We’ve written this a few times in regards to Bethel but we really like the talent they have in the 2025 class and it starts with Austin Melson Austin Melson 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Bethel | 2025 State OK at the linebacker position. Like a few other 2025 standouts, Melson has been starting for the Wildcats since he was a freshman and not only has he been a starter, he’s been one of their more productive players. As a freshman, he totaled well over 100 tackles on the season. Last year, he would do it again as he finished with over 100 tackles and as the Wildcats look for a way to replace John Allred, we think that Melson fills that gap and becomes the team’s leading tackler and an extension of the coaching staff on the field. Melson has a nose for the football and he’s proven it already with his first two years at the varsity level.

Bethel has a pair of 2025 prospects that are some of the more experienced in the state when it comes to that class. And on the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Austin Melson Austin Melson 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Bethel | 2025 State OK leads the way for them. Fellow sophomore Bryce Tapley Bryce Tapley 6'0" | 145 lbs | QB Bethel | 2025 OK leads the way on offense at the quarterback position but Melson is quickly turning into the leader of this Bethel defense. The first thing that jumps off the charts with Melson is his production. Melson has started since his freshman season and it looks like it as he has over 200 career tackles already in the last two seasons. Melson routinely looks like one of the more experienced players on the field from clip to clip. Like many middle linebackers that have that kind of production, it’s also very evident that Melson loves to hit and he’s a hard hitter on the Bethel defense. And when Melson hits an opponent, that opponent goes down as he’s a sure-tackler when he gets locked on to an opponent. Melson checks a lot of the boxes and as he improves his quickness and overall athleticism, he’ll grab plenty of attention.

One of the first linebackers in the state’s 2025 class that we knew about was Bethel linebacker Austin Melson Austin Melson 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Bethel | 2025 State OK . For the second straight season, Melson finished with over 100 tackles after having a breakout season in 2021 as a freshman. Melson is your prototypical inside or middle linebacker and he does a good job of finding his way to the football. That’s apparent from the tackling numbers and then when you throw on the film his game is that throwback style. Bethel has a few prospects in that 2025 class that got on our radar during their freshman seasons and Melson is part of that group. We’re interested to see what his future is in terms of his recruitment. If Melson has another 100+ tackle season this fall as a junior, it will be hard to deny him as one of the better linebacker prospects in the class.

Bethel is going to be a fun team to watch moving forward because despite losing some key playmakers from last year’s team, they also started a pair of freshmen in linebacker Austin Melson Austin Melson 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Bethel | 2025 State OK and quarterback Bryce Tapley Bryce Tapley 6'0" | 145 lbs | QB Bethel | 2025 OK . Those two can be the cornerstones of what the Wildcats do over the next few season. In Melson’s first season as a starter, he finished with well over 100 tackles on the season. The Bethel coaches can’t say enough about Melson, who they trusted as a middle linebacker as a freshman. There aren’t too many other players that are in that same position. So far this season, it looks like Melson should end up with over 100 tackles for the second straight year as he’s averaging right around ten tackles per game. We’re wanting to see more of Melson in person to get a gauge of his true size on the field. When it comes to his production, he’s been one of the more productive defensive players in the class.