Final Look At The 2025 Linebackers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% Off Your Subscription By Entering Knight25 In The Coupon Code Area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our final ranking update for the <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2025-rankings/">state's 2025 class came out on Thursday</a></strong>. When we first started ranking the state's 2025 class, it began with a Top 25 in February of 2022. Now, it finishes with the Top 300 and many more players listed outside of those 300. Every time we do a ranking update, we dive into the positions with various breakdowns. In this breakdown, we're taking one final look at the linebacker position with a breakdown of each guy in the final top ten. Keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma for more 2025 breakdowns and more ranking updates throughout the next month!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377954' first='Marcus' last='James'] - Carl Albert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='377954' first='Marcus' last='James'] is the first of three Carl Albert Titans on this breakdown, which backs up the claim that they had the best front seven in the state in 2024. James first emerged as a promising young prospect at Bishop McGuinness. He would move over to Carl Albert shortly before spring ball in 2023 and he saw his recruitment absolutely explode. Eventually, James would become another Carl Albert standout that would give his commitment and eventually sign with Oklahoma. James missed some time during his senior season after a scary hit in the preseason. But in the end, he was still the top linebacker prospect in the state's 2025 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1291287' first='Carlveon' last='Young'] - Carl Albert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another Carl Albert Titan, [player_tooltip player_id='1291287' first='Carlveon' last='Young'] came back with a vengeance in 2024 after missing most of the 2023 season. We got a chance to watch Young back in the spring and while it was just for a moment, we were sold on his potential as a prospect when you consider his size and overall athleticism. He looked just like James in a lot of ways and it seemed like it was only a matter of time before colleges took notice after he missed his junior season. Young would eventually sign with Oklahoma State and he's definitely a 2025 prospect that still is just scratching the surface on what he could end up being at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1078310' first='Brayden' last='Knox'] - Putnam City</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It sounds crazy to think but Putnam City linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1078310' first='Brayden' last='Knox'] might be incredibly underrated in the state's 2025 class. It wouldn't be that surprising if we look back on this class in a few years and he's considered the best linebacker from this group. Knox has been incredibly productive and more importantly, consistent over the last few seasons. Knox was committed to Tulsa but he would eventually flip his commitment and sign with North Texas. Knox is a terrific defensive playmaker. And just as a side note, buy stock now on Putnam City because despite Knox graduating, the Pirates are loaded on defense with next level talent. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1096341' first='Sam' last='Stone'] - Jenks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anytime you have a Jenks linebacker that finishes his career in the top three for tackles in school history, it deserves to be mentioned. Jenks linebacker and Tulsa signee [player_tooltip player_id='1096341' first='Sam' last='Stone'] has had a terrific career and there for a while, he was that definition of a hybrid defender where he felt just as comfortable at linebacker as he did further back and into the secondary. But no matter where Stone was lined up on the field, he would find a way to have a significant impact. We think that Stone could end up being one of the steals of the Tulsa recruiting class. He's another prospect that makes winning plays, time after time. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595746' first='Behrett' last='Boyd'] - Norman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Norman linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='595746' first='Behrett' last='Boyd'] got on our radar early on in his career when he came to multiple Prep Redzone camps and was consistently the best linebacker in attendance. Boyd would then back up the hype with his play on the football field. Boyd has been one of the top linebackers in Class 6A-1 over the last few seasons and over the last two seasons in particular, he was an absolute monster for the Tigers. And the most underrated part of Boyd's game is the fact that he's also a legitimate track guy. Boyd has built the reputation of being the fastest linebacker in the state and you throw on the film and all of that is backed up immediately. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='353419' first='Caden' last='Davis'] - Carl Albert</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='353419' first='Caden' last='Davis'] is the third Carl Albert linebacker and while he might not be the prototypical prospect like the other two, there's no doubt that Davis has been the most valuable of the group. He set the school's all time tackling record as a senior and finished his career as a three-time 1st Team All State selection. He would also be a finalist for our Player Of The Year award and earned the Career Achievement Award for the impact he had over the last three seasons. Davis and the rest of this Carl Albert defense was the best unit in the state. Davis is headed to the next level and will be looking to continue that impactful play at Harding. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='255022' first='Cooper' last='Parker'] - Bixby</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It should come as no surprise but Bixby once again had one of the best linebacker groups in the state. [player_tooltip player_id='255022' first='Cooper' last='Parker'] emerged as one of the state's best players in 2024. He would stand out on both sides of the ball. He would come in as a running quarterback and led the Spartans in rushing. But he was also one of the leaders of the defensive side of the ball and led the Spartans in tackles. Parker, like Davis, would end up being a finalist for our PRZ-Oklahoma Player Of The Year award. Coincidentally, he'll be joining Davis after signing with Harding and between those two guys, Harding will be knocking some heads defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='211549' first='DJ' last='Strother'] - Union</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Union linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='211549' first='DJ' last='Strother'] was a 2025 prospect that we were on very early on after his breakout freshman season at Beggs. He spent his first three seasons at Beggs before moving to Union for his senior year. And in each season, Strother was a tackling machine and always found a way to be in the right spot at the right time. He really impressed us early on in his career and he could end up being a player that continues that momentum to the next level. Now, we typically look back on previous classes after they spend a few years in college. It wouldn't be surprising to see Strother staying productive and thinking he should have been higher in this class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='571111' first='Cameron' last='Carter'] - Millwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Millwood linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='571111' first='Cameron' last='Carter'] has been one of the hardest hitting tacklers in the state's 2025 class for several years now. He first emerged on our radar during the state championship game in 2022. Carter was incredibly productive in that game and that was just scratching the surface on what kind of player he would be for the Falcons moving forward. In the last two seasons, Carter would also impact the game from the running back position as a short yardage specialist. And there was no doubt he was a linebacker playing running back with his physical style. He's your prototypical middle linebacker that's looking to wreck shop. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='268315' first='AJ' last='Lyons-Jerrell'] - Pocola</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pocola's [player_tooltip player_id='268315' first='AJ' last='Lyons-Jerrell'] is another 2025 prospect that has been on our radar since his freshman year. We first noticed Jerrell when he came to our camp and really stood out. Fast forward to today and you see a player who had an incredibly impactful career on both sides of the ball. But when it comes down to it, we think that Jerrell is your prototypical linebacker that can really cause chaos against an opposing offense. Jerrell has been very productive at the small school level and was definitely one of the best two-way players in the state during his senior season. From start to finish, Jerrell was incredibly reliable for Pocola. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>FINAL 2025 LINEBACKER RANKINGS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/position-ranking-table {"name":"acf/position-ranking-table","data":{"class":"2025","_class":"field_65cfb7374abb9","position":"2496","_position":"field_65cfbfcb19ad6","national_rankings":"0","_national_rankings":"field_660c1d73c0e49","state":"2486","_state":"field_65cfb88a603fe"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b5f0d6d676e"} /-->