SOi's 2025 Top Returning Players: Linebackers

Top Returning Linebackers 2025

1. Nate Szydlik (C.R. South)- the senior had 101 total tackles, 17 TFL, 4 sacks, and 6 FF, which earned him 1^st Team All-State Honors and 1^st Team All-Continental Conference Honors as a junior. The 6’2”, 205 lb. backer will be at the top of this list for sure as his senior-laden team looks to make a statement this season.

2. Quasir Sampson (Wissahickon)-The junior finds himself high on the list because his sophomore campaign received high praise and 1^st Team All-American Conference honors. The 5’10”, 190 lb. linebacker is also a 1^st Team All-American Conference Running back. With another season under his belt, we expect big things from the Thumping Backer who loves contact.

3. Larry Hughes (Upper Moreland)- The extremely tall backer had 19 total tackles, 9 TFL, 2 QB hurries, 2 interceptions, and a blocked field goal as a junior, which garnered 1^st Team All-American Conference honors. The 6’4”, 188 lb. backer has long arms and is a nightmare to throw over. Expect Hughes and Linebacker teammate Justin Valentin to feast this upcoming season.

4. Ryan Rowe (Pennridge)- Rowe, who is committed to Princeton, tallied 105 total tackles, 8.5 TFL, .5 sack, 1 CF, 1 FR, which earned him 2^nd Team All-National Conference honors as a junior. With Trevor Fuhs’ graduation, we expect these numbers to rise even more. The 6’1”, 215 lb. Linebacker is an absolute charm to watch play as he navigates sideline to sideline.

5. Aaron Kaufman (Springfield)- Kaufman registered 97 total tackles, 12 TFL, and 8 sacks as a junior, which earned him 2^nd Team All-American Conference honors a season ago. The hard-nosed linebacker stands a compact 5’9”, 205 lbs. of solid muscle, and packs a punch. Watching his game live is riveting. We expect even more to come this season as the senior winds down his impressive high school career.

6. Bobby Corapi (Abington)- The 6’0”, 210 lb. Corapi is a tackling machine and tallied 92 total as a junior. He also registered 1 forced fumble and had 2 fumble recoveries, which earned HM All-Continental Conference recognition. The quiet leader will continue to lead by example, and we expect him to be among the league’s best at the end of the year.

7. Jack Bartolillo (C.B. South)- Bartolillo led his team in total tackles with 81. He also registered 10.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks. Bartolillo earned 2^nd Team All-National Honors as a junior, and due to graduation, he will be the go-to guy up the middle. The 5’10”, 220lb. Backer is going to cause problems for opposing offenses because of his knack for always being around the ball.

8. Max Chernets (C.R. North)- Chernets returns for his senior year after a huge junior season where he tallied 87 total tackles, 8 TFL, 2 sacks, 2FF, 2FR, and 1 Interception. All the production earned the 6’0”, 210 lb. backer 2^nd Team All-Continental honors. We expect the same stats, if not more, out of Chernets.

9. Shane Greenberg (Upper Dublin)- Sharing defensive duties with your team’s leading tackler sometimes doesn’t get noticed. Greenberg finished second on the Cardinals last season with 85 total tackles. Ryan O’Sullivan led the team with 111. Greenberg also registered a sack, 1 interception, and 1 FR. He received Honorable Mention All-Continental honors. Head coach Bret Stover will again have another linebacker at the ready to help lead the defense in Greenberg. The defense is also comprised of some defensive studs, which will allow him to feast on runners and opposing quarterbacks.

10. Gavin Todd (C.B. West)- Todd returns after compiling 65 total tackles, 12 TFL, and 4 sacks, which allowed him to take home 2^nd Team All-National Conference honors as a junior. He and Teammate Nick Miletto are going to be huge assets to head coach Rob Rowan and his defense. We expect his numbers to rise and him and Miletto to be on this list at season’s end.