Prospect Spotlight: Five 2025 Hard-Knosed Linebackers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a week of scouting volleyball and “A Football Life,” marathon last night I woke up ready to provide some exposure for a group of linebackers from the class of 2025 who have not received much lately.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at five Prep Redzone-ranked linebackers from across the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1115716' first='Abram' last='Keim']</strong>, LB, 5'11”, 175, Nemaha Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keim is the ninth-ranked linebacker in the class of 2025. He has a high football IQ and brings his own brand of hot sauce when he hits ball carriers. During his junior season, he racked up 140 tackles in 13 games. Keim was difference-maker on Nemaha's state championship defense. He has the speed to get to the backfield as he finished with five tackles-for-loss and reached the quarterback twice for sacks. The Nemaha Central backer enters his senior season currently ranked No. 37 overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1115492' first='Nick' last='Giefer'],</strong> LB, 5'10”, 170, Wellington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Giefer is a talented two-way prospect who can impact the game on both sides of the ball. Prep Redzone has him listed as a linebacker for ranking purposes, but he can also tote the rock as a running back. The Wellington prospect is ranked No. 71 overall and as the No. 13 ranked linebacker. During his junior season, he finished with 46 total tackles and rushed for 862 yards. He scored nine times on the ground and finished with four TFLs and an interception for the Crusaders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284899' first='Mencali' last='En'],</strong> LB, 5'10”, 200, Wichita West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>En doesn't take off any plays and might not take any days off. He competes in football, wrestling, powerlifting, and track and field for the West Pioneers. He is a scary run-blitzer and that speed translates into him being a possible weapon as a safety. He racked up 72 total tackles in nine games as a junior. He also contributed two quarterback sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He is currently ranked No. 86 overall by Prep Redzone as the No. 16 linebacker in the class of 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1115501' first='Koltyn' last='Kaniper'],</strong> LB, 5'11”, 175, Perry-Lecompton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perry-Lecompton's Kaniper is one of several linebackers who recorded 100-plus tackle seasons last year in Kansas. The Kaws prospect finished with exactly 100 in nine games as junior. He is a downhill linebacker who recorded an impressive 16 TFLs. He created four turnovers as a junior with an interception and three forced fumbles. He carried the ball 31 times for 71 yards and a touchdown last season, but his future is on the defensive side of the ball and special team units.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='716076' first='Carter' last='Morgan'],</strong> LB, 5'11”, 170, Hutchinson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Salthawks have a gritty linebacker who is also a solid baseball prospect. Morgan is ranked No. 136 overall in the Kansas Class of 2025. He is also the twenty-first-ranked linebacker. He recorded 84 total tackles in 10 games as a junior. His quickness resulted in 12.5 TFLs and he uses that speed on the basepaths for Hutchinson. Morgan is also a solid coverage backer tallying six pass breakups and one interception last fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->