Rivals Rankings Week: Breaking down the 2025 linebacker rankings

With the updated 2025 Rivals250 being unveiled Tuesday, it is time to dive into the place rankings. The defensive place rankings are being launched at the moment and subsequent up are the linebackers.

Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng goes to be critical about teachers when working by means of his recruitment as he has household connections to Notre Dame – since his brother performed there and the Irish are recruiting him actually onerous – and he simply booked an official go to in June to Stanford.

However these will not be the one packages concerned because the Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy standout can also be critical about Ohio State, Texas and plenty of others pursuing him.

There may very well be a number of motion by means of this recruiting cycle at linebacker however there’s little question Owusu-Boateng is particular. He’s rocked up however not stiff in any respect, can play in house or downhill, can get sideline-to-sideline or put the harm on a working again or quarterback making an attempt to get to the sting.

If at the moment’s linebacker must be bodily and quick, then Owusu-Boateng positively deserves high billing proper now.

Noah Mikhail‘s visits: Alabama, Texas A&M, Oregon, Nebraska and Notre Dame will all get visits by mid-April however the final one to USC is the one to look at. The Trojans have been a front-runner for a very long time and the La Verne (Calif.) Bonita standout has not hid that. Nonetheless, the others positively curiosity him and can get a good shot as he works by means of his busy go to schedule.

Darrell Johnson transferring up: After an exceptional junior season on either side of the ball and a unbelievable displaying on the Underneath Armour Atlanta camp, Johnson has moved all the best way as much as No. 49 within the Rivals250. It may not be sufficient. Alabama, Florida State, Tennessee and UCF are highest now however the Eastman (Ga.) Dodge County standout is visiting Georgia quickly and if/when the Bulldogs supply, every thing may change.

Zayden Walker lock for Georgia?: The consensus pondering is that in some unspecified time in the future Walker will decide to Georgia and he could have famous person potential with the Bulldogs. However why has it not occurred but? Florida State and South Carolina amongst many others are nonetheless making an attempt with Walker (his teammate Jalewis Solomon signed with the Gamecocks final recruiting cycle) however the sense is that he’s completely Georgia’s to lose.

Tyler Lockhart blowing up: Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and LSU are the 4 latest provides for the four-star linebacker from Winona, Miss., and it doesn’t get significantly better than that. After reviewing junior season movie, which could be very spectacular, and seeing him in individual, Lockhart has athleticism, size and a bodily edge. He wore a Mississippi State shirt to a celebration over the weekend and the video type of went viral. That’s when you recognize Lockhart hit the big-time.

1. Penn State: It’s early after all however the Nittany Lions are the one program with three vital linebacker commits within the 2025 class with DJ McClary, Alex Tatsch and Dayshaun Burnett, all four-stars, main the best way. It’s an exceptional begin for Penn State which already has 12 complete commitments.

2. Miami: The dedication of Elijah Melendez was large for Miami as a result of different powers all through the Southeast and the nation had been after the hard-hitting four-star linebacker. He’s enjoying at Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola however he’s initially from Colorado so a extra nationwide method to recruiting may’ve occurred. Melendez is taking visits so the Hurricanes nonetheless have some work however he’s an excellent begin.

3. LSU: Keylan Moses grew up an LSU fan, he goes to highschool at Baton Rouge (La.) College Lab which is on LSU’s campus and he dedicated to the Tigers in November. His brother, Dylan, was a star linebacker years in the past and whereas Moses performs inside, he’s a bit longer and rangier than his brother – and possibly hits tougher, too. LSU is off to an excellent begin with Moses’ dedication and it ought to solely construct from right here.

4. Texas A&M: There may not be a extra jacked-up, physically-impressive linebacker within the 2025 class than Kelvion Riggins, the primary linebacker to commit this recruiting cycle to educate Mike Elko and his workers. Tennessee and Georgia had been the opposite ones to look at however as soon as coach Jay Bateman moved over to the Aggies, the Forney, Texas, standout acquired locked up.

5. Auburn: A pair recruiting cycles in the past, Auburn flipped five-star defensive finish Keldric Faulk from Florida State. Now the Tigers have his brother, four-star linebacker Jakaleb Faulk dedicated, and the Seminoles try to flip him there. It’s in all probability unlikely that it occurs and Auburn will get each Faulk brothers because the Tigers have landed the most effective within the class.