YPS Top 40: Top Returning Linebackers in the Your Prep Sports Area for 2023
Editors note: This is the sixth in the eight-part “YPS Top 40” series from Your Prep Sports highlighting 40 of the top returning football players for the 2023 season.
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
The YPS Top 40 is an eight-story series highlighting 40 of the top returning football players in the Your Prep Sports area by position group.
Yesterday was the first defensive story in the series and after focusing on defensive line the focus today turns to linebacker.
In the next few days three other position groups, linebacker, defensive back and special teams will all be featured.
Here is a look at seven of the top returning linebackers in the Your Prep Sports area for the 2023 season.
Brett White
Senior, Solon
Among the best two-way players in the state last season White does his best work on defense where he has been one of the most productive linebackers in the state over the past two seasons.
The 6-foot, 205-pound White has led Solon in tackles each of the past two seasons racking up 171 tackles including 29.5 for loss during that span.
A Baylor baseball commit, White earned first-team Class 3A all-state honors last season after he made 77 tackles, including 43 solo stops.
White has the speed to make plays from sideline to sideline but excels with his ability to read plays and his physicality at the line of scrimmage.
In addition to being productive White has had a knack for the big play, making 15 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and three interceptions last season from his inside linebacker spot.
White also rushed for 922 yards and 12 touchdowns last season.
Ashton Honore
Senior, West High
Already a two-year starter Honore established himself as one of the most disruptive defenders in the state during a monster junior season in which he led 5A in tackles for loss.
Honore had a 5A-best 27 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in his breakthrough junior season ranking fourth in 5A with 7.5 sacks.
The 6-foot, 220-pound Honore excelled in making plays in opponents’ backfields while continuing to make an impact all over the field.
Honore had a team-high 66.5 tackles last season including 46 solo stops and recovered a pair of fumbles.
One of the hardest hitters in the state, Honore has the speed to make plays all over the field combined with the strength and physicality to stand up in the running game.
Honore has also doubled as a running back, rushing for 144 yards and a touchdown last season.
Sam Kueter
Senior, City High
The younger brother of departed all-state linebacker Ben Kueter, Sam Kueter will look to take his turn as the leader of the City High defense.
Kueter had his own strong season a year ago ranking fourth on the team with 28.5 tackles from his defensive end spot.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Kueter makes the move from hand-down defensive lineman to middle linebacker this season and has the size, strength and speed combination that allows him to be a disruptor in the run game as well as excelling in coverage.
Kueter, who holds an offer from Northern Iowa, had 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks last season and should flourish in his new, expanded role this season.
Reese Trepanier
Senior, West Branch
Trepanier blossomed last season while playing alongside all-stater Andy Henson at inside linebacker.
With Henson and his team-leading 62.5 tackles off to the University of Sioux Falls Trepanier takes over as the leader of the West Branch linebacking corps.
Trepanier showed last season he is capable of becoming the next in a long line of stellar Bear linebackers.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Trepanier ranked third on the team with 42 tackles last season including 19 solo stops.
Trepanier had nine tackles for loss, two sacks and recovered two fumbles last season.
The strength for Trepanier is his strength, which he uses to be a force against the run game.
Devin Anderson
Senior, Liberty High
The Liberty High defense was much improved in 2022 holding opponents to 286 total yards and 18.5 points per game.
At the center of the defensive resurgence for the Lightning was linebacker play and Anderson was a key in a talented linebacking corps.
With 2022 leading tackler Christian Barney gone to graduation Anderson takes over as the unquestioned leader of the Liberty High linebackers.
Anderson was excellent in his varsity debut season last fall ranking third on the team with 47.5 tackles including 20 solo stops.
The 5-foot-11, 199-pound Anderson had three tackles for loss, a sack and recovered a fumble last season.
Anderson moves well and has good size but his high energy and outstanding effort make him a productive player and prototypical leader.
Holdon Clay
Senior, City High
Talk about being overshadowed by your position mates Clay has spent the last two seasons playing alongside current Iowa player and former all-stater Ben Kueter.
While Clay may not have garnered a lot of attention last season what he did do was make plays.
Clay ranked third on the team with 34 tackles last season including 21 solo stops and three tackles for loss.
At 5-foot-10, 190-pounds Clay isn’t as big as some of the recent Little Hawk linebackers but he runs extremely well and is physical at the point of impact.
The top returning tackler for the Little Hawks, Clay will be expected to take on an even bigger role in the defense and should see his production increase this season.
Santana Miller
Senior, West High
Miller teams with Honore to give the Trojans one of the most productive returning linebacking duos in the state.
Like his teammate Honore, Miller is coming off a big-time junior season last fall.
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Miller ranked third on the team with 50 tackles last season, 35 of which were solo stops.
Miller had 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and intercepted two passes last season returning one for a touchdown.
Look for Miller to have another big season alongside Honore as the two continue to cause problems for opposing offenses with their big play potential.
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