2023 Rankings - LB Breakdown

Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy! As the month of June comes to an end this week, we wrap up all of our prospect rankings with an update of the 2023 class. All of the updates began with a new Top 50 in the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2025-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2025 Rankings</a> and the 2024 class followed and you can check out that <a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2024-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2024 Top 75 Right Here!</a> Finally, we look at the upcoming senior class as we turn our attention to the 2023 class, which has become incredibly deep. Our latest update features the Top 175 prospects in the 2023 class. You can check out that complete <a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2023-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Top 175 Right Here!</a> In this post, we continue our positional breakdowns with a look at the linebacker position. This class is getting deeper and deeper and this comes one class after the '22 group that was absolutely loaded with backers who were absolute studs. There isn't much that separates the linebackers from #1 to #10 and that's how you know the group is incredibly talented and is continuing to improve and get deeper. [player_tooltip player_id="38789" first="Dietrich" last="Moore"] - Broken Arrow (Ranked #23 Overall - #1 LB) Broken Arrow linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="38789" first="Dietrich" last="Moore"] has had a pretty solid stranglehold on the top linebacker position within the state's 2023 class. We love Moore's game and we don't hide that fact. This is a prospect who can make plays all over the field and scored touchdowns in a variety of ways last year for the Tigers, and his best position is linebacker. Moore can fly sideline to sideline and we think that his ceiling as a linebacker prospect is incredibly high. Last year's class was loaded with linebackers and Moore is the next good one to come out of Oklahoma. We expect his recruitment to absolutely take off this fall. [player_tooltip player_id="38787" first="Parker" last="Jenney"] - Holland Hall (Ranked #34 Overall - #2 LB) One of the breakout stars in Oklahoma last season was Holland Hall linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="38787" first="Parker" last="Jenney"]. On a Dutch team that would win a second straight title and were led by seniors all over, it was Jenney who was an emerging star on the Dutch defense. Holland Hall had to find a way to replace 2021 wrecking ball Owen Ostroski and they found it with Jenney. Even though they don't play the same position, they had similar impacts as Jenney was so disruptive and so productive throughout his junior season. We're very interested to see how he looks this fall as teams will be ready for him and the Dutch have lost a lot to graduation and the target in 3A has certainly gotten bigger. [player_tooltip player_id="219071" first="Aiden" last="Walker"] - Booker T Washington (Ranked #45 Overall - #3 LB) We saw quite a bit of Booker T Washington linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="219071" first="Aiden" last="Walker"] this offseason while he was playing for Sooner 7 and every tournament we saw him play in, it seemed like he was always one of the top defensive performers. And this is a sport where Walker has to strictly cover the pass. Last year, Walker was an absolute menace as a linebacker for the Hornet defense, which ended up being one of the better defensive units in 6A-2. While a lot of publicity was on their secondary, and rightfully so, it was Walker who was enjoying a breakout season at linebacker. With a lot of those high-profile defensive backs gone, Walker will have an expanded role in the defense this fall. [player_tooltip player_id="57166" first="Braylen" last="Irvin-Fisher"] - Union (Ranked #49 Overall - #4 LB) Another prospect that we've definitely benefitted from seeing him playing 7v7 during the offseason is Union's [player_tooltip player_id="57166" first="Braylen" last="Irvin-Fisher"]. The Union standout has been on our radar since the summer between his freshman and sophomore year and he finally had his breakout season last fall. While we've always written about how Fisher could be a reliable tight end as well, on the field last year, he was used as a linebacker and was one of the better emerging linebackers in 6A-1. Now, it's expected that Fisher will play a little offense this fall and you could make the argument that he's more of an "ATH" as opposed to "LB" but for now, we'll keep him here on defense. [player_tooltip player_id="38796" first="Kiefer" last="Mullins"] - Edmond Memorial (Ranked #66 Overall - #6 LB) So a few things about Edmond Memorial before we dive into the player. They have struggled mightily over the last few seasons. We think that's about to change starting this fall. Edmond Memorial has a great mix of outstanding young talent and seniors who have gotten better and are experienced and ready to turn this thing around. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="38796" first="Kiefer" last="Mullins"] is one of those prospects that we really like as an individual and you put him in the middle of this defense and he's going to be a problem. When it comes to stopping the run, Mullins looks like he's getting fired out of a canon. We know it's a bold prediction, but we think the Bulldogs are fighting for a playoff spot this year. [player_tooltip player_id="276646" first="Tyler" last="Johnson"] - Lincoln Christian (Ranked #67 Overall - #7 LB) Lincoln Christian over the last decade has primarily been known for their offense and explosive passing game but they have a very balanced team returning. With nearly everyone back on both sides of the ball, they're an early favorite in Class 3A and their defense is led by linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="276646" first="Tyler" last="Johnson"]. This linebacker prospect is yet another hard-hitting backer who creates a lot of problems for opposing running attacks. Johnson continues to improve and get better and has a chance to soar up these rankings over the next two updates. Just like many other linebackers on this breakdown, we expect for Johnson's recruitment to take off this fall. [player_tooltip player_id="38813" first="Reese" last="Roller"] - Verdigris (Ranked #69 Overall - #8 LB) Arguably the most productive linebackers in the state over the last two seasons has been Verdigris linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="38813" first="Reese" last="Roller"]. We've been fans ever since he had a two-week stretch as a sophomore where he recorded ten sacks in two games. Read that stat one more time for proper effect. Roller followed up his breakout sophomore season with another stellar year as junior where he absolutely terrorized quarterbacks and made a living in opposing backfields. The biggest thing limiting Roller in terms of his recruitment is his size. But throw on the tape and look specifically at when he goes against either current or future D1 offensive linemen and any questions about his size should fly out the window. [player_tooltip player_id="307902" first="Landon" last="Davis-Barkus"] - Shawnee (Ranked #70 Overall - #9 LB) Earlier this week we broke down some of the newcomers on the 2023 rankings and you can throw Shawnee linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="307902" first="Landon" last="Davis-Barkus"] into that conversation as he was new to the rankings and his stock just continues to point up. We first checked out Davis-Barkus during our "Friday Film Review" series in March and April and the film was impressive but we definitely liked him more as a linebacker. Then we got a chance to see him in person at the Choctaw team camp and it solidified what we saw on film. This guy is the definition of a linebacker and his overall ability continues to get better and better. From stopping the run to pass coverage, this guy has the tools. [player_tooltip player_id="370217" first="Hudson" last="Conrad"] - Mustang (Ranked #72 Overall - #10 LB) Every time we do a ranking update, we have new prospects on the ranking and we always feel like a prospect is too low. That's how we feel about a lot of the linebackers on this breakdown and that includes Mustang linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="370217" first="Hudson" last="Conrad"]. We like his game and his recruitment has started to take off over the last few months and there's no surprise there after watching his tape over the last two years. Conrad has the chance to be another linebacker prospect that blows up in a big way during his senior year. We've made no secret about how much we like Mustang and they seem to be primed for another good season and another playoff run. [player_tooltip player_id="98180" first="Tango" last="McCauley"] - Del City (Ranked #74 Overall - #11 LB) Del City lost one of the best defensive linemen in the state with David Stone heading to the IMG Academy in Florida. However, their front seven will still be nasty as last year as [player_tooltip player_id="98180" first="Tango" last="McCauley"] comes over from John Marshall. McCauley has primarily played closer to the line of scrimmage as a defensive lineman but when we watch him on tape, he looks like a linebacker, has the body of a linebacker and plays like a linebacker. So until further notice, we have him as a linebacker. It's as simple as that. I think that McCauley is going to be able to do a lot of damage in this defense that still has OSU commit [player_tooltip player_id="57157" first="Jaedon" last="Foreman"] at defensive end. That combo will be hard to stop.