2025 Rankings: Linebacker Spotlight

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The latest 2025 rankings on Prep Redzone Oklahoma were released on Monday with the&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/01/updated-2025-oklahoma-rankings-4/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 100 for the state's 2025 class</a></strong>. Throughout the week, we've been breaking down prospects throughout the rankings. From stock risers and newcomers to breakdowns by positions, it will be a busy week! So keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma throughout the week for more on the 2025 class. In this post, we're putting a spotlight on the linebacker position. This feature doesn't include [player_tooltip player_id='294262' first='Alex' last='Shieldnight'] and [player_tooltip player_id='571111' first='Cameron' last='Carter'], who were each featured in our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/01/2025-rankings-the-stock-risers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>Stock Riser</strong></a> and <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/01/2025-rankings-the-newcomers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Newcomer</a></strong> posts respectively. This breakdown goes over some of the other top linebackers in the state's growing 2025 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["211564"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of the first linebackers in the state's 2025 class that we knew about was Bethel linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='211564' first='Austin' last='Melson']. For the second straight season, Melson finished with over 100 tackles after having a breakout season in 2021 as a freshman. Melson is your prototypical inside or middle linebacker and he does a good job of finding his way to the football. That's apparent from the tackling numbers and then when you throw on the film his game is that throwback style. Bethel has a few prospects in that 2025 class that got on our radar during their freshman seasons and Melson is part of that group. We're interested to see what his future is in terms of his recruitment. If Melson has another 100+ tackle season this fall as a junior, it will be hard to deny him as one of the better linebacker prospects in the class.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["595746"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"We've written this a few times this week but we'll do it again here because it rings true with Norman linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='595746' first='Behrett' last='Boyd']. At this time last week, we didn't know anything about Boyd. He comes to our camp Saturday and tears it up, becoming the MVP for the linebacker group. Then we went back and watched the film, plus looked at the production and knew that not only did Boyd need to be included in the latest ranking update, he needed to be relatively high among all of the linebackers in the class. Boyd makes plays. He gets to the football and makes things happen. Having seen Boyd in a camp setting, now we want to see him in person when the pads come on this spring. Boyd has the potential to be one of the more productive linebackers in Class 6A-1 this fall after a strong sophomore campaign.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["215030"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Arguably the most versatile linebacker in the state's 2025 class is Rejoice Christian sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='215030' first='Cooper' last='Auschwitz']. We like him as a linebacker when it comes to playing at the next level but when we've watched him in person or on film, there's no doubt that he's one of the best athletes on the team for Rejoice and they use him accordingly. You'll find Auschwitz on offense as a wide receiver or closer to the line of scrimmage as a hybrid tight end. Then on defense, Auschwitz can play a little safety as well as linebacker. But based on his physical build and athleticism, we like Auschwitz at the linebacker position. Take your pick on where along that line but we think that's what the future holds for him. He was outstanding for Rejoice in 2022 and we're looking forward to seeing more of him this spring and summer.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["211549"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Out of the five linebackers on this breakdown, Beggs standout [player_tooltip player_id='211549' first='DJ' last='Strother'] has consistently been the highest ranked of the group and for good reason. Like Melson, Strother has been incredibly productive from the moment he stepped on the field as a freshman. Strother is another prototypical inside or middle linebacker at the next level. He's part of a very impressive run of talent at Beggs and the 2025 class is no different. They have guys that can play and Strother is one of them. Just like with some of the other inside linebackers, Strother just has a nose for the football. He's not just a one-trick pony either. He can get into the backfield in the blink of an eye but he also has the athleticism to drop back in pass defense. Strother has been on the radar since we started our 2025 coverage and for good reason.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["209252"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"While Boyd from Norman walked away with the MVP for linebackers at our camp, Deer Creek linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='209252' first='Jared' last='Kappenman'] was right there in the discussion for best 'backer there. We've now watched Kappenman four times in person at our camps in the last 12 months and then we combined that with his sophomore film and it's hard to not be impressed. As we mentioned in previous posts about Kappenman, it's apparent that he has a drive to not only get out and get as much competition as possible but he was incredibly vocal on Saturday and getting as much feedback from his coaches as possible. Because we've seen him at four camps now in the last year, it's easy to see the growth that Kappenman has had both physically and within his game that makes him one to watch this fall.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c9d95698cda"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->