North Dakota 2025 LB Rankings Breakdown (5-1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTH DAKOTA--</strong> We take a look at our <strong>top five </strong>2025 linebackers in the state of North Dakota and breakdown the skillets they all offer, provide some feedback on where they can develop on tape or athletically this offseason, and much more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#5: [player_tooltip player_id='802391' first='Mason' last='Johnson'], LB, West Fargo Horace</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/MasonJohnson_30">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'3 2025 linebacker from the West Fargo Horace Hawks shows off intriguing read steps when making his progressions downhill to make a tackle with plenty of pop while he makes contact. He also shows off instinctive vision as a linebacker with some noticeable range that can come down from the edges or play the inside box with his long strides. <strong>Where can he develop: </strong>I would like to see more reps this summer of Mason in pass coverage as I feel that length he has will show off his skillsets further at the linebacker position, also getting a junior highlight tape would probably move him further up our linebacker group in my eyes to see more next-level looks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#4: [player_tooltip player_id='802392' first='Joshua' last='Chavez'], LB, Watford City </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/JoshuaC45909432">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1189675,"width":"269px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Joshua-Chavez-crop-339x223-1708566503.jpg?w=338" alt="" class="wp-image-1189675" style="width:269px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The highest ranked Watford City Wolves prospect in history of our Prep Redzone Dakotas Rankings is 5'11 195 pound linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='802392' first='Joshua' last='Chavez']. Joshua checks in at LB4 in North Dakota 2025s as his instinctive football IQ climbs deeper in the inside box and comes in authority with his contact levels. His vision shows off a linebacker that is constantly in the right area with his sound timing he shows getting into the box. I personally think Joshua's tape is better than it gets credit for, and I wish their more length to it as this young man is the bright spot for the Wolves upcoming. <strong>Where can he develop</strong>: Joshua has good position flexibility at a couple linebacker spots, I would like to see him grow his versatility this off-season and enhance his range as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#3: [player_tooltip player_id='1185260' first='Owen' last='Lesko'], LB, LaMoure-Litchville/Marion</strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/OwenLesko">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A linebacker prospect in this top five that I believe has one of the highest upsides to move up by the next update is LaMoure-Litchville/Marion's [player_tooltip player_id='1185260' first='Owen' last='Lesko']. The overall strength and outstanding range as a sideline to sideline middle linebacker that Owen has is going to certainly appeal to some college coaches at the next-level as our LB3 on amongst our 2025 linebacker rankings. Owen is a man amongst boys when it comes to winning the leverage battle, as you NEED to see his clips at tight end for this evaluation to do the justice. <strong>Where can he develop: </strong>I would love to see how Owen looks with his testing scenario at camps this summer, as I want to certainly see where his L-Drill would end up. His twitchy athletic movement certainly pops out on tape, but seeing it in pass coverage could have the probability to move up one or two spots in this linebacker 2025 group. Scholarship-level prospect and a small town hidden gem.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#2: [player_tooltip player_id='1184869' first='Brayden' last='Olson'], LB, West Fargo Sheyenne </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/Brayden_Olson9">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1203428,"width":"306px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/03/Brayden-Olson-crop-339x223-1709782666.jpeg?w=338" alt="" class="wp-image-1203428" style="width:306px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of two Olson brothers to crack the North Dakota 2025 rankings recently was linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1184869' first='Brayden' last='Olson']. I love this kid's springy agility he has with his footwork while showing off his motor to get to the football. He also has much longer strides than you would expect with his 5'11 190 pound body, as Brayden plays way bigger than his measurables show off, as his physicality also shows this off as well. He shows plenty of consistency getting downhill. <strong>Where can he develop: </strong>I would like to see Brayden grow in the weight room this offseason to add some frame ahead of the 2024 season. He shows off plenty of fluidity in his footwork on tape, and I want to see how that translates at camps this summer with his change of direction.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>#1: [player_tooltip player_id='725780' first='Hank' last='Bodine'], LB, Velva </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/hank_bodine">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":810985,"width":"313px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/Hank-Bodine-crop-351x230-1683079810.jpg?w=350" alt="" class="wp-image-810985" style="width:313px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the state's hardest hitters in my eyes and our LB1 in the 2025 North Dakota linebacker class is Velva's [player_tooltip player_id='725780' first='Hank' last='Bodine']. The way Hank runs at the ball carrier with his vision, he reminds me of a charging second basemen trying to pick up a bunt as soon as possible. He is very impressive with his pre-snap read steps as you can tell he has a high level football IQ which is why he tops the rest of this top five as he has the most instinctive read steps amongst this group of 2025 North Dakota linebackers. He also plays with a very fluid motor that was First Team All-State as a running back, but man he sure should have been one for linebacker as well as that looks like what his next-level position will be. <strong>Where can he develop: </strong>As a probable Division I target, Hank in my eyes although showing off a quick trigger off the snap, I think he has the dexterity to get even quicker this off-season with his agility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->