Top 20 linebackers in Minnesota high school football in 2024

Emmanuel Karmo highlights a talented group of linebackers in Minnesota high school football

Chanhassen's Carter Carstens makes a tackle in the 2023 Class 5A Prep Bowl / Jeff Lawler

High School on SI rolls on with our coverage of the top players in Minnesota high school football. This week, we look at the top linebackers in the state.

There are many talented athletes who are not listed, and this list is in no particular order.

• Top 25 Minnesota high school football rankings (10/7/2024)

The following athletes will be included in a poll for you to vote on who you think is the top linebacker in Minnesota high school football in 2024. The poll will be posted on Monday.

Top Linebackers in Minnesota High School Football

Tristan Holbrook, Sr., Belle Plaine

Holbrook has many accolades. He has been a team captain for the past two seasons, and he was first-team all-district in 2023. He had 110 total tackles as well. He is committed to Bemidji State. 

“He is the heart and soul of our program, along with being our best player,” head coach Dave Frisell said. “Great student, great character, great player.”

Lavontae Cox, Sr., St. Paul Central

More notable as a running back, Cox is still a top outside linebacker, and he had 75 tackles in 2023. He is a great athlete who impacts both sides of the ball. 

Emmanuel Karmo, Sr., Robbinsdale Cooper

A hybrid edge/linebacker, Karmo has fantastic reaction time to disrupt any offense. He’s the kind of rangy linebacker that modern defenses are looking for in college, which is why he has 18 collegiate offers, according to 247sports.com. Karmo is committed to Minnesota.

Damian Devine, Sr., Academy of Holy Angels

Devine is a great all-around athlete, and he also plays quarterback for the Stars. Devine has 20 total tackles and one interception through four games in 2024. As a linebacker, he shows his range in pass coverage where he might also be valuable as a safety at Villanova, where he is committed to playing college football. 

Chase Brixius, Sr., Benilde-St. Margaret’s 

Brixius has 43 total tackles in 2024 in just five games. He also has five tackles for loss as a middle linebacker. He fills the gap in the defensive line and rarely misses a tackle. He is committed to North Dakota State.

Blake Schiltz, Sr., Pine Island

Schiltz suffered an ACL injury earlier in his career, but he continues to play high level football for Pine Island. As a middle linebacker, Schiltz can stonewall any runner. He is committed to North Dakota State.

Mason Bosel, Sr., Parkers Prairie

Through his four-year career, Bosel has 2027 tackles, 162 solo tackles, seven sacks, 15 tackles for a loss, three fumbles recovered and two forced fumbles. 

“Mason Boesl demonstrates what it looks like to be an outstanding student-athlete,” Parkers Prairie head coach Mike Johnson said. “Mason's calm demeanor and intense competitiveness make him a good player, but his love for the game, his leadership, and his relentless effort at all times make him a great player.”

Jacob Wrbanek, Sr., Maple Grove

Another player committed to North Dakota State, as a preferred walk-on, Wrbanek has 25 solo tackles, three tackles for loss and three sacks through the first four weeks of the season. 

Kane Thompson, Jr., International Falls

Thompson is a middle linebacker and team captain in 2024. He had 68 solo tackles in 2023 and four fumble recoveries along with one interception and one sack. 

“Kane is a "yes sir, thank you" kind of kid,” International Falls head coach Seth Ettestad said. “He likes to be swaggy, but when it comes down to it, he's kind, patient, and humble. He's already big bodied and figuring out how to use it. He's triggering faster and faster at linebacker. He’s in the weight room every day in the offseason. Sometimes twice a day. I can’t wait to see what he does for us over the next two seasons.”

Dylan Hudgens, Sr., Minnetonka

Hudgens is everywhere for a stout Skippers’ defense. He has an impressive 71 total tackles in six games. He leads Minnetonka with 12 tackles for loss, as well. Hudgens is committed to South Dakota.

Kaleb Weikel, Sr., Andover

Through six games, Weikel is the clear playmaker for Andover. He has 65 total tackles, 31 solo, through 6 games as well as nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Carter Carstens, Sr., Chanhassen

Carstens is always around the ball for the Storm defense. He leads the team with 49 total tackles, and he has six total tackles, 0.5 sacks and one forced fumble through six games. He is committed to St. Thomas. 

Zach Welch, Sr., Anoka

Welch had a strong 2023 season with 77 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss and two sacks. Through 2024, he has 21 total tackles and two forced fumbles while also playing running back for Anoka.

Atlee Hershberger, Sr., Fillmore Central

Hershberger had 45 tackles with seven of them for a loss. He was an all-district team member in 2024, and he is a team captain in 2024.

“Atlee has been involved with our program since the 4th grade as a manager.  He is a hard working, physical athlete,” Fillmore Central head coach Chris Mensink said. “He  is a leader on the offensive line and in the middle of our defense.”

Aidan Boche, Jr., Park

Boche leads Park of Cottage Grove in total tackles in 2024 with 44 through six games. He commands the center of the defense and has great instincts to find the ball. 

Calan Pilon, Jr., Robbinsdale Armstrong

Pilon has great speed on the edge to get to the opposing quarterback. He is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss through seven games with six. 

John Pietruszewski, Sr., Hill-Murray

Pietruszewski is one of Hill-Murray’s top players on defense.

“John is a very good athlete and one of the toughest football players on the team,” Hill-Murray head coach Robert Reeves said. “He started as a sophomore on varsity.  He’s a three-sport athlete — football, basketball, baseball.

Chase Evink, Sr., Hancock

Evenk is a great athlete who stars as a running back as well. He has 29 total tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks through six games. He is committed to North Dakota State. 

Frank McAninch, Sr., Mankato West

McAninch had a strong junior season with 50 solo tackles and 21 tackles for loss. In 2024, he has 40 solo tackles and 11 tackles for loss through six games. He is committed to North Dakota.

Eli Klimek, Sr., Nevis

Klimek is a stats machine. He has 69 total tackles, 48 solo, in six games in 2024. In 2023, he had 134 tackles and three sacks for the 9-man Prep Bowl champions.

---

More Minnesota high school football coverage from High School on SI

Vote: Who is the top defensive lineman in Minnesota high school football in 2024?

Vote: Who is the top offensive lineman in Minnesota high school football in 2024?

Top 20 receivers and tight ends in Minnesota high school football

Top 20 running backs in Minnesota high school football

Top quarterbacks in Minnesota high school football in 2024

MINNESOTA PRESEASON ALL-STATE OFFENSE | DEFENSE

Minnesota high school football: Predicted order of finish for each section in Class 5A

Minnesota high school football: Predicted order of finish for each section in Class 6A

---

Download the SBLive App

To get live updates on your phone - as well as follow your favorite teams and top games - you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App