Top Ten 2024 Linebackers
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Throughout the month of February, we have been updating the prospect rankings on Prep Redzone Oklahoma. You can check out all of the different class rankings now, as well as some of our archived rankings from past classes. We finish up the month with our 2024 ranking update and we’ve expanded it to the Top 250 2024 prospects in the state. The majority of these prospects have already signed their letters of intent and are headed off to the next level. Throughout the next few days, we’ll be putting the spotlight on the top ten prospects at each position. In this post, we’re taking a look at the linebacker position. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more prospect breakdowns!
Heading into the 2023 season, Jenks linebacker Jett Calmus Jett Calmus 6’1″ | 200 lbs | LB Jenks | 2024 State OK was on our short list for comeback players after he missed nearly all of the 2022 season with a leg injury. Calmus returned with a vengeance and led the Trojans in tackles as a senior. And whenever we saw the Trojans in person, Calmus was routinely one of the best players on the field. When we look at his senior season, his performance in the semifinals will always stand out. As Jenks made a comeback to beat Union, Calmus played like a man possessed in the second half. He earned All State 1st Team honors.
Bixby linebacker Hank Puckett Hank Puckett 5’11” | LB Bixby | 2024 State OK has been one of our favorite linebackers to watch in person over the last few seasons. And with Bixby dominating Oklahoma high school football, we’ve seen the Spartans quite a bit. The thing that always impresses us about Puckett, and players just like him, is his ability to always play at his best in the biggest games of the season. Puckett never backs down from a challenge. He always elevates his game and plays outstanding football when they face the toughest competition. Bixby’s LB group was one of the best in the state and Puckett was the best of the bunch.
Whenever you’re talking about high school stats, you never get a full complete picture. But from every number that we’ve been able to find, Victory Christian linebacker Teyton Chandler Teyton Chandler 6’1″ | 200 lbs | LB Victory Christian | 2024 State OK is the tackling king of Oklahoma high school football. Chandler shattered the school record for career tackles and there’s a belief that he broke the state record as well. Chandler is a very fun player to watch because the standout never really slows down. He’s very similar to the first three linebackers where he is always near the ball. NSU has a new coaching staff and landing Chandler will be huge for their turnaround.
Highlights
Lawton Eisenhower standout Kingston Tito Kingston Tito 6’2″ | 230 lbs | LB Lawton Eisenhower | 2024 State OK is more of the hybrid defender that is just as comfortable lining up on the defensive line as he is as a traditional linebacker. Tito is incredibly disruptive and can absolutely become a game-wrecker. UCO has signed a ton of linebacker talent in this class but Tito certainly provides them with the versatility to move him around. Whether he ends up as an edge rusher on the defensive line or an outside linebacker, Tito is going to have the ability to make an impact. He was very productive at Lawton Eisenhower and his ceiling is very high moving forward.
Choctaw standout Tae Bulock Tae Bulock 6’3″ | LB Choctaw | 2024 State OK is another example of the hybrid defender but in the opposite way of Tito. Bulock is just as comfortable as a linebacker as he is in the secondary. But when we got a chance to see Bulock in person a handful of times during 2023, Bulock looked more like a linebacker but we can’t overlook his ability to play in the secondary. Bulock has landed on taking the junior college route and he could certainly be a prospect that ends up at a higher level after a year or two. Bulock is going to be a prospect that we keep an eye on moving forward because of his ceiling.
Woodland standout Jackson Rhodes Jackson Rhodes 6’3″ | 185 lbs | LB Woodland | 2024 State OK has been one of the more productive two-way players in small school football over the last few seasons. Rhodes has been a productive offensive standout but it’s what he does on the defensive side of the ball that translates to the next level. Rhodes is very physical and can absolutely fly all over the field. Rhodes has been productive and has continued to improve his game over the last several seasons. We like what he’s done on the offensive side of the ball but he definitely projects to becoming more of a defensive standout. There is a lot of potential there.
Highlights
There are few defenders that have been more productive over the last three seasons than linebacker Brogan Hardy Brogan Hardy 6’2″ | 225 lbs | LB Piedmont | 2024 State OK from Piedmont. Hardy is another signee headed to Edmond at UCO. Hardy has been a tackling machine over the last several seasons and he’s also been a standout on the wrestling mat. Needless to say, when Hardy gets his hands on you, you’re going to end up going down. Hardy absolutely looks the part physically and as he continues to improve other elements of his game, he’s going to be a productive linebacker in college. No reason to think that will change at the next level.
Edmond Memorial standout Drelen Nero Drelen Nero 6’3″ | LB Edmond Memorial | 2024 State OK is one of the more athletic linebackers on this breakdown. The ceiling is incredibly high with him moving forward because he could have a massive impact. Nero also happens to be the fifth prospect on this breakdown to sign with UCO. Needless to say, there are some absolute ballers heading to Edmond at the linebacker position. Nero is a versatile prospect that has moved around at the high school level and will bring that versatility to the next level. Nero has the ability to be very productive and can absolutely fly around the field, making play after play.
Casady linebacker Connor Phelps Connor Phelps 6’2″ | 220 lbs | LB Casady | 2024 State OK definitely fits more in the category of “underrated prospect” when it comes to this class. Phelps was not 100 percent during his junior season but he came back and had a very strong senior campaign in 2023. Unfortunately, Casady has flown under the radar in the past because they don’t compete in the OSSAA. That won’t be the case moving forward. But the Cyclones still have some names that you need to know about each season. Phelps is one of the fastest linebackers in this class. He was tracked multiple times during the fall with blazing times.
Highlights
Del City’s defense was incredibly productive as the Eagles had one of their best seasons in recent memory. They had multiple players with over 100 tackles and linebacker Aaron Carter Aaron Carter 6’2″ | LB Del City | 2024 State OK was one of the better defenders on that unit. Coming into the 2023 season, Carter was a two-way standout as a linebacker and also spent time in the backfield as a running back. But Carter spent the majority of his senior season on defense at the linebacker spot. And that makes sense for him moving forward. He looks like a linebacker, plays like a linebacker and projects to the next level as a linebacker.