Editors note: This is the sixth article in the eight-part “YPS Top 50” series from Your Prep Sports highlighting 50 of the top returning football players for the 2025 season.

Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The YPS Top 50 is an eight-story series that highlights 50 of the top returning football players in the Your Prep Sports area by position group.

Over the past week the series has highlighted four offensive position groups – quarterbacks, running backs, pass catchers and offensive line.

On Tuesday the focus switched to defense with a look at some of the top returning defensive linemen.

The defensive part of the series continues with a look at linebackers with defensive backs and special teams concluding the series.

Here is a look at 10 of the top returning linebackers in the area for this season.

Marshall Sheldon

Sophomore, City High

A rare freshman starter last season, Sheldon didn’t just crack the lineup in his first varsity season he excelled leading City High in tackles while helping the Little Hawks to a 6-4 record and spot in the Class 5A playoffs.

Sheldon was the top freshman tackler in the state last season with 69 total stops on his way to earning first team all-district and all-Mississippi Valley Conference honors.

The 6-foot, 182-pound Sheldon had 47 solo stops among his 69 total tackles and added 6.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.

An impressive athlete that also competes in track and field and wrestling, Sheldon showed a strong combination of speed, explosiveness and strength last season while flashing his massive potential.

Expect a big sophomore season from Sheldon who will be more involved in the offensive game plan for City High this season.

Kyler Jensen

Senior, Solon

Solon has a long history of producing outstanding inside linebackers and Jensen appears to be next on that list.

A big, strong, physical middle linebacker Jensen is coming off an impressive junior season in which he led Solon in tackles on his way to earning Class 3A second team all-state honors.

Jensen racked up a team-high 63.5 tackles from his inside linebacker spot last season, a total that includes 42 solo stops and a team-high 10 tackles for loss.

The 6-foot, 220-pound Jensen is at his imposing best in the box being physical and stuffing the run but he showed a diverse skill set last season that included an ability to rush the passer with 3.5 sacks as well as the speed to make plays all over the field.

Dylan Schrock

Senior, Clear Creek Amana

The backbone of the Clear Creek Amana defense Schrock emerged as one of the best linebackers in Class 4A last season as a junior.

Schrock ranked second on the team in tackles and tackles for loss last fall while helping the Clippers to a 6-4 record and a spot in the Class 4A postseason.

Schrock racked up 61.5 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks last season in a breakthrough campaign in which he earned first team all-district honors.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Schrock had 34 solo tackles and intercepted two passes last season while earning a reputation as a sideline to sideline playmaker.

Roan Eckhoff

Junior, Regina

Eckhoff impressed in his first season as a starter ranking third on the team in tackles and fourth in tackles for loss on a Regina squad that went 9-2 and advanced to the Class 1A quarterfinals.

With the Regals’ top two tacklers from last season lost to graduation the opportunity is there for Eckhoff to take on an even bigger role as a leader on the Regina defense.

Eckhoff showed a knack for making plays last season racking up 42.5 tackles including 6.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks and also recovered a fumble on his way to earning honorable mention all-district honors.

The 6-foot-2, 213-pound Eckhoff moves well for his size and is physical when playing downhill against the run.

Campbell Janis

Senior, West High

At 5-foot-9, 175 pounds Janis lack prototypical linebacker size but make no mistake Janis will mix it up with anyone on the field.

In his first season of varsity action Janis ranked sixth on the team with 35 tackles last season including 18 solo stops on his way to earning second team all-district honors.

What Janis lacks in size he more than makes up for with toughness and intensity and showed good short area speed and burst last season while finding his way to the ball carrier.

Janis had an interception last season and is comfortable in dropping into coverage from his outside linebacker spot but he’s also physical at the point of attack and seeks out contact make him equally effective in defending the run.

Look for Janis to have a much bigger role on the West High offense this season after rushing for 261 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Conner Capper

Senior, West Branch

The strength of most good high school defensive units are the linebackers and West Branch should have one of the better groups in Class 2A this season with Capper a big part of the equation.

Capper is coming off an outstanding junior season in which he ranked second on the team in total tackles and led West Branch in solo stops while helping the Bears to a 3-7 record.

The 5-foot-11, 196-pound capper had 55.5 tackles last season including a team-leading 36 solo stops to go with 5.5 tackles for loss.

Capper displayed a knack for finding the football last season whether defending the run or dropping back in pass coverage and added an interception.

A versatile athlete, Capper also had a team-high 25 receptions for 212 yards last season and will be a key piece of the West Branch offense again this season.

Blaine Heick

Senior, City High

A versatile three-sport athlete Heick fits perfectly into the mold of linebackers that have excelled in the City High defensive scheme the past several seasons.

Heick was a starting outfield on City High’s state championship baseball team last summer and was a state wrestling qualifier last winter but may be at his best on the gridiron.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Heick ranked second on the team with 64 tackles last season including a team-high 48 solo stops while helping the Little Hawks return to the Class 5A playoffs.

A rangy linebacker with the ability to move sideline to sideline Heick had 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack last season and has the ability to be disruptive at the line of scrimmage.

After making two receptions for 16 yards and a touchdown last season look for Heick to have a bigger role on the offense this season from his tight end spot.

Landon Bell

Senior, Liberty High

Bell is another player in the YPS Top 50 that would fit into a position group just called ‘football player’.

A tough, physical, hard-nosed player with positional flexibility Bell had a big impact on both sides of the ball last season which was a key part of Liberty High putting together the best season in program history.

Bell was a glue guy on the Lightning’s 10-2 Class 5A semifinal team last season catching 12 passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns on offense but doing his best work as a blocker and defender.

The 6-foot, 200-pound Bell ranked second on the team with 50.5 tackles last season including 2.5 tackles for loss on his way to earning honorable mention all-Mississippi Valley Conference honors.

Tripp Johnson

Senior, Solon

Another experienced piece of what should be an excellent group of Solon linebackers, Johnson is coming off a breakthrough season that saw him rank third on the team in tackles.

Johnson collected 42 tackles last season including 30 solo stops and 4.5 tackles for loss and joins Jensen to give the Spartans a stellar set of inside backers.

At 6-foot-1, 200 pounds Johnson has the size and strength to be sturdy against the run but brings a playmaking element to the linebacking group with his ability to move around the field.

Look for a big season from Johnson who seemed to get better the more he played last season.

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