Class of 2023 Under the Radar: LB

With 13 LB ranked in the top 100 and 2 in the top 13, it is safe to say that there is a great deal of talent at the position in the soon to be Junior class.  Here are five LB that are looking to have a breakout Junior year or improve upon their outstanding sophomore season in 202 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="35670" first="Axavier" last="Vink"], 6’0, 200, Ottawa</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="35670" first="Axavier" last="Vink"] is the #3 ranked LB and the #51 ranked player overall in the state for the class of 2023.  He plays as a MLB and also on the ball as a SAM.  He is quick off the ball and uses his excellent play strength and hand use to stack the C at the point of attack but also uses his athletic ability to defeat reach blocks from the TE.  He plays at a low pad level and shows good form tackling as he uses his leverage and play strength to drive through the RB for the tackle.  He has very good ball skills as he drops into zone coverage while reading the eyes of the QB, uses his play speed to get himself in position while tracking the ball in the air and shows good hands as he comes down with the interception. <strong>Miles Wash, 5’10, 175, Derby</strong> Miles Wash is the 6th ranked LB and the 77th ranked player overall in the class of 2023.  In 2020, he helped Derby win another 6A state championship their 3rd in a row.  Last season, he made 16 tackles with a TFL.  The Derby Panthers lost 2 star LB ([player_tooltip player_id="35398" first="Luke" last="Stewart"] &amp; Jack Hileman) in 2021 to graduation and Miles Wash has the talent to emerge as a star on defense for the Panthers as he try to win their 7th 6A state Championship in 9 years. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="87837" first="JC" last="Cummings"], 5’10 190, Hayden</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="87837" first="JC" last="Cummings"] is the 7th ranked LB and the 83rd ranked player overall in the class of 2023.  He plays as a MLB.   He is very good against the run as he effective reads the play at the snap of the ball, uses his quickness and agility to navigate through traffic, plays at a low pad level and displays very good form tackling ability as he uses his good play strength in his upper body, lower body and core to bring down the RB with ease.  Occasionally, he will line up as a DT in a 2i where he uses his quickness to shoot the A gap and uses his good motor and play speed in pursuit of the QB. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="87690" first="Conner" last="Dinkel"], 5’10, 165, Hill City</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="87690" first="Conner" last="Dinkel"] is the 12th ranked LB and the 94th ranked player overall in the class of 2023.  He had an incredible sophomore season in 2020 where he made 103 tackles, 6 TFL, an interception, 2 forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a pass defensed.  Against the run, he uses his good football intelligence to quickly key and diagnose the play, his very good play speed and quickness to penetrate the line of scrimmage, plays at a low pad level while displaying very good play strength and physical toughness as he brings the RB down with ease.  He is a very good pass rusher who uses his leverage and a rip move to defeat the block of the OT, uses his very good motor in pursuit and finishes up with a sack. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="87693" first="Dylan" last="Gantz"], 6’0, 180, Stafford</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="87693" first="Dylan" last="Gantz"] is the 13th ranked LB and the 97th ranked player in the class of 2023 overall.  In 2020, he made 75 tackles with 3.5 TFL, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.  He plays as a MLB.  Against the run, he uses his very good play strength and use of hands to defeat the reach block of the C, his very good range to play sideline to sideline and uses his leverage and form tackling ability to drive through the RB bringing him down with force. &nbsp; &nbsp;