2023 Rankings: Hard-Hitting Linebackers

<!-- 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 and final 2023 rankings on Prep Redzone Oklahoma were released on Monday with the <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/01/updated-2023-oklahoma-rankings-6/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 250 for the state's 2023 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's been a busy week! So keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma throughout the week for more on the 2023 class. In this post, we're putting a spotlight on ten of the best linebackers in the state. This features does not include Ardmore standout [player_tooltip player_id='625274' first='Eric' last='Fields'], who was covered <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/02/2023-rankings-rare-newcomers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">earlier this week in our Newcomer article</a></strong>. But this does feature ten of the best linebackers in the state's 2023 class. In our opinion, the linebacker position was the deepest position group. There were more linebackers than any other position within the Top 250. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["38789"],"_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":"After Broken Arrow linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='38789' first='Dietrich' last='Moore'] and North Texas signee [player_tooltip player_id='38789' first='Dietrich' last='Moore'] had his junior season cut short because of an injury, Moore was hungrier than ever in 2022. Moore was once again one of the top linebackers in the state and remained atop the linebacker rankings for the state's 2023 class. Moore is such a unique and special athlete that North Texas is getting a steal in the Broken Arrow standout. Moore showed that athleticism and versatility during his junior season. We can't wait to see what Moore does at the next level at North Texas.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["157519"],"_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":"Atoka linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='157519' first='Andrew' last='McCall'] signed back in December with Oklahoma State and he's another example of just how deep this linebacker group is. McCall emerged over the last six months as a legitimate prospect that was going to end up at the power five level. McCall is one of the more experienced linebackers in the state's 2023 class and we think that his best football continues to be ahead of him. Atoka has a few prospects within the 2023 class that have started for a few seasons and were incredibly productive throughout their careers and McCall is one of them.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["38813"],"_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":"We don't think that this is a bold statement by any means but Verdigris linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='38813' first='Reese' last='Roller'] has been the most productive linebacker in the state over the last three seasons. Roller quickly emerged as one of the most productive linebackers in Oklahoma as a sophomore. He continued to produce over the last two seasons and has been one of the best in recent memory at getting after the quarterback. Roller is also a smaller linebacker and because of that, he didn't get recruited the way he should have been in our opinion. But UCO is getting one of the absolute best at his position.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["370220"],"_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":"Another steal for UCO is Berryhill linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='370220' first='Ethan' last='Stites'] as he chose UCO over several other options. Stites is a perfect example of a prospect that just needed one season to prove he's among the state's best at his position. At this time last year, we didn't know anything about the hard-hitting senior from Berryhill. But he immediately caught our attention while Berryhill competed in a team camp. Stites was a standout as a running back and a linebacker. But there's no doubt that his future is on the defensive side of the ball as one of the hardest-hitting players at the position.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["57166"],"_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":"Out of all the linebackers on this breakdown, Union linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='57166' first='Braylen' last='Irvin-Fisher'] might be the first linebacker that we covered after his freshman season. Fisher first caught our eye while playing 7v7 and was a standout at linebacker and on offense as a tight end. While he never really took off on offense while at Union, Fisher still became one of the more productive linebackers in the state's 2023 class. Fisher eventually became a D1 prospect and would sign on the dotted line with Central Missouri. Fisher is a very athletic and rangy linebacker.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["307902"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Similar to Stites at Berryhill, we didn't know about Shawnee standout [player_tooltip player_id='307902' first='Landon' last='Davis-Barkus'] until we saw him at one of the team camps in May. He was a linebacker that could not be stopped that day and he had a stellar senior season. Even though Shawnee struggled, Barkus had a great senior campaign. Barkus has signed with East Central in Ada but has signed to play running back. Barkus was one of the more versatile prospects in the state's 2023 class, playing multiple positions on both sides of the ball. But we still think that he's at his best when he's lining up at linebacker.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["370217"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Mustang linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='370217' first='Hudson' last='Conrad'] is yet another great get for UCO as the Bronchos just raked in some of the best linebackers in Oklahoma's 2023 class. Conrad is a very physical backer that put up some monster numbers during his senior season. Conrad was a linebacker that consistently got better over the last two and a half years. We've mentioned the NFL DNA that Conrad has and he's a prospect that you can rely on to be in the right spots and know his assignments. UCO routinely does a really good job recruiting Oklahoma and they killed it with the linebacker position.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["98180"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Del City senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='98180' first='Tango' last='McCauley'] is a 2023 prospect that we've liked for a long time at the linebacker position. He's lined up at both linebacker and along the defensive line but we think that his future is brightest as a linebacker. He was part of a Del City defense that was full of not only D1 but power five talent at the three levels of the defense. McCauley committed and then signed with Coffeyville CC. We think that McCauley will have the chance to be a JuCo transfer later on in his career. McCauley has continued to get better and better every season.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["292484"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"It was around this time last year that we first found out about Tuttle linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='292484' first='Jake' last='Tucker'] and we've been fans ever since. The hard-nosed linebacker just makes plays all over the field and he has the chance to really make an impact at the next level. He's the perfect example of just how deep this linebacker class is within the state this year. In most years, Tucker would more than likely be a top five linebacker in the class. He was outstanding all year for the Tigers on the defensive side of the ball. Tucker made a sizable jump from the end of his junior year to where he is now.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["441599"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Our final linebacker is another prospect who was incredibly productive at the highest level of Class 6A-1. Union linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='441599' first='Bryce' last='Ashlock'] has been one of the top tacklers in 6A-1 over the last few seasons and every time I watched Union in person in 2022, Ashlock seemed to always be around the ball. He's similar to a few other linebackers on this breakdown that just have a nose for the football. Ashlock is one of the old school backers that is going to be an extension of the coaching staff on the field. He's going to be able to help everyone around him become better.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63def021078ed"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->