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 has one of the deepest talent pools of multi-sport stars in the country.
Think about it — where else do you have someone winning multiple gymnastics and diving championships? Where do you have a baseball star hitting .600 while throwing for 6,000 yards as quarterback? Where do you have NBA players who were football champions?
Minnesota’s talent is as deep as its lakes, and we are looking to answer a question: Who is the best all-time Minnesota high school athlete? Who best defines the state’s prep environment?
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As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY is launching its 250 for 250 series, looking to answer that question by celebrating the best athletes from each state.
From fans’ votes, five athletes will be selected to represent the state as legends who have defined high school sports.
With that in mind, here are the Minnesota high school athlete nominees. The 15 players (listed in alphabetical order) were all standouts at the high school level.
Paige Bueckers, Girls Basketball, Hopkins High School (Minnetonka)
“Remember the name: Paige Bueckers. 6th grade, think Diana Taurasi.” Maybe the most prescient analysis of a sixth-grader ever. By high school, Bueckers was a clear superstar, joining the Hopkins varsity team as an eighth-grader and eventually establishing herself as the best player in the class. She is Hopkins’ all-time leader in points (2,877), assists (795), and steals (574), and won a championship with the program.
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Jessie Diggins, Cross-Country Skier, Stillwater Area High School
Jessie Diggins spent six years competing for Stillwater Area High School, winning the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) individual pursuit championship three times and helping her team win the state meet in 2008 and 2010. She won the U.S. Junior National Sprint title in 2009 and is today a four-time Olympic medalist.
Bailey DuPay, Girls Diving, Gymnastics, Track and Field, Northfield High School
Bailey DuPay’s resume is undeniable. She’s a multi-time champion in two different sports — the first gymnast to win three straight Class 2A all-around titles and a three-time one-meter diving champion. She competed on the swim & dive team at Minnesota State.
Mark Hall II, Boys Wrestling, Apple Valley High School
Mark Hall II was the first wrestler to win six individual state championships. In leading Apple Valley to six team titles, he also became the first wrestler to win 12 combined state championships. He went 277-4 over his career, had 171 consecutive wins, and had 189 career pins, according to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
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Maria Hauger, Cross Country, Track and Field, Shakopee High School
Maria Hauger was the first runner to win four Class AA state championships. For those efforts, she was a four-time Minnesota Gatorade Cross Country Athlete of the Year. The success didn’t stop there; she won four championships in track and field, including the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races, according to MSHSL.
Chet Holmgren, Boys Basketball, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis)
Part of an all-time Minnehaha dynasty alongside Jalen Suggs, Chet Holmgren helped the team win four championships and was named the National Player of the Year by several outlets as a senior, when he averaged 21 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.
Tyus Jones, Boys Basketball, Apple Valley High School
One of the greatest Minnesota high school boys basketball players of all time, Tyus Jones was a three-time Minnesota Boys Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year and led Apple Valley to a state championship. As a senior, he averaged 25.6 points, 8.1 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game.
Joe Mauer, Baseball, Football, Boys Basketball, Cretin-Derham Hall High School (St. Paul)
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It’s tough to find a more accomplished high school career than Joe Mauer. He was the first athlete to be named USA TODAY High School Player of the Year in two different sports, which he did in football and baseball. Over two years on the gridiron, he passed for almost 6,000 yards and 73 touchdowns, winning two championships. In baseball, he struck out only once in his entire high school career, hitting .567 with 43 home runs. As a senior, he batted .605, hit a home run in seven straight games, and led his team to the championship.
Kevin McHale, Boys Basketball, Hibbing High School
The future NBA Hall of Famer had roots in Minnesota, where Kevin McHale was named Minnesota Mr. Basketball as a senior and led Hibbing to a championship game appearance. He had a 13-year career with the Boston Celtics, where he won three NBA championships.
Paul Molitor, Baseball, Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Cretin-Derham Hall High School
Paul Molitor was a versatile athlete, named to the all-state teams in baseball and boys basketball, and a champion in baseball, basketball, and soccer, according to SABR. He attended the University of Minnesota and played in seven MLB All-Star Games.
Gable Steveson, Boys Wrestling, Apple Valley High School
Gable Steveson dominated the wrestling circuit of Minnesota. He won four state titles and holds the highest winning percentage in state history, with a record of 210-3 (98.59%). According to the University of Minnesota, his final two championships lasted for a combined 28 seconds.
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Jalen Suggs, Boys Basketball, Football, Minnehaha Academy
Jalen Suggs is known for basketball, but he was a star two-sport athlete at Minnehaha, becoming the first athlete in the state’s history to be named Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football in the same year, and was named the National MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year as a senior. He led the football team to a championship and the basketball team to three straight titles.
Whitney Taney, Girls Tennis, Edina High School
All Whitney Taney did in high school was win. That’s not an exaggeration — she went 166-0 over her career (150-0 in singles, 16-0 in doubles) while losing only two sets en route to five championships between singles and doubles play, per her University of Michigan bio.
Lindsay Whalen, Girls Basketball, Hutchinson High School
One of the most influential girls basketball players in Minnesota, Lindsay Whalen was a four-time All-Missota Conference player, a four-time honorable mention on the All-State team, and led Hutchinson to three conference championships. She scored 1,996 points in her career.
Dave Winfield, Baseball, Boys Basketball, Football, St. Paul Central High School
Dave Winfield excelled in three sports in high school, leading to his recruitment to play baseball and basketball at the University of Minnesota. He went on to be a 12-time MLB All-Star and Hall of Famer.
Authorities say a Minnesota man charged with helping to orchestrate a $250 million fraud scheme has been taken into custody in Somalia.
Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, of Burnsville, Minnesota, was taken into custody Thursday in Mogadishu, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said in a news release. Court documents do not show if Eidleh has obtained an attorney, and he has not yet had an opportunity to enter a plea in the case.
Eidleh is one of dozens of people who were indicted in 2022 in connection with what prosecutors said was a massive scheme to defraud a federal meals program.
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According to court documents, Eidleh was an employee of Feeding Our Future, an organization that claimed it helped provide millions of meals to children in need during the pandemic under a federal child nutrition program. But prosecutors say just a small portion of the federal money went toward feeding kids, with the rest laundered through shell companies and spent on property, luxury cars and travel.
Eidleh is accused of creating fake child nutrition program sites, falsely claiming they were feeding thousands of children a day and creating shell companies that purported to be meal vendors at the sites. The indictment charges him with 31 counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering.
Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Department of Justice’s National Fraud Enforcement Division said Eidleh was a central figure in “one of the largest fraud schemes in Minnesota history.”
“He not only stole taxpayer dollars, but he also robbed vulnerable children of critical resources they desperately needed. Rather than answer for his crimes in the United States, he fled to Somalia in a futile attempt to evade justice,” McDonald said.
President Donald Trump pointed to the fraud case as part of his justification for launching a massive immigration crackdown in Minnesota late last year.
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In 2026, Pittsburgh gets the bragging rights for the nation’s Best Fourth of July Celebration, as determined by voters in USA Today 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards.
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Early voting for Minnesota’s 2026 primary elections began on Friday, 46 days ahead of the official Aug. 11 election.
Voters will decide on nominees for governor, an open U.S. Senate seat, and all state legislative positions.
Minnesotans can vote absentee by mail or in person at designated early voting locations.
Voting in Minnesota’s 2026 primary elections began Friday morning, 46 days before the official Aug. 11 Primary Election Day.
Minnesotans confront a hugely important midterm election in the fall, when all constitutional offices, an open U.S. Senate seat, a highly competitive congressional district and the Legislature will be on the ballot. Control of both state government and Congress are at stake.
Before then, however, the parties will choose their nominees in a bevy of competitive races that will shape the fall election.
We don’t have party registration in Minnesota, which means anyone can vote in the primary.
Following the sweep of a progressive slate in several New York primaries this week, political analysts will be closely watching voters’ preferences, which will set the stage for the second half of President Donald Trump’s second term.
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Here’s what you need to know.
Which races are on the ballot in Minnesota?
Every Minnesota citizen will have the opportunity to vote for statewide offices including governor and lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general, auditor and U.S. Senator.
For this primary election, you can only vote for candidates from one political party. Your ballot will have Democrats on one column, and Republicans on the other. Choose one! If you vote for candidates from more than one political party, your votes will not count. You decide when you vote which one of the parties you will vote for.
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The governor’s race is wide open for the first time since 2018, when Gov. Tim Walz won his first term. Walz initially announced he would run for a third term before ending his campaign in early January following Republican attacks on his record on stopping fraud in Minnesota’s social safety net programs.
FINANCES: Amy Klobuchar builds huge cash lead in governor race
The Senate seat is open following Sen. Tina Smith’s retirement announcement last year. Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who is running for governor, still occupies the other Senate seat. (If Klobuchar were to win the governor’s race and resign her Senate seat, she would appoint a successor to hold the position until a special election.)
The entire state Legislature is up for reelection in 2026, but not every race has a competitive primary.
Voters may see other local races on their ballots, including county commissioners, county attorneys and school board members.
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You can use this tool from the Secretary of State’s Office to preview your ballot.
BUSINESS: ‘Erratic’ tariffs blamed for Minnesota export slump
How do I vote in Minnesota?
Friday, June 26, is the first day of absentee voting. You can request an absentee ballot be mailed to you, which you can return in-person or through the mail.
Alternatively, you can vote “in person absentee” by going to your local early voting location, where you can request your absentee ballot, receive it, fill it out and submit it on the spot.
Starting July 24, you can vote in-person at the early voting locations in a process similar to that of voting on Election Day.
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Who’s running in Minnesota?
There are several competitive primaries in statewide races that will determine the matchups in the general election later this year.
For governor, Sen. Amy Klobuchar is expected to win the Democratic-Farmer-Labor nomination after winning the party’s endorsement on the first ballot, over a challenge from Kobey Lane, a 26-year old trans activist and former Republican legislative assistant.
The Republican primary is competitive; after Army veteran and former health care executive Kendall Qualls won the party’s endorsement in May, the other front-runners refused to drop out of the race, citing voting irregularities at the convention. House Speaker Lisa Demuth and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell round out the three-way race.
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In the race to replace Smith in the Senate, two Democratic powerhouses are facing off: U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. Flanagan won the endorsement after Craig dropped out of the endorsement process; Craig is gunning for votes outside of the party’s activist base.
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On the Republican side, GOP-endorsed former Navy Seal Adam Schwarze will face off against former sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya, whose name recognition and well-financed campaign could boost her performance in a primary.
With Craig’s highly competitive south metro seat in the U.S. House coming open, three top-tier Democrats are vying to replace her: former state Sen. Matt Little, state Rep. Kaela Berg and state Sen. Matt Klein. State Sen. Eric Pratt is running unopposed for the Republican nomination.
Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.
