Louisiana high school football: Here are the top linebackers for the 2023 season
All football season, SBLive Louisiana has taken a look at several of the top players in the state by each position.
Here is our look at several of the top linebackers in the state in alphabetical order.
Keep reading to find out more about the state's top linebackers.
Louisiana's Top Players To Watch in 2023
Quarterbacks | Receivers/Tight Ends | Running Backs | Offensive Linemen | Defensive Linemen
Harry Beacham, 6-1, 215, Sr., University Lab
The embodiment of a student-athlete with a 4.6 GPA and a 30 on his ACT, Beacham has racked up 278 tackles over the last two seasons for the Cubs.
Beacham, a Navy commit, had 140 tackles and six sacks last season and his performance on and off the football field made him a target of Ivy League schools Harvard, Dartmouth, Cornell, Princeton and Columbia.
Ben Bienvenu, 6-3, 212, Sr., St. Mary’s
Bienvenu faced a scary neck injury after being in a car accident in 2022, but rebounded to make a full recovery on the basketball court just four months later. Now, he is back to making an impact on the Tiger defense as one of its anchors.
Northwestern State is one of the schools to offer Bienvenu, who made 40 tackles in six games before having his season cut short.
Kai Brown, 6-0, 215, Sr., Lutcher
What could Brown do for the Bulldogs last season? Well, everything, as he made 97 tackles with seven hurries and five sacks for the Division II non-select champions.
Truly a jack-of-all-trades, Brown also plays running back for Lutcher and won himself a baseball title in 2022.
Tah’j Butler, 6-2, 220, Sr., Edna Karr
Edna Karr is known for producing extraordinary talent, and Butler is a player that fits that mold. The Georgia Tech commit was limited to four games last season, but is ready to put that behind him for the Catholic League champions.
Kyle Cannon, 6-1, 220, Sr., St. Charles Catholic
With back-to-back titles in Division III’s select side, the Comets have turned to Cannon as one of their stalwarts on defense. It has been for good reason, too, as he racked up 130 tackles and 5.5 sacks last season and finally picked up an offer from Southeastern Louisiana this October.
Kolaj Cobbins, 6-3, 210, Sr., Destrehan
The Wildcats were a defensive juggernaut in 2022, and Cobbins was one of the leaders of a team that surrendered just 6.5 points per game en route to the Division I non-select title.
An LSU commit, Cobbins made a living of getting to the quarterback with 82.5 tackles, 10.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hurries last season.
Kabari Davis, 5-11, 190, Sr., Vidalia
The Vikings had their first winning season in four years in 2022, and Davis played a huge role in that with 120 tackles. Despite his 190-pound frame, Davis was very consistent last season after making at least nine tackles in nine games.
DeSean Deville, 6-1, 191, Sr., Oberlin
Deville is still looking for that first college offer, but he is one of the more unsung linebackers in Southwest Louisiana. Last season, he made 100 tackles and four sacks for the Tigers, while breaking up five passes.
Kristian Doyle, 5-9, 195, Sr., Ouachita
Earning over 100 tackles as a District 2-5A linebacker is worth an admission to this list. While Doyle missed the All-District team, he did have 109 tackles and three sacks as the Lions competed with the likes of West Monroe, Ruston and Alexandria.
Jacob Fairchild, 6-2, 205, Sr., Vandebilt Catholic
A standout player in the Bayou Region, Fairchild was the heart and soul of a Terrier defense and made 126 tackles last year – 88 of those coming unassisted. Despite a 4.78 40-yard dash, he has shown an ability to get to the quarterback with five sacks.
Wyatt Fontenot, 6-2, 230, Sr., Sam Houston
Fontenot has all the physical traits to compete at the next level with not only his size, but also his speed (a 4.5 40-yard dash) and a 505-pound squat. As a result, he has earned offers from Northwestern State and Centenary.
Hutch Grace, 6-1, 215, Sr., Calvary Baptist
Currently playing as a safety for the Cavaliers, Grace projects as a college linebacker and he already has an offer from Centenary. Last season, Grace was the co-Defensive MVP of District 1-2A after making 100 tackles.
Drake Griffin, 6-0, 218, Sr., St. Mary’s
Another standout on an experienced Tiger front seven, Griffin is a tough, physical player that led his squad with 76 tackles and 11 sacks last season. This season, he has picked up where he left off with 110 tackles and six sacks while holding offers from Northwestern State, Belhaven and Louisiana Christian.
James Harris, 6-1, 220, Sr., Oak Grove
One of the top defenders for the defending Division IV non-select champions, Harris was a force to contain after posting 92 tackles with five sacks and two defensive touchdowns.
The Southeastern Louisiana commit is also a solid baseball player and has been a key contributor for the Tigers’ 2022 and 2023 state championship teams.
Zheric Hill, 6-1, 220, Jr., Ruston
Jadon Mayfield might be the Bearcats’ top linebacker and defensive captain, but Hill is not one to be taken lightly after bursting onto the scene with 117 tackles as a first-time starter in 2022.
While Mayfield leaves after this season, opposing defensive coordinators will continue to have to scheme for Hill for another season.
Jamal Jordan, 6-0, 210, Sr., Evangel Christian
A tough, physical player who can either come off the edge as a linebacker or control the game in the middle, Jordan turned heads with 135 tackles for the Eagles last year.
Jordan has been a special player in 2023, and had a high mark of 25 total tackles against North DeSoto.
Austen Latour, 6-1, 215, Sr., Iowa
Thanks to a tough defense and a strong running game, the Yellow Jackets were able to make a semifinal run for the first time in program history. Latour was one of the players that made Iowa’s defense go after making a team-high 115 tackles and three sacks.
This season, he is near the top of the team lead in tackles – placing second through eight games with 62.
Dytraevous “Spida” Lively, 5-11, 210, Jr., Westgate
The Tigers have an incredible linebacker corps and Lively is one of the ones that makes it go. Last season, Lively lived in opponents’ backfields as 31 of his 93 tackles were for a loss.
This also came in a tough district with heavy hitters such as St. Thomas More, Lafayette Christian and Teurlings Catholic – all of whom made the final four in Division II select.
Noah Lovelady, 6-1, 214, Sr., Ouachita Christian
When it is all said and done, Lovelady has the resume to be one of the Eagles’ best all-time players after leading them in tackles for each of his three years leading up to the 2023 season.
In 2022, he had a stat line of 147 tackles, five sacks and had a hand in nine defensive takeaways to lead OCS to the Division IV select championship.
Jalil Mathews, 6-0, 190, Sr., Terrebonne
Mathews is a diamond in the rough, but that diamond is shining bright this season as he is Louisiana’s leading tackler through Week 9 with 134 tackles – a far cry from the 27 he had last year.
In fact, in a Week 2 loss against John F. Kennedy, he had 25 tackles in that game alone.
Jadon Mayfield, 6-0, 220, Sr., Ruston
Regarded as an extra coach on the field for the Bearcats, Mayfield has built quite the resume during his playing career. The two-time Class 5A all-state selection and Louisiana Tech commit is coming off a pair of 100-tackle seasons and led Ruston to its first LHSAA Prep Classic since 1990.
Peyton McFarland, 6-1, 205, Sr., McDonogh 35
For the first time since 2009, the Roneagles won their district and McFarland plays a key role as an edge rusher that can either play defensive end or linebacker.
To wrap that district title in style against Fredrick A. Douglass, McFarland had four sacks – further proving his case as one of the best pass rushers in the New Orleans Metro area.
Graham Montet, 5-11, 201, Sr., St. Louis Catholic
Montet made his name last season as one of the most feared defensive players in the Lake Charles/Southwest Louisiana area after recording 157 tackles and three quarterback hurries for the Saints.
Recently, Montet broke Collin Todd’s record for tackles by a St. Louis Catholic player and now has over 350 for his career.
Keidrick Richardson, 5-11, 220, Sr., De La Salle
The Campbell commit drew interest from LSU early in his career, but will be looking to wreak havoc at the FCS level after setting a record as the Cavaliers’ all-time tackle leader.
Richardson entered the 2023 season with 285 tackles despite battling through a torn labrum during his sophomore and junior seasons, but he is healthy as a senior.
Messiah Simien, 6-2, 205, Sr., Hamilton Christian
Last season, Simien was special with 113 tackles, nine sacks and five forced fumbles, but the Warriors suffered through a winless season and gave up an average of 47.3 points per game.
Under the return of Dexter Washington as coach, Hamilton Christian was hanging on to a playoff spot, though finishing the regular season 4-6, and only giving up 23.5 points per game with Simien leading the way.
Tylen Singleton, 6-2, 210, Sr., Many
A ball-hawking free safety that projects to be a linebacker at the next level, Singleton follows the mold of former Tiger teammate and current USC freshman Tackett Curtis.
Last season, the LSU commit made 78 tackles and two sacks as Many won its second state title in three years.
Albert Smith, 6-2, 220, Sr., Ponchatoula
A couple of years removed from leading the Green Wave to the Class 5A title game in 2021, Smith is once again patrolling the edge for them. The Arizona State commit has added 15 pounds over the summer to prepare for college, and he can also run a 4.6 40-yard dash.
Ty’drick Stewart, 6-1, 245, Sr., Terrebonne
Although he has bulked up to 245 pounds, Stewart is a ‘tweener that can either play as a defensive lineman or a linebacker at the next level.
Stewart made his way to several Power 5 camps last summer to try to increase his stock, and is coming off a junior season where he had 55 tackles and eight sacks.
Andre Williams, 6-0, 215, Sr., Westgate
Another member of the loaded Tiger linebacker corps, Williams made 86 tackles and four sacks for a team not far removed from a state championship.
Currently with one offer, Division II’s Lane College, Williams looks to gain some more recognition during a playoff push.
Tyquereis Wilson, 6-0, 179, Jr., Union Parish
Projecting as a linebacker at the next level, Wilson racked up an incredible 185 tackles and 11.5 sacks last season as the anchor of the Farmers' defense.
Not only was Wilson a tackling machine, but he also caused turnovers with a blocked punt, four forced fumbles and four recoveries.
Alex Phillips, 5-11, 180, Jr., South Plaquemines
Phillips has been able to compile the tackles all season for the Hurricanes, who recently captured the District 9-2A title. He has registered 148 total tackles, 82 of those solo stops.
In addition, Phillips plays quarterback for the Hurricanes, and as a matter of fact, in the district title-clinching win against Jefferson Rise Charter in Week 10, he threw two TD passes.
Cale Daigle, 6-0, 205, Jr., St. Paul's
Daigle is a key contributor to a Wolves' squad that finished the regular season 9-1 and allowed the fewest number of points of any team in the Division I select postseason, 126.
Thus far, Daigle has registered 80 tackles and 20.5 tackles for loss. He also has gotten through the offensive line to sack opposing quarterbacks 10 times.
Photo of Destrehan's Kolaj Cobbins by Jo Eddlemon, TigerBait.com
-- LaMar Gafford | @SBLiveLA
