Here’s our list of the Top 10 linebackers entering the 2023 Alabama high school football season, and it includes one of the state’s top players regardless of position. (Rankings according to 247Sports Composite.)
10. Anthony Jones (St. Paul’s Episcopal)
We begin with one of the state’s top 2026 prospects. Jones is entering his sophomore season at Class 6A’s St. Paul’s Episcopal.
9. Will Felton (Pelham)
Felton is a senior at Class 6A’s Pelham. The South Alabama commit is coming off a season in which he had 52 tackles and 6.5 sacks for the Panthers.
8. Kentonio Kelly (Mobile Christian)
The lone selection from Class 3A on our list of top Alabama high school linebackers is Kelly, who is coming off a stellar sophomore year at Mobile Christian. He had 162 tackles, 15 TFL, and 2 sacks for the Leopards last season.
7. Jamison Curtis (Saraland)
Saraland, the defending Class 6A state champions, land Curtis on this list at No. 7. The senior, a three-star Memphis commit, posted an impressive stat line with the Spartans a year ago, amassing 117 tackles, 12 TFL, and 4.5 sacks.
6. Caleb Dozier (Headland)
A versatile two-way player at Class 5A’s Headland, Dozier, a senior, is a three-star Mississippi State commit capable of lining up at multiple spots defensively, as well as being one of the top pass catching tight ends in the state.
5. Eric Winters (Enterprise)
The top five of our list of best Alabama high school linebackers begins with the highest-ranking junior in the group. Reese a four-star prospect for Class 7A’s Enterprise, had 54 tackles, 2 TFL, and 3 INTs a year ago for the Wildcats.
4. Quinton Reese (Ramsay)
The highest-ranked linebacker from Class 5A to make this list is Reese, who enters his senior season among the biggest names back for defending state champion Ramsay. Reese, a three-star prospect, certainly impressed a year ago for the Rams, amassing 155 tackles, 24 TFL, and 5 sacks.
3. D’Angelo Barber (Clay-Chalkville)
The first of two Auburn commits to make the top five, Barber enters his senior season at Class 6A’s Clay-Chalkville as a three-star prospect. He had 86 tackles and 5.5 TFL for the Cougars a year ago.
2. Bradley Shaw (Hoover)
Coming in at No. 2 is Class 7A’s highest-ranked linebacker. Shaw, a senior four-star prospect, is one of the biggest names on a Bucs defense that allowed a mere 11.7 PPG to opponents a year ago.
1. Demarcus Riddick (Chilton County)
No. 1 among Alabama high school linebackers is Riddick, a senior at Class 6A’s Chilton County. The five-star Auburn commit, who also made our preseason Top 10 in 2022, amassed 109 tackles, 19 TFL, and 7 sacks a year ago for the Tigers, while also making an impact on offense.
Honorable Mention
- AJ Rice (Madison Academy)
- ZJ Grady (Beauregard)
- Ethan Johnson (Shades Valley)
- Talton Thomas (Homewood)
- Caleb Lockridge (American Christian)
- Yusuf Clark (Williamson)
- Wils Johnson (St. James)
- Ricky Nichols (B.C. Rain)
- Jon Welch (Sipsey Valley)
- Tristan Brown (Cherokee County)
