A Very Deep 2025 Linebacker Group - Prep Redzone (2024)

It was a little over a year ago that Marcus James Marcus James 6'3" | LB Carl Albert | 2025 State OK moved from Bishop McGuinness to rival Carl Albert. James has been one of the better prospects in the state’s 2025 class but his recruitment has absolutely exploded in the last 12 months. He truly became one of the elite prospects in the state’s class and while we’ve had him listed as an athlete in the last several updates, it was time to move him to the linebacker position, where he’ll play at the next level. Last fall, he gave a commitment to Oklahoma and has stayed loyal to the Sooners ever since. He’s still going to be one of the better two-way players to watch in Class 5A this fall but his future is definitely on defense.

Putnam City linebacker Brayden Knox Brayden Knox 6'3" | LB Putnam City | 2025 State OK checks just about every box that you want from the linebacker position. Knox emerged as a prospect to watch in the state’s 2024 class following his sophom*ore season and his recruitment has been very steady ever since. He’s a prospect that will end up at the next level and we’re looking forward to where that ends up being. He’s going to have options as he’s been offered by multiple programs and it’s easy to see why when you throw on the film. Knox is in a similar physical mold to James where he immediately passes the eye test as soon as he steps on the field. He stood out to us in person at our camp earlier this year and is primed for a big 2024 season.

Millwood linebacker Cameron Carter Cameron Carter 6'1" | LB Millwood | 2025 State OK has been a player on our radar since his performance in the 2022 state championship game. Last season, Carter elevated his game even more and became one of Millwood’s options at the running back position. But when it comes down to Carter as a prospect, he is your prototypical middle or inside linebacker that is devastating in the run game and can also help get after the passer. That part was made evident with his play in that state title game. Carter is a physical player that loves to hit and he does a good job of tracking a play and getting from point A to point B in a hurry. Look for Carter to have another very productive season this fall.

DJ Strother DJ Strother 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Union | 2025 State OK is going to be an interesting linebacker to watch this season because he is making the jump from 2A football to 6A-1 football. He was a three-year starter for Beggs and was one of the more productive linebackers in the class and it began his freshman season. Now, he’s at Union and looking to have that similar impact at Union. If he’s able to carry over that production and have that same impact at the 6A-1 level, any questions about him playing at the next level are erased. First off, he can play at the next level because he can do some things on the field that others can’t and has been consistent in that. But if he has another strong season, look for his stock to go up this fall.

Pocola’s AJ Lyons-Jerrell AJ Lyons-Jerrell 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Pocola | 2025 State OK is a new prospect to our linebacker rankings but he’s not new to the 2025 rankings as a whole. The Pocola standout has been listed as a running back, athlete and now linebacker because he’s one of the more versatile small-school standouts in the class. But it’s looking more and more like Jerrell could end up playing at the next level at the linebacker position. And it makes sense after we’ve watched him play running back because the kid runs hard and he’s incredibly physical. When you look at his production over the last three years, there aren’t many other guys that can touch what he’s been able to do. So we aren’t overlooking him playing defense.