#TN2025 Rankings Breakdown: Linebackers

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Possibly the deepest defensive position group of all, our in-state linebackers present a lot of athletic and versatile traits that translate well to the college game. Here we break down those backers and how they stack up within our new senior rankings. </h2>   The Top Ten    Anes checks all the boxes to be the #1 ranked linebacker from our #TN2025 class. The future Wisconsin Badger had a breakout junior year where led the team in tackles but also displayed outstanding athleticism, intelligence and big play abilities from the defensive side of the ball. If you want someone with range who plays a violent brand of football, Anes is your guy. This Mid-Tennessee backer can find the ball and makes plays from anywhere. His speed, quick burst towards the ball and agile body movements screams college starting potential and possibly beyond that. Anes will be key leader and performer this Fall for his Pats team as they work towards earning that elusive state title and this future Big Ten linebacker will be a major cause behind that march.    - - - - -    Committing to Vanderbilt early in the process, Howard takes the 2nd spot in our linebacker rankings and he isn't far off from that #1 spot as Howard may have as much potential and upside as anybody from our #TN2025 defensive class. The Panthers 6 '3 225 pound backer brings strong athleticism and versatility to the field that can be used rushing off the edge or stopping the run in the middle. Howard shows an excellent initial burst then closes fast with physicality and violence. He will hit you hard and continue to do so until the final whistle. His physical build could help him get on the field early once he arrives on campus at Vanderbilt next year. Howard is well equipped to become a star on the college gridiron and the potential to be an All-SEC performer one day.    - - - - -    Aggressive with high football intelligence, Haley fits the role of today's middle backer very well as he brings the size, smarts and athletic skills to compete on the highest level of college football. The Tigers senior defensive leader plays a consistent brand of football. He is always around the ball, making the tackle or disrupting the play somehow. Haley has good range too as he brings the speed to make plays sideline to sideline. Dropping into coverage to play against the pass is something I like about Haley as well and I think he will develop further in that area during his time at TCU, where he recently committed to last month. Look for this Nashville area backer to remain strong with the Horned Frogs but don't be surprised if bigger programs come pushing down his door by signing day.    - - - - -    Carson is a linebacker that I'm a big fan of and someone that I feel will continue to get better as he makes his mark in college during his time at Harvard. The Blaze senior leader recently pledged his services to the Crimson, choosing the Ivy League school over several D1 schools and they got an absolute steal! Carson is one of the fastest linebackers we have in the #TN2025 class, displaying excellent range on film and a great nose for the ball. A true middle backer, Carson plays with high instincts, consistently putting himself around the ball, whether that's stopping the run or dropping into coverage. This Murfreesboro native does just about everything right, so he won't just be a strong addition to the Crimson defense next year but someone that can earn All-Ivy League honors as well.    - - - - -    Well built physically with the look of a future college middle backer, Thompson has been on the recruiting radar for the better part of two years now but still remains available as we head towards the start of the season. That should change soon as Thompson sits as one of the top available defensive prospects in the state. Reasons for that status is because of how aggressive and fast Thompson plays, game in and game out. This is a heat seeking missile that runs through the ball carrier. The Mustangs senior backer is also a good athlete that can drop back and play in coverage, when called to do so. Where his money will be made on the next level is versus the run and I think with that skill set, Thompson could come into a college locker room and immediately compete for playing time.    <a href="https://prepredzone.com/tennessee/rankings/2025-rankings/?position=LB">#TN2025 Linebacker Rankings</a>   - - - - -    Smith has seen his stock surge over these off-season months and I think it can continue with strong camp performances this Summer and a breakthrough senior year in the Fall. The Tigers senior linebacker brings a versatile skill set to the playing field that could be used up the middle or off the edge. Smith is an aggressive and fast competitor that plays with an edge while showing some twitchy flashes on film that translate well to the college game. I think there is another gear inside this Nashville based defender that he has yet to tap. If he does that, especially this coming season, Power Four schools could start coming in and extending offers.    - - - - -    One of the fastest and more aggressive backers we have from in-state linebacker class, Clary is a rocket on the field that is hard to keep down as once he is let off the lease, the Bucs defender explodes towards the ball. You want a guy who can chase down the ball from sideline to sideline while playing with a fearless attitude, this is your man! He is well versed at stopping the run but I think Clary can become a solid pass coverage backer too with continued development. Clary has some fun tape to watch and I still feel like his best football days are ahead of him as he has tons of growth to go with his body. The work he puts in over these Summer months as well as his play this Fall will go a long way towards seeing where this Mid-TN product lands on the college level as I see P4 potential written all over this guy.    - - - - -    The Red Raiders are loaded at linebacker for the 2024 season with Lowenberg being the top ranked guy with the upside to push his stock even further with a strong senior year. A natural run stuffer with a thick, physical frame, Lowenberg works downhill on a consistent basis where he does a good job of diagnosing the play early then sifting through blockers to make the play. This is a smart ball player that understands his position and what he is doing on the field. Lowenberg is the kind of guy that could carve out a role early in his college career due to his physical play and football intelligence. He has mainly been landing D1 and FCS offers but with a big senior year, this Chattanooga area linebacker could begin to see Power Four interest.    - - - - -    A well built thumper that embraces the physical aspect of football, Ilunga-Bisselele brings the look and game play needed to compete on the college stage and he still has room to grow with his athletic profile. What places this East TN backer into our Top Ten is how aggressive and physical he plays and the effort he competes with from start to finish. It's hard to slow this guy down once he gets going downhill. Ilunga-Bisselele is a good athlete too. He has definite room for development in this area where he can become more lethal against the run while enhancing his ability to play in space. The Red Raiders senior can also provide a pass rush when called upon, so there is a lot to like about Ilunga-Bisselele and his upside on the next level. His stock has been steadily growing over the past few months and I think it will continue to do so moving forward.    - - - - -    Rounding out of Top Ten linebacker rankings is this Williamson County senior that brings tons of versatility to the playing field along with upside to handle a variety of roles inside the defensive front seven. Wright is an athletic backer that is labeled currently as an edge linebacker and I think that is his future but he has been working hard on his body and overall speed to potentially play in the middle as well. His burst off the snap is excellent as well as his ability to get skinny and get between blockers towards the ball. Wright shows potential to drop into coverage and play in space but his money will be getting into the backfield. Offers have started to come in but I think Wright can add several more with a strong showing this year throughout his senior season with Centennial.    - - - - -   Other LB's Inside Top 200    [player_tooltip player_id='841262' first='Kelton' last='Crisp'] - Station Camp (11th ranked LB/84th overall)   - Look for Crisp to potentially rise into our Top 10 before the Fall season is over. This Mid-TN product has had a stellar off-season thus far where he has boosted his stock significantly and that's due to his ability to bend off the edge and use his speed to chase down the ball. Crisp is working himself into one of the best pure rushers from our #TN2025 class.    [player_tooltip player_id='976602' first='Perry' last='Cross-Snead'] - Kirkwood (12th ranked LB/89th overall)   - This Clarksville area defender is one of the more athletic linebackers we have in this year's class with still tons of room for growth. Fast with a quick first step, Cross-Snead is a versatile guy that has the size and athletic skills to work the edge or slide back to the middle and stop the run. The Cobras senior backer also shows upside as a potential coverage backer as well.    [player_tooltip player_id='560460' first='Avery' last='McCormick'] - Adamsville (13th ranked LB/94th overall)   - Regardless of his classification, this West TN linebacker can play and he is still far from a finished product. McCormick is an athletic guy that has good size with a frame to take on more weight. He also has excellent range to chase down the ball from anywhere while also having the burst and speed to provide a pass rush as well.    [player_tooltip player_id='1267272' first='Jack' last='Watts'] - Ensworth (14th ranked LB/96th overall)   - The Tigers have possibly the top set of linebackers in the state with Watts rounding out the three, ranked 96th overall. This 6'2 middle backer is well put together physically along with good athletic skills that will continue to grow as he gets older. He is better suited right now to play versus the run but Watts has the athleticism to develop his pass coverage as time goes on.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/jwatts.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1303866" style="width:316px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='850431' first='Mason' last='Ray'] - Brentwood (15th ranked LB/104th overall)   - Standing 6 '3 215 pounds, Ray has the physique and look of a future college backer and his film shows the upside to get there. The Bruins senior defender shows excellent burst and range off the edge along with the upside to become an excellent pass rusher within the college game.    [player_tooltip player_id='1213954' first='Jordan' last='Brown'] - Briarcrest Chrst. (16th ranked LB/110th overall)   - Tall and long with a wide radius and a great frame to pack on more weight, Brown is dripping with potential but still needs development and time before he reaches fulfillment. This guy is athletic with twitchy flashes on the film that shows upside as a potential college pass rusher and someone that could cover in space.    [player_tooltip player_id='353388' first='Blake' last='Owen'] - Cookeville (17th ranked LB/112th overall)   - One of the top two talents in this state, Owen is a future linebacker on the college level, even though he has a shot at competing for Mr. Football playing QB this Fall. The Cavs senior is one of the better pass coverage linebackers in the state with tremendous upside as a run stuffer as well. It will be fun to watch this Mid-TN product perform on both sides of the ball this year.    [player_tooltip player_id='842802' first='Baylor' last='Necessary'] - Science Hill (18th ranked LB/116th overall)   - Over the past two years, Necessary has done nothing but produce at a high level for his Hilltoppers defense and this coming Fall could be his best season yet. This is an aggressive competitor that plays hard from start to finish, consistently finding himself around the ball with the upside to develop further with his athleticism.    [player_tooltip player_id='1240386' first='Ahmoyre' last='Galbreath'] - Clarksville (19th ranked LB/118th overall)   - Keep an eye out for this Mid-TN backer over the coming months as I could see Galbreath being one of the top breakout studs from the 2024 season. His junior film shows some of the more violent hits out of this linebacker class along with great burst and range that stretches sideline to sideline.    [player_tooltip player_id='490634' first='Jomauri' last='Smith'] - Riverdale (20th ranked LB/127th overall)   - Smith is sitting under the radar right now but sports the opportunity and talent to boost his stock in a big way with a breakout senior year. The Warriors senior backer shows strong instincts and quickness to the ball on film along with the potential to play in space as well.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/josmith.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1303869" style="width:319px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1221869' first='Bear' last='Cortes'] - McCallie (21st ranked LB/133rd overall)   - The Blue Tornado will be breaking in some new defenders this year but Cortes is one starter returning that can take over the leadership role and become a standout performer. He is strong versus the run, showing good burst and the range to chase down the ball from sideline to sideline.    [player_tooltip player_id='402528' first='Caleb' last='Ellison'] - Oakland (22nd ranked LB/140th overall)   - Ellison is a true middle backer with a nose for the ball and tremendous football intelligence. Coaches are starting to see those abilities too as the Pats defender has obtained several offers over the past few weeks and I think he can boost his stock even higher with a big breakout senior campaign.   [player_tooltip player_id='1110937' first='Davis' last='Garrett'] - Baylor (23rd ranked LB/147th overall)   - Sporting nice size with room for more growth, Garrett is the lesser known backer at Baylor but someone with an opportunity to breakout this Fall. Garrett shows nice range on film along with some violent play. He works well versus the run, tracking the ball and chasing it down from sideline to sideline.    [player_tooltip player_id='219353' first='Lane' last='Sumerel'] - Ravenwood (24th ranked LB/153rd overall)   - Strong with a physically well built frame, Sumerel sits under the radar at the moment but sports the abilities to turn himself into an FCS, possible D1 guy by the end of the 2024 season. What you like about this Williamson County native is his instincts, his nose for the ball and the physicality he brings game in and game out.    [player_tooltip player_id='1170987' first='Kavion' last='Yancey'] - Hamilton (25th ranked LB/155th overall)   - Tall and long with defensive versatility, Yancey is a long term upside prospect that shows flashes on film of athletic excellence as well as the ability to play in coverage. The Cats senior defender fits the role of your “Star” linebacker that plays more in space while providing the occasional close to the line plays against the run.    [player_tooltip player_id='540048' first='Stanley' last='Burrow'] - MASE (26th ranked LB/156th overall)   - Burrow is a strong and compact middle backer that plays well versus the run but also shows upside to play in coverage as well. What I like most about this Memphis area defender is his ability to read the play early and attack without hesitation. Burrow shows a good feel for the game of football.    [player_tooltip player_id='250830' first='Jayden' last='Carter'] - Coffee Co. (27th ranked LB/164th overall)   - Carter has been a constant force on his Raiders defense for multiple years now due to his hard nosed approach as well as his athletic profile. He is one of the better under the radar pass coverage linebackers we have in the state and someone that should continue to improve once he reaches the college level.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/Jayden-Carter-crop-2978x1956-1710689662.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1214003" style="width:335px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1153858' first='Austin' last='Mayfield'] - Ravenwood (28th ranked LB/165th overall)   - Aggressive and violent, Mayfield plays a certain brand of physical football that college coaches would enjoy working with and developing. He is also a versatile backer that does fit best inside but has enough athleticism and speed to provide a pass rush when called upon. This is a tough ball player that would be a strong presence in the locker room.    [player_tooltip player_id='1102518' first='Quortez' last='Gilbert'] - Antioch (29th ranked LB/170th overall)   - Gilbert is one of the more under the radar backers from the #TN2025 class that has the physical size and athletic skills to make it into the college game. Making the move to Antioch could benefit Gilbert as he will get the chance to showcase his abilities on the 6A level and boost his recruiting stock.    [player_tooltip player_id='353446' first='Ethan' last='Johnson'] - Chrst. Brothers (30th ranked LB/175th overall)   - Johnson has had a strong off-season where he has placed himself on the map to be a college prospect. Where this guy's strength is with his athleticism and ability to both rush the backfield and play in coverage. Johnson has the potential to be one of the better pass coverage linebackers from the #TN2025 class.    [player_tooltip player_id='656684' first='Kole' last='Phillips'] - Rossview (31st ranked LB/182nd overall)   - A multi year starter for his Hawks team, Phillips is a consistent performer that does just about everything correct while bringing excellent leadership to the entire team. He is a true middle backer that works well versus the run while showing flashes of pass rushing upside. If he can increase his size and speed, more schools will start looking harder.   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/tennessee/rankings/2025-rankings/">Tennessee Top 250 Sr Rankings</a>   - - - - -    Other Top 250 Ranked LB's   [player_tooltip player_id='1110709' first='Sammie' last='Smith'] - Ripley (32nd ranked LB/203rd overall)   [player_tooltip player_id='1137205' first='Matthew' last='Covert'] - Maryville (33rd ranked LB/211th overall)   [player_tooltip player_id='1261893' first='Adin' last='Augustine'] - Smyrna (34th ranked LB/212th overall)   [player_tooltip player_id='390715' first='Drew' last='Armbrister'] - Greeneville (35th ranked LB/220th overall)   [player_tooltip player_id='1156741' first='Donovan' last='Pinkston'] - FRA (36th ranked LB/223rd overall)   [player_tooltip player_id='1102509' first='Aiden' last='Merlin'] - Page (37th ranked LB/233rd overall)   [player_tooltip player_id='1261922' first='Evangelos' last='Brooks'] - Rockvale (38th ranked LB/237th overall)   [player_tooltip player_id='1269060' first='Cadarius' last='Newcomb'] - Antioch (39th ranked LB/242nd overall)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/evbrooks-crop-400x263-1718485910.jpg?w=399" alt="" class="wp-image-1303876" style="width:353px;height:auto" /></figure>