Top Tacklers in 6A

As the 2020 season inches closer, we wanted to highlight some of the top returning LBs in 6A. Each of these players has a little bit different play style, but all have been successful thus far in their high school careers. <strong>Jake Burris (Glenwood HS)-</strong> Adequate height and weight, slender, trim, proportioned with some definition. Solid eyes and anticipation off the snap, in order to limit wasted movements and get to a spot. Vs. Pass, shows the ability to open hips and drop, while maintaining awareness of underneath WRs. Good burst and acceleration out of Zone, and can stick on the back hip. Solid ball skills, will fight through the catch point. Good open field tackler, will run through WR, and bring legs on contact to finish. Vs. Run, can succeed against both Zone and Man schemes. Good sudden quickness and heavy hands to both elude and keep OL from locking on, at the second level. He’s a numbers to numbers player, who shows good pursuit ability from the backside. Good thump in the hole and shows good body control on the edge to settle and wrap. Overall, an undersized LB who has traits to be successful, but will need to be protected up front to realize his potential. <b>Cameron Lovett (East St. Louis HS)- </b>Adequate height and good weight, buff, trim, proportioned with definition. Good eyes and reaction off snap, in order to square body and work through traffic to a spot. Good UOH and agility to elude and keep OL off his chest, in order to stay clean and pursue. Vs. Pass, shows enough athletic ability to be effective in Zone coverage. His instincts and processing would allow him to be effective disrupting throwing lanes, and he has solid foot quickness in order to chase down WRs. Vs. Run, good ability to play both Zone and Man schemes. Very good ability coming downhill and filling gaps, possesses a good punch to take on blockers, and is a knock back tackler in the hole. Sound tackler, will wrap on contact, and finish through the ball carrier. Shows numbers to numbers range in order to be effective vs. Zone. He has enough athletic ability to beat OL across face, or shoot gaps from the backside. Maintains good body control/tackling technique in the open field. Overall, a very nice LB prospect that may lack height, but has the body and traits to be successful at the position. <b>[player_tooltip player_id="20199" first="Mac" last="Uihlein"] (Lake Forest HS)- </b>Solid height and good weight, buff, trim, athletic, proportioned with definition. Very good eyes and anticipation off the snap. He trusts eyes and couples read/react ability with acceleration and burst to get through the LOS clean. Around the LOS, very good UOH to engage and disengage quickly and find the ball. A sideline to sideline player who has the foot quickness to run down plays from both the front or backside. Very good tackler, who can get low and wrap on contact. He also displays the explosion and knock back tackling in the hole or flats. Vs. Pass, possesses the foot quickness, acceleration, and agility to be successful in both Man or Zone. Good lateral movement skills, and has the burst to finish to the ball once thrown. He is going to explode through the catch point in order to try and jar the ball free. Solid ball skills, can anticipate and disrupt throwing lanes. A very good prospect who has all the traits need. He is going to be at his best when kept clean and given the ability to attack the LOS.