The 4A Watchlist: Linebackers

The 4A Watchlist is where I list out my top 75 football players coming into this season in Class 4A. This year, I have 9 players who primarily played Linebacker last season that are worth noting heading into the 2020 season.   [player_tooltip player_id="23844" first="Seth" last="Bullock"], Dubuque Senior, SR Bullock emerged as a leader for Senior last season. In 2019 he made 67.5 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and 2 interceptions with one of them going back for six. Being that he also plays some offense as a wide receiver, the 6’3 208 lb Bullock is very solid in coverage, sometimes lining up as an extra cover guy against a slot receiver. He’s also really good at tracking down the QB when he starts scrambling in the backfield. Seth has a bunch of MVFC offers from UNI, North Dakota State, Indiana State, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Southern Illinois, plus a D-2 offer from Minnesota-Duluth.   [player_tooltip player_id="23858" first="Thomaj" last="Davis"], Des Moines Roosevelt, SR A starter the past couple of years, [player_tooltip player_id="23858" first="Thomaj" last="Davis"] looks to break out as a leader on defense. Last season Davis made 34 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, an interception, and 3 fumble recoveries. Davis is excellent as a pass rusher, as he uses his 6’3 190 lb frame and speed to rush the passer from the weak side. Currently, Thomaj only has two offers from Minnesota State and Grand View.   [player_tooltip player_id="23930" first="Chase" last="Evanson"], Waukee, SR Evanson debuted on Waukee’s varsity roster last season and made a fairly big impact on an already strong defense. In 2019 he made 52 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. At 5’10 190 lbs, he’s a bit undersized as a middle linebacker, but he makes up for it with his tackling ability and his athleticism at the position. Right now Chase doesn’t have any offer yet, but if he tops his junior season statistically, then expect offers to roll in.   [player_tooltip player_id="23811" first="Jaden" last="Harrell"], Urbandale, SR Probably the best linebacker in his class, [player_tooltip player_id="23811" first="Jaden" last="Harrell"] is looking to cap off a solid prep career with a deep playoff run in 2020. In 2019 he made 69.5 tackles, 6.5 TFL, and half of a sack. The 6’2 225 lb Harrell is an excellent tackler with great instincts and athleticism that help him get to the RB. Heading into his junior season, Jaden had offers from Iowa and Nebraska, but in late July of 2019, he would announce that he would commit to the Hawkeyes.   [player_tooltip player_id="23823" first="Tucker" last="Langenberg"], Urbandale, SR Langenberg emerged as an excellent complement to his teammate [player_tooltip player_id="23811" first="Jaden" last="Harrell"] in the linebacking corp. His defensive stats from 2019 are as followed: 65.5 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 3 interceptions, and 3 defensive touchdowns. Usually starting on the strong side, the 6’2 198 lb Langenberg has the speed, coverage, tackling ability, and hit power to make him one of the most exciting defenders in Class 4A. He’s got a bunch of offers, mostly from MVFC schools such as UNI, Eastern Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Western Illinois. In addition, he has a D-2 offer from Minnesota-Duluth, and two JuCo baseball offers from DMACC and Kirkwood.   Brecken Manus, Ankeny, SR A now-three year starter on the Hawks defense, Brecken Manus is looking to cement himself among the best linebackers in Class 4A in his senior season. In 2019, Manus made 59 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and half a sack. What sets the 6’0 195 lb MLB apart is his agility and speed to track down the ball carrier, which helps him not only on the gridiron, but it also helps him out in basketball, where he was a starter for last season’s state title team. Currently, Brecken only has two offers from D-2 schools Missouri Western and Wayne State, but expect that number to increase in the coming months.   Aidan Moore, Johnston, SR Aidan Moore emerged as an underrated new leader on Johnston’s defense in 2019. As a junior, he made 64 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, an interception, and 2 fumble recoveries, with one of them he took back 55 yards to the house. On the field, the 6’1 205 lb Moore is an excellent tackler who doesn’t let too many ball carriers get past him. Right now Aidan doesn’t have any offers on the table just yet, but if he can have a season just like last year's, then expect some interest to accumulate.   [player_tooltip player_id="23956" first="Cade" last="Sheedy"], Davenport North, JR A starter since his freshman year, [player_tooltip player_id="23956" first="Cade" last="Sheedy"] is looking to take a big step as the sole junior in my linebacker watchlist. As a sophomore Sheedy made 57.5 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, and 2 fumble recoveries. At 5’11 185 lbs, Sheedy is not only a very solid tackler but is excellent in coverage. So much so, that North sometimes likes to use the uncommon 4-4 defense, where Sheedy’s coverage skills can be put on display as the default Strong Safety in those situations. Since Cade’s heading into his junior season and isn’t a surefire D-1 type player, he doesn’t have any offers yet, but give him one more season to show how well he can play at the next level.   Josiah Szabo, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, SR Heading into last season, Josiah Szabo was a bit overshadowed by Jefferson’s returning starting linebackers Jake Thompson and Kenny Moore, but by the end of the 2019 season, he proved why he should get some notice too. In his junior season, he made 70 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. Very excellent on blitzes, the 6’1 190 lb Szabo is quick and great at stopping running backs dead in their tracks. Right now it doesn’t look like Josiah has any offers from any schools yet, but with the stats from last season plus what he can do as the default leader on the J-Hawk defense as a senior, you should expect some offers for him to come in soon.   Other notable names Ethan Breyfogle, Sioux City East, SR Elijah Mickey, Cedar Falls, SR Nate Ewell, Waterloo West, SR Max Moldt, Dubuque Hempstead, SR