Watchlist: 2025 Dynamic Linebacker Play

Linebackers at the high school level come in all shapes and sizes. They play different styles, within different schemes and approach the game in sometimes wildly different manners. Most all of them are similar, however, in a couple of ways that typically sets them apart - they are defensive playmakers and they have an aggressive nose for the ball.   The good ones are fast, strong, athletic and have a high football IQ. They are also usually bone-crushing hitters who are game disrupters that keep offensive coordinators up at night.   When scouting linebackers it is easy to get caught up in their athleticism and ability to seemingly make plays anywhere on the field. Being superb athletes, they get lined up all over the field looking for different ways to disrupt. Some are destroyers coming off the edge, others are busting centers in the mouth and stuffing the inside zone. Still others are hybrid strong safeties who can sink into coverage one play and slip between blockers and take out the option the next.   Beyond pure athleticism, the great ones have what is referred to as linebacker instincts. They read and react with lightening-like speed and play downhill at full throttle, instinctively spearheading the defense by getting to the point of attack as quickly and as violently as possible. This ability to diagnose schemes and plays is critical, particularly as the competition gets more intense. Being one step off can be the difference in winning and losing.   In this report I went through the 2025 rankings and looked at linebackers at both the top and bottom of the rankings and worked toward the middle. There is a ton of linebacker talent in the Sunflower state, so this is just the first in a series of reports on linebacker play as we approach the 2024 season.   Listed below are a couple of the top linebackers in the state as well as a handful of others that are getting ready to dominate and disrupt. These guys mean business every time they step foot on the field.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115477' first='Dawson' last='Merritt'], 6'3, 215, LB, Blue Valley High School, is ranked #11. A heat-seeking missile off the edge, he terrorizes offensive tackles with his fast-twitch, athletic play. Boasting an 80" wing span, he has powerful hands and shucks defenders at will. His rush mechanics are superb, with great bend and swim with fluid hip flexibility, which enables him to power into the backfield in record time. A playmaker all over the field, he has excellent closing speed and tracks down runners across the formation. His physicality and read and react skills make him a nightmare to game plan for.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115502' first='Wyatt' last='Kirkpatrick'], 6'2, 220, LB, Hays, is ranked #24. Following close behind and also a big, physical linebacker who can impose his will on the offense. Has great football IQ and can read and respond with breakneck speed. He reads linemen and scheming and anticipates plays quickly. He has a great first step and solid linebacking mechanics which enables him to blow up running plays between the tackles. As an overall playmaker, he plays the width of the field, disengaging blockers with ease and always seems to be around the ball. He is poised and ready for a standout senior year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115498' first='Scott' last='Moore'], 6'5, 235, LB/TE, Girard, is ranked #33. Another long, athletic linebacker who can play anywhere on the field. A true multi-positional player, he is not only one of the top tight end/wide receivers in the state, but plays linebacker on defense, lines up in the shotgun, as a tailback and also returns kicks. He has soft hands and catches the ball well in traffic and is a nightmare for opposing teams in the redzone. As a linebacker he is a force off the edge using his speed and athleticism to get to the ball in a hurry. He has powerful hands, good closing speed and a knack for being where the ball is. He is a fun one to watch.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115495' first='Jackson' last='Davis'], 5'10, 195, LB, Winfield, is ranked #91. A strong, physical defender who can play multiple positions within legendary coach Monty Lewis' defensive scheme. He is powerful enough to blow up the hole as an inside linebacker, terrorize the edge or perform like a hybrid strong safety. He is particularly effective as a strong open-field tackler in space and has excellent closing speed. He fights through blockers well with strong hands and a powerful base. He has good defensive anticipation and is good in coverage, whether it is man or zone. He is definitely one to keep in your sights.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115473' first='Dylan' last='Sonday'], 6'1, 225, LB/RB, Dodge City, is ranked #272. Is another terror on the second level that uses his top-end physicality to destroy the run game between the tackles. Has great read and react skills and is a true piledriver of a hitter in stopping the run game. He is fast and athletic and can come hard off the edge or drop into coverage as needed. He sheds blockers and disengages well when flying to the ball. He is a versatile playmaker with excellent closing speed and gets in the backfield in a hurry. He has a high football IQ and diagnoses plays and offensive schemes very quickly. He is a stud in the making.   In conclusion, this is the first in an on-going series on linebacker play and the development of top-notch linebackers across the Sunflower State. If you have players in mind or want to discuss LB play DM me on X.

Linebackers at the high school level come in all shapes and sizes. They play different styles, within different schemes and approach the game in sometimes wildly different manners. Most all of them are similar, however, in a couple of ways that typically sets them apart - they are defensive playmakers and they have an aggressive nose for the ball.