With the 22 teams I watched this year, I created a list of the top 5 linebackers I watched this season in no particular order. These players were chosen for their grit at the position, the hard hits, stuffing the run, and much more.
Teddy Halvorson, Linebacker, Becker (2021)
Halvorson was the first big defensive performance I got to watch in week 1 when Becker opened up their season against Monticello at home. Halvorson was an absolute beast in this game and was the definition of a run stuffer. As a 2021 NFN prospect, look to see him get some offers over the next 6 months.
Sam Haskins, Linebacker, East Ridge (2020)
I watched Haskins in week 2 on the road in St. Paul against Cretin Derham-Hall. This kid is a ballhawk on all levels and had 90 tackles this season leading the Raptors defense. There is a reason why this team leader and Suburban East all-conference linebacker of the Raptors has three offers from Concordia St. Paul, Minnesota-Morris, and Minnesota-Moorhead and in my opinion, should get more offers from the NSIC here soon.
Haydn Stay
Haydn
Stay
6'4" | ATH
Princeton | 2022
State
MN
, Linebacker, Princeton (2022)
Stay is another ballhawk on this list, only except the youngest player out my list of linebackers. In the section game against Big Lake, Stay was a man amongst boys for the Tigers and gave Big Lake a lot of trouble in this game without star RB DeAndre Hill DeAndre Hill 6'1" | RB Big Lake | 2020 State MN . Stay was a diamond in the rough find this year for Princeton and expect him to get even better in 2020 as a junior in that Princeton defense
Brett Honsey, Linebacker, Annandale (2020)
Honsey stands out from his game I watched against Milaca at home in sections. Every time I blinked, you could hear over the loudspeaker “tackle by Honsey” from the Annadale Cardinals announcer. Honsey was a run stuffer but was also strong on getting open-field tackles and could drop back into coverage as well.
Weston Roberg, Linebacker, Paynesville (2020)
Roberg was the heart of that Paynesville defense in their win over Eden Valley-Watkins to get to the state semifinals. Also on the wrestling team at Paynesville, Roberg was in a sink on the bulk of the Bulldogs stops and made it very hard for RB Mason Molitor of Eden Valley-Watkins to gain any yards on the ground.
