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.
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.
Tristan Holbrook, Sr., Belle Plaine
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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
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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.
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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.”
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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.”
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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
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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.
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“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.
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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.
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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
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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
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MINNESOTA PRESEASON ALL-STATE OFFENSE | DEFENSE
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Minnesota Timberwolves with a record of 15-14 and ranked ninth in the Western Conference match off against Houston Rockets with a record of 21-9 and ranked second in the Western Conference. The game is in Houston at 7 p.m. CST on Friday.
Houston aims to extend its three-game home winning streak.
The Rockets have gone 13-7 against Western Conference opponents. Houston ranks fifth in the NBA with 51.5 points in the paint led by Alperen Sengun averaging 12.5.
The Timberwolves have gone 12-9 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota scores 109.1 points and has outscored opponents by 2.2 points per game.
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The Rockets are shooting 44.3 percent from the field this season, 1.4 percentage points lower than the 45.7 percent the Timberwolves allow to opponents.
The Timberwolves are shooting 45.7 percent from the field, 2.2 percent higher than the 43.5 percent the Rockets’ opponents have shot this season.
A top performer for the Rockets is Sengun who is scoring 18.3 points per game with 10.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists.
The Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards is averaging 25.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and four assists.
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In the last ten games, the Rockets have held a record of 7-3, averaging 111.6 points, 49.3 rebounds, 21.1 assists, 6.9 steals and 5.7 blocks per game. The shooting average has been 44.6 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points per game.
For the Timberwolves’ last ten games, they have had an average of 6-4, averaging 105.2 points, 45.0 rebounds, 27.0 assists, 10.2 steals and 4.5 blocks per game. They have been shooting 44.6 percent from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.5 points.
Rockets’ Dillon Brooks has an ankle injury. Tari Eason is also on rest.
Timberwolves’ Daishen Nix and Luka Garza are out due to an ankle injuries. Joe Ingles is also injured.
Minnesota Timberwolves (15-14, ninth in the Western Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (21-9, second in the Western Conference)
Houston; Friday, 8 p.m. EST
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Rockets -1.5; over/under is 213.5
BOTTOM LINE: Houston hosts Minnesota aiming to extend its three-game home winning streak.
The Rockets have gone 13-7 against Western Conference opponents. Houston ranks fifth in the NBA with 51.5 points in the paint led by Alperen Sengun averaging 12.5.
The Timberwolves have gone 12-9 against Western Conference opponents. Minnesota scores 109.1 points and has outscored opponents by 2.2 points per game.
The Rockets are shooting 44.3% from the field this season, 1.4 percentage points lower than the 45.7% the Timberwolves allow to opponents. The Timberwolves are shooting 45.7% from the field, 2.2% higher than the 43.5% the Rockets’ opponents have shot this season.
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TOP PERFORMERS: Sengun is scoring 18.3 points per game with 10.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists for the Rockets.
Anthony Edwards is averaging 25.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and four assists for the Timberwolves.
LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 7-3, averaging 111.6 points, 49.3 rebounds, 21.1 assists, 6.9 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.7 points per game.
Timberwolves: 6-4, averaging 105.2 points, 45.0 rebounds, 27.0 assists, 10.2 steals and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 44.6% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 100.5 points.
INJURIES: Rockets: Dillon Brooks: day to day (ankle), Tari Eason: day to day (rest).
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Timberwolves: Daishen Nix: out (ankle), Joe Ingles: day to day (soleus), Luka Garza: out (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Minnesota woman saves two owls on two separate occasions – CBS Minnesota
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Coincidence or divine intervention? For two owls in Minnesota, it was perhaps a bit of both. WCCO’s John Lauritsen introduces us to the woman who saved not one, but two owls, in two separate instances.
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