Tackling Machines: 5 of Iowa’s Top 4A C/O 2022 Linebackers
In this article:
Good play at the linebacker position requires a unique athletic skill set, precise instincts, and a willingness to lay it all on the line. Take a look at 5 of the best in Iowa’s 4A C/O 2022 and their distinctive…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingGood play at the linebacker position requires a unique athletic skill set, precise instincts, and a willingness to lay it all on the line. Take a look at 5 of the best in Iowa’s 4A C/O 2022 and their distinctive qualities to find out what makes these linebackers verified tackling machines.
Ryley Barnett Ryley Barnett 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Cedar Falls | 2022 State IA , Cedar Falls, hudl, Twitter
MLB, 6’0, 195
Coaches could use Barnett’s film to teach textbook tackling, especially when it comes to getting to the ball when in the box. He stays square, adjusts his leverage, and accelerates through contact. From the middle linebacker position Barnett is laser focused on his keys and reacts instantaneously. He is elusive in space using superior athleticism to keep blockers at bay and has quick hands to shed blocks when he needs to. Barnett is one heck of an inside gap blitzer and does an impressive job of beating offensive linemen right off the line of scrimmage and timing his blitzes from space. In coverage Barnett has a honed ability of breaking on receivers as they enter his zone and making punishing tackles as the ball arrives. Barnett is very aggressive within the description of his job as a middle linebacker; the violence and efficiency with which he plays the position are easily seen.
Mac Watts, Linn-Mar, hudl, Twitter
MLB, 6’0, 210
Watts is a prototypical and ideal downhill, Will linebacker who is a terror in the box. Watts is a very skilled blitzer against the run who can immediately take space away in the backfield or redirect upon hitting a gap; either way he is making a lot of tackles for loss. When he isn’t blitzing he is very consistent in his technique: cleaning his cleats, reading his guard, and reacting quickly to fill. Watts has no fear and does a great job of using his hands to separate from blockers who try to get in his way often running right through them. He is a downhill freight train that blows up gaps and makes it difficult for an offense to count on their ground game. Upon shedding blocks Watts does an impressive job of locating the ball and taking good angles to limit and confine ball carriers. Watts is a bully at the linebacker position who imposes his will and physicality, which earns him plenty of opportunities to make tackles.
Jackson Penningroth Jackson Penningroth 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Ankeny | 2022 State IA , Ankeny, hudl, Twitter
OLB, 6’0, 200
Penningroth does an exemplary job of getting hands on offensive tackles and cutting off the outside flow of blocks, disengaging, and making tackles. He can wrong arm, beat a pull, and redirect to get to the ball, which is a rare ability and not easy to do. Penningroth also makes chasing down ball carriers from the backside a regular occurrence. He seems to have no problem transitioning from one defensive front to another and being equally effective. Penningroth makes a lot of plays against the run and does so with an extremely high motor. Equally impressive as a blitzer and edge rusher, Penningroth gets to the quarterback with an elite get off and first step. His ability to get to the hip of a setting offensive linemen and reduce surface area as he beats them is few and far between. Penningroth does a lot from the outside linebacker position at a high level and it leads to lots of tackles.
Gaige Avants, Davenport North, hudl, Twitter
MLB, 5’9, 180
Using very mobile hips and bend to reduce surface area, Avants is an expert at using quick feet and a nice dip technique to get underneath blockers and stop ball carriers in their tracks. Avants is very patient in his reads and stays active as he processes his keys and works towards his run responsibility. Avants moves very well laterally when his keys take him out of the box; he does a great job of getting over the top of blockers in order to get to ball carriers when the play stretches. Avants’ most impressive quality as a middle linebacker is when he makes first contact on a tackle. He absolutely halts ball carriers, even when they have a full head of steam, and takes them right to the ground. Avants’ uses his leverage and momentum to drive force through the launch point and finishes with precision. Avants racks up the tackles with unequaled toughness and fortitude.
Gannon Williams Gannon Williams 6'4" | 215 lbs | TE Marshalltown | 2022 State IA , Marshalltown, hudl, Twitter
OLB, 6’4, 210
Williams is certainly gifted at filling inside gaps and making tackles in the box at or near the line of scrimmage, but his greatest assets are his elite closing speed and sideline to sideline prowess. Williams can get on his horse and go run just about anything down; he can track a hip and beat blocks in space to prevent the big play whenever the ball carrier goes outside. Williams consistently uses his reach to keep blockers at a distance as he keeps his feet moving past them. At 6’4 Williams does a nice job of lowering his hips to have appropriate leverage when breaking down to tackle shorter ball carriers. Williams also uses his strengths to collect a lot of tackles on quick hitting routes and screens. He does a nice job dropping to the curl or flat, recognizing, and breaking on the play. Williams is very reliable on the back side of a play in pursuit if the ball carrier happens to get beyond the first level of defenders.