-running-backs-2/">Running Backs</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2023-rankings-update-wide-receivers-2/">Wide Receivers</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2023-rankings-update-tight-ends-2/">Tight Ends</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2023-rankings-update-offensive-linemen/">Offensive Linemen</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2023-rankings-update-defensive-linemen/">Defensive Linemen</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2023-rankings-update-linebackers-2/">Linebackers</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2023-rankings-update-defensive-backs-2/">Defensive Backs</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2023-rankings-update-athletes-2/">Athletes</a></strong></p> &nbsp;