Benilde-St. Margaret’s LB Chase Brixius rose his stock from #55 to #15 overall.

Nice little 40-spot jump for the Benilde-St. Margaret’s 6’2, 215 lb. LB Chase Brixius, who is leading one of the most talented packs of graduating classes between their 2025 and 2026 prospects. With good size, P5 bloodlines with his dad and grandpa playing for the Golden Gophers, and a ton of 5A Metro production as a junior (157 tackles [53 solo], 15 TFLs, 5 sacks, 5 FFs), things are already looking good for Brixius on paper, and behind the scenes, this dude had a monster offseason that really contributed to his on-field success and rankings bump.

A couple factors were at play here: 1) he moved from a part-time, hand-in-the-dirt 5T/standup EDGE to an off-ball, inside LB role that really has showcased and highlighted his play speed and range

2) Brixius still was a big hitter, but the work he put in the weight room this past offseason has allowed him to really dominate and excel at the contact point and finish hits and tackles he had a bit more trouble getting to the ground in 2022

and

3) the speed has definitely increased.

He still was ranked highly, but a big offseason in the weight room really has put him on the map in the discussion of top linebackers in the Upper Midwest. In the 215 lbers. junior tape, the speed pops out on tape first, as Brixius resembles a heat-seeking missile straight out of his stance and can pursue and close with pace, and I really like his acceleration and ability to go 0-60 right off a dead stop. He’s got the strength to beat interior linemen with power moves on blitzes and put a few well-built OGs on their butts in shocking fashion at the LOS, and he’s a violent and physical form tackler and a thumper at the contact point who puts his hat on the ball, hence the impressive FF numbers from 2023. 6’2, 215 coming at like you like a truck will really do damage and he looks and plays the part of a FBS and potentially P5 linebacker prospect, and Brixius is a real deal sideline-to-sideline kid with his best football in front of him. Miami (OH), UNI, Western Illinois, and South Dakota State have pulled the trigger so far and Brixius has the Minnesota Junior Day coming up, as well as a visit to Ames to see the Cyclones.

Brixius possesses several attributes that will set him apart from other linebackers next season. His remarkable quickness off the ball, complemented by his strength as a powerful hitter, gives him a clear advantage when attacking the line of scrimmage. His natural instincts and ability to read plays showcase a high football IQ and great understanding of the game. Combining that with his explosiveness downhill allows him to recognize and disrupt plays as they unfold. Brixius’s agility is evident in his loose hips and great footwork, highlighting his overall athleticism. His football IQ shines through when he reads the quarterback’s eyes. He’s quick to recognize what the offense is giving him, as he makes smart decisions when triggering downhill and is strategic in his approach. In summary, Brixius combines quickness, power, instinct, and athleticism, making him a valuable asset on the defensive side of the ball.

The other half of the physical linebacking tandem from Benilde-St. Margaret’s 2025 class, 6’2, 215 lber. Chase Brixius has heard from Wisconsin, Miami (OH), and NDSU since August 1st and will receive a lot more collegiate attention if he can build on his 2022 campaign with the Red Knights. Another hard hitter and physical presence in the middle of the BSM defense, Brixius can put his hand in the dirt and man the DE spot at times and does his best work inside the box, where he thrives on the physicality and shows off a solid punch that attacks and shed blocks well, sometimes even multiple in a single rep. He’s one of the harder hitters in the state and the ’25 class and has the pace and motor to pursue and run down loose ball carriers downfield when needed. Brixius is patient when reading the play and tracking the football, doesn’t allow ball carriers to earn extra yardage once he gets ahold of them, and is a big-time asset in run defense. The two 6’2, 215 lbers. are going to have a field day against the run in 2023, and their versatile and differing skill sets will make them hard to take off the field. Bounceback szn for BSM is already underway!

The second half of the aforementioned Red Knights dynamic sophomore LB duo, 6’2.5″, 205 lber. Chase Brixius found success from a two-point stance or with his hand in the dirt and is noticeably physical and thrives in 1-on-1 tackling situations when he can enforce his will. He made some grown man hits in 2022 that froze ball carriers flat in their tracks or sent them flying on special teams, and I like how he tracks the ball and works through traffic to locate and end a play. Good motor on him and brings versatility to the LB position. Still growing and will be even more of a hammer in 2023. BSM is on the up-and-up.

6’2, 205 lb. DE/LB. Brixius is one of many Benilde 2025ers to get excited about as he got a ton of varsity action in 2022 and laid some big hits in the process. Playing as a DE from a three or two-point stance as well as at MLB, Brixius is long and forceful, possessing the strength to work off blocks from offensive lineman around the box and the mobility to break down and make great tackles in space. Brixius is impressive at the point of contact and laid more than his fair share of powerful hits on unfortunate RBs and QBs. His sophomore tape is a good one and his future at either DE or MLB looks bright. You got a fan in me, Chase!