Editors note: This is the sixth installment in the eight-part “YPS Top 50” series from Your Prep Sports highlighting 50 of the top returning football players for the 2026 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 broken down by position group.

Over the past five days the series has featured five position groups – quarterbacks, running backs, pass catchers, offensive line and defensive line.

Today Your Prep Sports takes a look at the top returning linebackers in the area.

The series will wrap up with two more position groups – defensive backs and special teams.

Here is a look at eight of the top returning linebackers in the area.

Cody Milliman

Senior, Solon

One of the most uniquely skilled athletes on a talented Solon roster Milliman is a two-way standout that is a big play waiting to happen on both offense and defense.

A two-way, two-year starter, Milliman excelled on both sides of the ball during a breakthrough junior season last fall.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Milliman caught 35 passes for 516 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver and ranked in the top 10 on the team in tackles while earning 3A honorable mention all-state honors.

While Milliman is dynamic on offense his value for Solon is maximized on defense where he will lead a Spartan linebacker unit that must replace a pair of departed senior inside linebackers that accounted for nearly 125 total tackles last season.

Milliman has the size, strength and athleticism to make plays both near the line of scrimmage and in pass coverage from his outside linebacker spot.

Last season Milliman made 23.5 tackles, including two for loss, forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles and had three interceptions.

Over the past two seasons Milliman has made 47.5 tackles, six tackles for loss and intercepted four passes.

Marshall Sheldon

Junior, City High

Already a two-year varsity starter, Sheldon has posted one of the best starts to a career of any player in the storied history of City High.

Sheldon has been one of the most productive players in the state the past two seasons regardless of position posting back-to-back seasons with at least 69 tackles while ranking in the top two on the team in total tackles both seasons.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Sheldon led City High in tackles two seasons ago as a freshman with 69 stops and was even better last season racking up 74.5 tackles including 54 solo stops.

Sheldon has shown an impressive ability to avoid blocks the past two seasons and last year demonstrated a lack for making the big play while leading City High with 19 tackles for loss including two sacks and forcing two fumbles.

Sheldon also rushed for 261 yards last season and caught five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown.

An all-around linebacker Sheldon has the toughness and physicality to play in the box and the athleticism and skill to excel in space.

Kingstone Ross

Senior, West High

After seeing limited action as a sophomore in 2024 Ross was a major contributor on both sides of the ball last season as West High went 8-3 and advanced to the Class 5A quarterfinals.

Ross rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown but did his best work on defense earning second team all-district honors as a linebacker after ranking sixth on the team in tackles.

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound Ross had 24 tackles, including 10 solo stops, and 3.5 tackles for loss.

A physical linebacker with good size Ross has the ability to play with a hand down on the defensive line giving the Trojans some positional flexibility in its new defensive scheme.

Alex Strunk

Senior, Liberty High

A monster debut season for Strunk was a huge boost for a Liberty High defense that limited opponents to 19.5 points and 267 total yards per game last season.

Strunk ranked second on the team in tackles and tackles for loss and tied for the team lead in sacks in his first season as a starter last fall.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Strunk had 52.5 tackles, including 30 solo stops, and ranked second on the team with 10.5 tackles for with a team-leading 4.5 sacks.

Strunk teams with his twin brother Eric to give the Lightning a dynamic linebacker combination in the middle of the defense that ranks among the best in Class 5A.

Eric Strunk

Senior, Liberty High

Half of the Strunk brother linebacker duo, Eric Strunk had his own breakthrough season last fall ranking fourth on the team in both tackles and tackles for loss while sharing the team lead in sacks with his brother.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Strunk nearly matched the production of his twin brother Alex last season.

Eric Strunk had 32.5 tackles with 17 solo stops, seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Nolan Dao

Junior, Clear Creek Amana

In his first varsity season Dao quickly emerged as one of the top linebackers in Class 4A ranking second on the team in tackles.

A physical presence at inside linebacker, Dao finished with 34 tackles including 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in his debut season.

The 6-foot, 195-pound Dao is a classic middle linebacker that is at his best attacking near the line of scrimmage but also showed the speed required to make plays from sideline to sideline.

Luke Hamilton

Senior, Regina

Hamilton will look to take another big step forward this season following a breakthrough junior campaign that ended with him earning all-state honors.

After making 14 tackles as a sophomore Hamilton emerged as a key cog of a dominant Regina defense leading the Regals in tackles and earning first team Class 1A all-state honors.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Hamilton had a team-high 55 tackles, including 36 solo stops while helping Regina to a 12-1 record and a Class 1A runner-up finish.

The speedy Hamilton also had 8.5 tackles for loss and two sacks to go with a fumble recovery and an interception.

Look for another big season from Hamilton who should excel as a playmaker in what will be an experienced Regina defense.

Roan Eckhoff

Senior, Regina

On of the most experienced players on a veteran Regina defense Eckhoff is a three-year starter that enters his final prep season with 90 career tackles.

Eckhoff ranked third on the team in tackles two seasons ago as a sophomore and was fifth on the team with 38.5 tackles last season helping Regina to a 12-1 record and a spot in the Class 1A state title game.

A second team all-district selection last season, Eckhoff had four tackles for loss and a sack from his middle linebacker spot and helped Regina limit opponents to 12 points and 192 total yards per game.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Eckhoff is at his best as a thumper in the run game and is an excellent tackler but has the ability to make plays in space.

Did you enjoy this subscription free article? Help keep Your Prep Sports free by donating