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Spring has arrived, meaning we’re just a few short months away from the 2025 high school football kicking off. That means it’s a perfect time for some preview action to prepare you for the upcoming season.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll have pieces highlighting certain position groups and the top area players in those groups to keep an eye on in the new season.
These lists will include area players who were statistically some of the area’s best in 2024. All submissions were also sent in with stats provided by their coaches.
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS: Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Pass-Catchers | Offensive Linemen | Defensive Linemen
We’ve gone through all of the offensive position groups. Now, it’s time to take a look at the other side of the ball.
Here are 45 returning Nashville area linebackers you need to keep an eye on during the 2025 season:
Kaleb Doss, Antioch, Sr.: Doss racked up 42 tackles and four tackles for loss — a relentless force ready to bring the heat again.
DK Williams, Beech, Jr.: Williams was a two-way wrecking ball for the Buccaneers with 110 tackles, five sacks, and an interception on defense, plus 493 rushing yards and six touchdowns on offense.
Jayden Cannon, BGA, Jr.: Cannon is a do-it-all defender with 42 tackles, seven TFLs, three sacks — and an all-region nod to prove he’s the real deal on defense.
Elijah Fernandez, BGA, Sr.: Fernandez stuffed the stat sheet last season with 82 tackles, 14 TFLs, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and two punt blocks.
Roman Jennings, Brentwood Academy, Jr.: Jennings flashed big-play potential with 36.5 tackles, six and a half for loss, and one and a half sack.
Jayden Shannon, Cannon County, Sr.: Shannon piled up 74 tackles, six TFLs, and a pick — earning second-team all-region honors as a tone-setter on defense.
Kale Sellars, Cannon County, Jr.: Sellars made his presence known early for Cannon County with 28 tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery, and a pick.
Preston Patterson, CPA, Sr.: Playing just like his older brothers did during their time at CPA, Patterson was a tackling machine with 113 stops, 11.5 TFLs, two sacks, and two interceptions.
Wilks Biggs, Davidson Academy, Sr.: Biggs’ lived in opponents’ backfields with 49 tackles and 14 tackles for loss.
Wyatt Gray, DCA, Sr.: Gray logged 68 tackles and one sack on defense while earning all-state honors for his dominance on the offensive line for DCA last season.
Chauncey Anthony, East Nashville, Sr.: Anthony led a stout East Nashville defense with 80 tackles and six sacks last season.
Demarii Thompson, Ensworth, Sr.: Thompson notched 40 solo tackles, two sacks, and three interceptions last season for the Tigers.
Blake Surratt, Ensworth, Sr.: Surratt jammed the stat sheet with 68 tackles, eight TFLs, two interceptions, one forced fumble — and even four touchdowns on offense.
Kortlan Sain, Ezell-Harding, Sr.: Sain dominated with 93 tackles, three tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Philip Snow, Ezell-Harding, Sr.: Snow earned DII-A East Region all-region honors after piling up 57 tackles, six tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles.
Will Frank, Fairview, Sr.: Frank was a tackling machine with 116 stops, earning all-state recognition.
Canyon Porter, Fairview, Sr.: Porter brought consistent pressure and toughness with 94 tackles making both him, Frank, and Rood one of the top linebacker trios in the area.
Jack Rood, Fairview, Sr.: Rood contributed 40 tackles for Fairview, proving to be a reliable force in the 2025 season.
Kwadir Fletcher, FRA, Jr.: Fletcher wreaked havoc for FRA’s defense last season with 84 tackles, ten tackles for loss, five sacks, a pick, and two forced fumbles to go along with a DII-AA first-team all-region selection.
Teighan Lee, Franklin, Sr.: Lee racked up 115 tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, and three forced fumbles, anchoring a fierce Franklin defense.
Andy Brock, Gallatin, Sr.: Brock made his presence felt in 11 games for Beech last season with 47 tackles, three tackles for loss, eight QB hurries, and four fumble recoveries. He looks to be an instant presence for the Green Wave.
Jason Morton, Gallatin, Jr.: Morton chipped in 33 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, a pick and a forced fumble last season. His senior year only looks to be more promising.
Noah Anliker, GCA, Jr.: Anliker filled the trophy case last season as sophomore earning 1st Team All-Region Middle LB and 1st team All-State Tournament. To go along with 92 tackles, seven tackles for loss, four sacks, a pick, and a kick return touchdown.
Omeiza Daniyan, Green Hill, Sr.: Daniyan was the 4-6A Linebacker MVP with 72 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions. The young star holds over 10 division one offers as well.
Justin Carrethers, Hillsboro, Sr.: Carrethers terrorized offenses for Hillsboro with 63 tackles, ten tackles for loss, and nine sacks — earning All-City and All-Region selection.
Kingston Rios, Liberty Creek, Sr.: Rios racked up an impressive 135 total tackles, two TFLs, three QB hurries, and a forced fumble with Liberty Creek, earning Region 5-3A All-Region and TNFCA first-team all-state honors.
Demonte Carter, Maplewood, Sr.: Carter made his mark at Maplewood last season with 40 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and four sacks.
Drake Armstrong, MBA, Sr: Armstrong put up 64 tackles, two sacks, and an interception for MBA, showcasing himself all around the field.
Noah Anderson, Mt. Juliet, So.: Anderson piled up 19 tackles for loss in just eight games for Mt. Juliet before an injury cut his season short. The senior is back and ready to work this season.
Eric Bowling, MTCS, Sr.: Bowling was a key defensive weapon at MTCS with 95 ackles, eight tackles for loss, and three sacks with an all-region selection under his belt.
Cooper Jones, MTCS, So.: Jones, as a freshman at MTCS, impressed with 48 tackles, three and a half tackles for loss, and a forced fumble in his first full season.
Jake Morris, Nashville Christian, Sr.: Morris earned all-region honors at Nashville Christian, delivering 54 tackles, an interception, five tackles for loss, and a sack. He also holds a Division 1 offer from Troy University.
RJ Perkins, Nashville Christian, Sr.: Perkins was a force at Nashville Christian with 101 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, four sacks, an interception, and multiple all-state honors including Region Defensive POY.
Landon Travis, Nashville Christian, Sr.: Travis contributed 62 tackles and ten tackles for loss for Nashville Christian, adding a sack to round out a strong defensive season.
Sean Cunningham, Page, Sr.: Cunningham led Page with 105 tackles, six tackles for loss, two pass breakups, a sack, and an interception.
Sean Birkofer, PCA, Sr.: Birkofer racked up 109 tackles, four interceptions (two for touchdowns), five sacks, and multiple forced turnovers for PCA — earning All-State honors.
Karmelo League, Pearl-Cohn, Sr.: League dominated at Pearl-Cohn with 106 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, eight sacks, an interception, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles. He was also selected first-team all-region and metro.
Jaylen Parker, Pearl-Cohn, Sr.: Parker added 89 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, two sacks, and two interceptions for Pearl-Cohn — a playmaker on all fronts.
Matthew Anderson, Ravenwood, Sr.: Anderson, a defensive powerhouse, notched 111 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and two pass breakups for Ravenwood last season.
Ayden Emmons Riverdale, Sr.: Emmons racked up 135 total tackles at Riverdale, including nine tackles for loss and two and a half sacks, while also adding nine QB hurries.
Lamarious Dowlen, Springfield, Sr.: Dowlen was a defensive nightmare at Springfield with 63 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, five sacks, and multiple forced and recovered fumbles.
Will Stevens, Station Camp, Sr.: Stevens started 8 games last season for the Bison logging 68 tackles and eight TFLs, while earning first team 5-4A all region.
Silvio Rizzo, Sycamore, Sr.: Rizzo was everywhere on the field last season with 94 tackles (61 solo tackles), one and a half sacks, six QB hurries, four forced fumbles (one recovery), and one interception.
Keith Davis, Whites Creek, So.: Davis as a freshman for Whites Creek had 51 tackles, four tackles for loss and sack while starting all nine games.
Mason Eckhart, White House Heritage, Sr.: Eckhart is poised to be a top linebacker this year with after recording 105 tackles, averaging 8.1 tackles per game, alongside one sack, one tackle for loss, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble as a junior.
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