Oklahoma high school football: Here are the top linebackers for the 2023 season

Several linebackers in the state already picking up multiple college offers

High school football in Oklahoma has already begun, and there are several linebackers who have already made some amazing plays and have received multiple college offers. 

Here is the list of some of the top linebackers who are taking the field in 2023.

Oklahoma's Top Players To Watch in 2023

Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Receivers/Tight Ends | Offensive Linemen | Defensive Linemen 

Connor Cavnar, 5-11, 200, Sr., Westmoore

Cavnar is a solid two-sport athlete and made many plays for the Jaguars last season. He tallied 186 tackles and 36 of those tackles were for a loss. He also had eight sacks, two interceptions and recovered three fumbles. Recently, he received an offer to play football for the Colorado School of Mines.

Hank Puckett, 5-11, 200, Sr., Bixby

Puckett was a difference maker for the Spartans in 2022, who dominated their first season in 6AI. He made 128 total tackles and 58 of those were solo. He also recorded 15 tackles for a loss and five sacks. A fun fact about Puckett is his brother, Jack Puckett, was voted the head captain of the University of Central Oklahoma football team.

Cord Nolan, 6-1, 195, So., Bixby

As a freshman, Nolan got some playing time and he made the most of it. He played in 12 games and recorded 23 tackles, five tackles for a loss. He also tallied two sacks for the Spartans and is looking for a huge sophomore season. Nolan is a two-sport athlete, as he also plays baseball.

Lane Condry, 6-4, 225, Sr., Broken Arrow

Condry plays outside linebacker for the Tigers. During his junior season, he recorded 81 total tackles. 56 of those solo, with 25 assists and seven tackles for loss. He scored two defensive touchdowns, with a fumble recovery and a pick-six. He also tallied three sacks.

Behr Boyd, 5-10, 195, Jr., Norman

Boyd was terrific during his junior year for the Tigers, as he made 107 total tackles. Eight of those tackles were sacks and 13 of those were tackles for a loss. He also recovered a fumble and had an interception.

Jace Hager, 5-9, 185, Jr., Jenks

Hager will be a junior this year and played some incredible football as a sophomore for the Trojans. As a sophomore, he tallied 57 solo tackles and 49 assisted tackles. He disrupted the backfield too, with five tackles for a loss and three sacks, showing he is not afraid to get his nose dirty.

Lance Eubanks, 6-0, 200, Sr., Norman

Eubanks was and will be a difference maker, as he tallied 81 tackles for the Tigers. He was disruptive in the backfield, with a tackle for loss and a sack. He also caused three fumbles and recovered one of those fumbles.

Brayden Knox 6-3, 220, So., Putnam City 

Knox started in eight games as a freshman. He had 59 total tackles, with 13 of those being solo tackles. He averaged 7.4 tackles per game and tallied one sack. Knox wants to have another big season and the Pirates are looking for a better season, as they finished with a record of 4-7.

Brayden Northington, 6-3, 218, Sr., Tahlequah

Northington tallied 61 tackles last season. Nine of those tackles were for a loss and he also caught one interception. He also plays tight end for the Tigers and scored seven touchdowns.

Colyn Donnelly, 6-2, 210, Jr., Elgin

Donnelly led the team in tackling last season, recording 141 total tackles. Seven of those were for a loss. Along with the many tackles, he also had one interception and a defensive touchdown. Donnelly started eight games as a freshman.

Carmello Williamson, 6-3, 185, So., Tulsa Nathan Hale

As a freshman, Williamson made 55 tackles, with eight of those being tackles for a loss. He also sacked the quarterback four times. Despite not winning a single game last year, Williamson looks to have another breakout season to give the Rangers a win.

Kingston Tito, 6-2, 235, Sr., Lawton Eisenhower

Tito is a two-way player, and plays tight end for the Eagles. Eisenhower went 2-8 last season and has not made the playoffs since 2020. Tito looks to be a difference maker on both sides of the ball, in its final season in Class 5A, as Eisenhower is moving up to Class 6AII next season. Tito has two DI offers from Tulsa and Abilene Christian.

Brogan Hardy, 6-2, 225, Sr., Piedmont

Hardy was a tackling machine for the Wildcats, as he recorded 230 tackles during his junior year. He also forced four fumbles and one interception. He is a two-sport athlete, as he wrestles and has received an offer to play football for the University of Central Oklahoma.

Connor Muldowney, 6-0, 200, Sr., Cache

Muldowney was a big part of Cache’s defense last season, as he recorded 89 tackles - 12 of those tackles for a loss - and he also tallied two sacks. He also played running back and rushed for 993 yards on 234 carries. He scored 16 touchdowns as well.

Witt Edwards, 6-6, 205, Sr., Wagoner

Edwards not only shines on the football field, but also shines on the wrestling mat, too. But for football, he not only plays linebacker, but also plays some tight end and wide receiver. Edwards helped lead his team to a state championship win against Cushing, as he recovered one fumble and made many tackles. The two sport athlete has several DI football offers, but recently committed to play in the SEC at Vanderbilt.

Fisher Marr, 6-1, 195, Sr., Ada

Marr tallied 71.5 tackles for the Cougars. He also recorded one interception and three sacks. In the season opener against Durant, he made 15 total tackles. He also plays some running back for the Cougars.

George Mattox, 6-3, 197, Sr., Ada

Mattox played lots of minutes last season. He made 58 tackles and had one sack. Like his teammate Marr, he also tallied 15 total tackles against Durant and Ada won the game, 14-7.

Austin Melson, 6-0, 205, Jr., Bethel

Melson was outstanding for the Wildcats. Last season, he accounted for 106 tackles. Three of those tackles were for a loss and he also had one interception.

Bryce Graham, 6-1, 205, Sr., Christian Heritage Academy

Graham led the team in tackles last season, as he tallied 150. Of those, 34 were tackles for a loss. He sacked the quarterback 15 times and had an interception.

Micho Lavine, 6-1, 195, Sr., Oklahoma City Millwood

The North Texas commit was outstanding on his team, recording 61 tackles, along with eight forced fumbles and 9.5 sacks for last season's Class 2A runner-up squad. Lavine also played running back too, as he scored 10 touchdowns and recorded 665 rushing yards.

Ruben Vega, 6-0, 195, Sr., Luther

Vega is a stud for the Lions. He recorded 113 tackles as a junior and 15 of those tackles were for a loss. He also achieved six sacks and three interceptions and three scoop-and-scores.

Kaden Rice, 6-1, 200, Jr., Eufaula

Rice has made several plays as an underclassman for Eufaula. He has tallied 86 tackles and four sacks. He also plays wide receiver and scored eight touchdowns last season alone.

Noah Wilson, 6-3, 235, Sr., Pawhuska

Wilson made 93 tackles and five tackles for a loss. He also recorded two sacks and an interception. On offense, he plays tight end and recorded 15 receptions for 140 yards and even took one back to the house for a touchdown.

Austin Davis, 5-11, 249, Sr., Keys

Davis recorded 77 solo tackles last season and led the team in tackles. A fun fact about Davis is that he has started every game since he was a freshman.

Photo of Bixby's Hank Puckett from his X page

-- Josh Jennings | @SBLiveOK