Prepredzonemn ranking 248/Ranked #10 in the189A weight class by The Guillotine

Bjerga is an absolute wrecking ball coming through the line of scrimmage when attacking from his inside linebacker position. He destroys ball carriers and lead blockers. One of the reasons for his violent collisions is his explosiveness coming out of his stance and once he gets to the hit point. That explosiveness translates to the offensive side of the ball, where he is a powerful guard and a running back. He is not just a short-yardage back either – he rushed for nearly 500 yards in the fall. Bjerga qualified for the state wrestling tournament last year – going 1-2, and helped the team end the season as the second-place finisher in the Class A team tournament.

Owning a classic small-town LB and thumper physique and athletic resume, Staples-Motley linebacker Luke Bjerga Luke Bjerga 5'9" | 210 lbs | LB Staplesmotley | 2026 State MN is a three-sport athlete who competes in wrestling and track & field, and to add to the small school skillset, he also doubles as an offensive guard and occasional RB for the Cardinals. Staples–Motley were the 2024 Class AA runner-up, in large part due to Bjerga’s utility, toughness, and production, as the 5’9, 210 lber. posted 72.5 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 5.7 YPC, and 11 total TDs, and he was an obvious eye-catcher when PRzMN watched the state tournament live and in person at The Bank, where he posted his lone INT of the season. That pick was a smooth one too, as Bjerga stepped right in front of a waiting RB’s screen against JCC in the state championship for an electric and well-timed pick-six.

Bjerga reports a 315 lb. bench, 405 lb. squat, and 235 lb. clean, and that strength and power translates to on-field physicality and thump, especially at first contact. As both an OG and LB, Bjerga sends opponents flying he puts the pads on them, and he does a good job of running his feet through contact and upends ball carriers. The 210 lber. displays tons of pop, lead in his hands, and good pad level at initial contact, and can easily knock opponent’s backward, off their feet, and even onto their backs off the snap or in a tackle. Bjerga attacks blocking attempts and can absorb big collisions himself before working forward for the ensuing tackle or TFL and he really packs a punch if he has a full head of steam and is working laterally across the LOS. Plus, the fullback is a rumblin, bumblin contact balance-heavy ball carrier who can easily step and slip through tackle attempts at his lower body. He’s overall a hard-nosed, never takes a play off, living and thriving in the contact department embodiment of small town, two way toughness. DIII, NAIA, and even JUCO programs should be all over this kid.

Bjerga read a screen pass and turned it into a pick-six. The converted offensive linemen’s powerful run up the middle broke two tackles. He found the end zone on a short touchdown run. On defense, he was quickly into the backfield and made a tackle for no gain. He reacted nicely to a fumble and jumped on a fumbled snap in the red zone. Later, with Riley Reese, he blew the JCC line back five yards.