Missouri 2024 Rankings Update: Linebackers

We unveiled our updated Class of 2024 rankings recently, which includes 100 ranked prospects and more than 185 total prospects including the Watch List. <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://prepredzone.com/missouri/rankings/2024-rankings/"><em><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Click here to view the updated 2024 Rankings!</strong></span></em></a></p> There are 11 linebackers in the Top 100 and 21 linebackers overall for the Class of 2024 in Missouri in the Prep Redzone database, which continues to grow every day. Today we are taking a closer look at the top prospects at the position. (Click on the player names to check out their prospect pages on PRZ, including links to their HUDL highlights.) <strong>1. [player_tooltip player_id="172304" first="Melvin" last="Laster"], Liberty North</strong> A 6-foot-2, 235-pound man child at middle linebacker, Laster came into his sophomore season with considerable hype after receiving Division I scholarship offers over the summer and he lived up to the hype. He is ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in Missouri in the Class of 2024. Laster led Liberty North to the Class 6 championship game, earned first-team all-state honors and won the Buck Buchanan award as the top linebacker in the Kansas City area despite only being a sophomore. Laster recorded a team-high 80 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions and one fumble recovery as Liberty North went 11-2 and finished second in Class 6. As a freshman, he racked up 79 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one sack. Laster has early offers from Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas State, Kansas, Iowa State, Tennessee, Oregon and Minnesota. <strong>2. [player_tooltip player_id="130169" first="Ayden" last="Harris"], Lutheran-St. Charles</strong> A 5-10, 200-pound outside linebacker (and running back), Harris check in as the No. 17 overall prospect in Missouri in the Class of 2024 following a sophomore season he will never forget. Harris, playing for his father and with his older brother, helped Lutheran win the first state championship in school history. The younger Harris earned first-team all-state honors and his conference defensive player of the year award after racking up 179 tackles, eight tackles for loss two sacks and one interception. He also added 782 total yards (643 rushing, 139 receiving) and nine total touchdowns. Harris, who recorded 42 tackles, two interceptions and one sack as a freshman, will be an interesting player to watch over his final two seasons. Will he play more running back, now that older brother Arlen is off to Stanford, or continue to focus on the defensive side of the ball as a tackling machine outside linebacker? <strong>3. [player_tooltip player_id="126225" first="Eli" last="Ortmann"], Festus</strong> Ortmann, a strong 6-3, 215-pounder, is the No. 25 overall prospect in Missouri in the sophomore class after two strong seasons to start his high school career. Ortmann had 81 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery as a freshman in 2020 and then followed that up with a sophomore season in 2021 2021 where he had 68 tackles (second on the team) and team-high four sacks. He's a player who could have a big offseason if he performs well at camps. <strong>4. [player_tooltip player_id="254474" first="Keylan" last="Mitchell"], Parkway North</strong> Another jumbo-size linebacker at 6-3 and 250 pounds, Mitchell was a key component to Parkway North's resurgent season as a sophomore and is now ranked as the No. 28 overall prospect in Missouri in this class. Mitchell earned third-team all-state honors in Class 4 after recording 105 tackles, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and one interception for the Vikings. <strong>5. [player_tooltip player_id="130643" first="Dominic" last="Bentrup"], Rockwood Summit</strong> A 6-1, 215-pounder, Bentrup is the No. 32 overall prospect in Missouri in the Class of 2024 following a sophomore season where he contributed to the Falcons' 11-1 campaign and earned first-team all-conference and all-district honors. Bentrup racked up 53 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, seven sacks, three fumble recoveries and scored four total touchdowns, including three on defensive returns. He also added eight receptions for 25 yards and a score. <strong>Up next: </strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="275484" first="Quincy" last="Johnson"], Glendale</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="130188" first="Brian" last="Fitzmaurice"], Marquette</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="215752" first="Joseph" last="Anderson"], Westminster</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="130189" first="Jaiden" last="Vonner"], Cardinal Ritter</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="275547" first="Jonathan" last="Williams"], Joplin</strong> &nbsp; <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Prep Redzone Missouri 2024 Rankings Positional Breakdown</strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2024-rankings-update-quarterbacks/">Quarterbacks</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2024-rankings-update-running-backs/">Running Backs</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/01/missouri-2024-rankings-update-wide-receivers/">Wide Receivers</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/02/missouri-2024-rankings-update-tight-ends/">Tight Ends</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/02/missouri-2024-rankings-update-offensive-linemen/">Offensive Linemen</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/02/missouri-2024-rankings-update-defensive-linemen/">Defensive Linemen</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/02/missouri-2024-rankings-update-linebackers/">Linebackers</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/02/missouri-2024-rankings-update-defensive-backs/">Defensive Backs</a> | <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/02/missouri-2024-rankings-update-athletes/">Athletes</a></strong></p> &nbsp;