2025 Preston LB Ethan Likens Ethan Likens 5'10" | 205 lbs | LB Preston | 2025 State WV forced our hand for a bump in the rankings and now sits inside of the Top 150 of the 2025 class. He picked up his first offer from Fairmont State earlier this month and further helped his stock in our rankings by proving he’s a D2-caliber prospect. While his size and athleticism may not stand out as much as some higher-ranked linebackers on the list, Likens’ play on the field this season demanded a closer evaluation from us and a jump up the ranks. He totaled 118 tackles and 18 TFLs for the Knights and is your classic downhill run-stopping middle linebacker with a throwback play style. Likens is worthy of more D2 looks by signing day and could be a hidden gem for his future college program.

A linebacker to know this season from an often-overlooked program is 2025 Preston LB Ethan Likens Ethan Likens 5'10" | 205 lbs | LB Preston | 2025 State WV .

Likens has been on a tear this season for the Knights and is exactly the type of player you want in your college program. He may not be quite as big or as athletic as some other linebackers on this list, but Likens plays the position how it’s meant to be played and is a throwback type of player. Likens is a force in run defense between the tackles and is a highly physical run-stopper at the line of scrimmage. He’s a strong athlete with good pad level and will rarely let ball carriers fall forward. Likens packs a punch behind his pads and is a prospect who will be a steal if he falls to the D3 level.

14 tackles 4 TFLs 1 FF – FG block

2025 Preston LB Ethan Likens Ethan Likens 5'10" | 205 lbs | LB Preston | 2025 State WV put himself in contention for the PRZ WV Defensive Player of the Week with a big performance against Hampshire in a highly competitive game. Although the Knights fell just short to the Trojans, Likens had a great defensive game which saw him total 14 tackles including 4 for a loss and a forced fumble. He also blocked a field goal in the game and is a player who plays with maximum effort for 4 quarters. Likens does a great job fitting the run and is very stout between the tackles as your classic throwback middle linebacker type of athlete. He’ll put up some big stats this season and is a small college prospect to know who may force some D2 schools to give him serious looks.

2025 Preston linebacker Ethan Likens Ethan Likens 5'10" | 205 lbs | LB Preston | 2025 State WV is an underrated and under-the-radar LB prospect from an often overlooked program who is deserving of more recognition heading into his senior year. While he’s a touch undersized for the position, Likens has a fun junior tape worthy of checking out. The first clip of his junior film showcases his style of play perfectly with a blitz through the A gap finished with a thunderous hit through the ball carrier as soon as he takes the handoff. That one play personifies Likens as a high-effort, physical hard-nosed player which is apparent throughout his 2023 film. While he has some physical limitations compared to other linebacker prospects, Likens is the type of player you’d want in your program and a team leader who will make everyone around him better.

Likens will be a steal if he ends up at the D3 level but it wouldn’t be a surprise if a D2 program takes a chance on him depending on his measurables.