Iowa 2023 Risers: LB’s & DB’s
Jake Lemming
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Our rankings update is complete and will be released tomorrow at 5 pm central! We evaluated a ton of film on prospects from 8-man all the way to Class 4A. Here were some of the top risers amongst linebackers & defensive backs!
<strong>DB: [player_tooltip player_id="105182" first="Brady" last="Lynott"], 6’1, 195, West Sioux</strong>
Lynott is a sporty prospect who has the capability of playing both safety & linebacker. On tape, he shows great burst & will accelerate through tackles, speeding his feet on contact. He’s not afraid to stick his nose in-between the tackles and will take backs head-on. He sees the quarterback very well and is a thumper when breaking on routes coming across the middle. If he continues to add weight, look for him to play sam linebacker at the next level.
<strong>LB: [player_tooltip player_id="105152" first="Rusty" last="VanWetzinga"], 6’1, 210, Pleasant Valley</strong>
Rusty always seems to be around the football & can make an impact in multiple ways defensively. He does a good job of closing space and can make tackles in 1 on 1 situations. He shows good top-end speed and is patient before scraping down the line to make a tackle backside. As a cover guy, he showed loose hips, solid change of direction, and good instincts breaking on the quarterback.
<strong>LB: [player_tooltip player_id="105153" first="Kayden" last="VanBerkum"], 6’2, 210, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock</strong>
This kid has some serious power behind his punch. Kayden overwhelmed backs in pass protection with brute strength before terrorizing the quarterback in the backfield. On tape, he can easily sink into the curl and will read the QB’s eyes. He’s a high motor kid who consistently chased plays down from the backside. He could have a future as a 3-4 standup outside linebacker or as a sam or will in a 4 down scheme.
<strong>LB: [player_tooltip player_id="105176" first="Cole" last="Garwood"], 6’3, 215, Urbandale</strong>
Garwood has good size for just a sophomore and the pass-rushing ability to go with it. He’s got a great first step when coming off the edge and can beat tackles with his speed. He’s solid in the run game and can fight off blocks to make plays behind the line. I’ve got a feeling that his junior tape could be very good, and his recruiting stock could move up very fast.
<strong>DB: [player_tooltip player_id="105190" first="Kooper" last="Ebel"], 6’2, 190, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn</strong>
A well-versed athlete with a ton of upside. Ebel has the size and physicality that you want in a safety prospect. The ball skills are there as well, as Kooper totaled 5 interceptions this past fall. Ebel is tough as they come and will fight at all costs to make a play for his team. He has a knack for forcing fumbles, using his shoulder to deliver the boom on ball carriers. Ebel may be from a smaller school, but he’s got a ton of upside and is definitely someone who college coaches should know about.
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