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

Read through the candidates and cast your vote

Kaleb Weikel (7) is one of the top linebackers in Minnesota in 2024 / Earl Ebensteiner

High School on SI continues to document the top players in Minnesota high school football in 2024. This week, we looked at the top linebackers in Minnesota.

Those athletes have been included in our poll for you to vote on who you think is best.

There are many worthy names on the list, so please read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will close on October 27 at 11:59 p.m. The poll is at the bottom of the page.

Editor’s note: Our corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. This poll is specifically for fans to vote on the players that have been nominated and in no way discredits any other player who may not be mentioned in our poll.

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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.

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