Nate’s Notepad from the PRZ Iowa Showcase: LB & DB

<strong>BETTENDORF, IA-- </strong>Last but not least from Iowa we have the young men that worked the hardest in my eyes at the Prep Redzone Iowa Showcase, the linebackers and defensive backs who had quadruple the reps on Saturday due to the number of wide receivers that had to cover. We take a look at the LB/DB standouts from Saturday afternoon in the Quad Cities! <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="104114" first="Nolan" last="DeLong"], LB/RB, Durant (IA) (2023)</strong> <em>Twitter: @NolanDelong</em> DeLong was a late add-on to the Prep Redzone Iowa Showcase but brought his a-game and was dynamite in coverage from what I witnessed. Where he dominates at linebacker at Durant is how he attacks the middle. He has a fiery jump off the snap which gives him momentum into the inside lanes. DeLong can shed off blocks very quickly and is not afraid to get physical to get to the ball carrier. He has terrific vision and can read the tailback between the tackles very well. Delong rushed for nearly 1600 yards and 22 touchdowns last year at tailback, so to put it simply, this kid is the definition of an athlete. Where he plays at the next level will be decided on the field in the next two years, but I think he needs to gather more clips at linebacker, as that might be an excellent spot for him at the college level. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EX83A">So. Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="118720" first="Alex" last="Abens"], DB, Dallas Center-Grimes (IA) (2022)</strong> <em>Twitter: @AlexAbens</em> If there was one kid that really wanted to compete all weekend, it was [player_tooltip player_id="118720" first="Alex" last="Abens"], as he attended not only our Prep Redzone Iowa Showcase but also showed up in Rosemount, too, for our Minnesota Showcase. Abens caught my eye with his fast footwork and excellent size in our 1on1 drills in Bettendorf. Abens can cover a large coverage area from sideline to sideline in my book. I mentioned his feet, which live up the same hype on film, as he can turn both ways of the field with a great dig. I came away impressed with his football IQ as when he was targetted; he always made the smart play on the ball vs. going for the interception every time, which shows great discipline. Aben’s quick reaction to where the ball is going makes him a prospect to watch in the Class of 2022. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EBFxz">Tape vs. North Polk</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="140139" first="Darius" last="Sirleaf"], DB, Des Moines East (IA) (2023)</strong> <em>Twitter: @darius_sirleaf</em> Sirleaf was a prospect I told my fellow scouts before the showcase to get on their radar right away, and he did not disappoint. Sirleaf started off his day with a blazing 4.44 40 yard dash to catch many eyes in the audience Saturday afternoon in Bettendorf. Sirleaf was a ballhawk all day long and one that can turn on the jets on a dime. Sirleaf is a prime example of talent you need to see live and in person. Super has a quick reaction time when the ball comes his way and eats up ball carriers with his high physicality level. Sirleaf has a flyer speed off the charts as he gets from Point A to Point B in a very short amount of time. If I am a college coach doing some early looking at their 2023 big board, this one of the under-the-radar DB prospects out of Iowa I would be all over. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CChzB">Fr. Tape</a> <strong>Hunter Davenport, DB, North Scott (2022)</strong> <em>Twitter: @hunter_d_12</em> Davenport was the second North Scott prospect to hit my radar on Saturday in Bettendorf. Davenport has a clean turn in his hips to make a play on the ball no matter what direction he needs to go. His backpedal is strong, and he has the physical closing speed to catch the WR off guard. Davenport has room for development in his hand fighting. I would describe Davenport as a scrappy defensive back with the tools from my eyes to be a solid small school prospect coming out of North Scott as he is a  2022 prospect under the radar from the state champs. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Ekhyh">Jr. Tape</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31381" first="Sylvester" last="Walker"], DB, Milwaukee Riverside (WI) (2022)</strong> <em>Twitter: @Sylvester_2022</em> Walker Jr. was another Milwaukee area prospect that had a good showing at our Prep Redzone Iowa Showcase. To my knowledge, Walker Jr. didn’t get a junior season due to COVID, but I came away impressed with his sophomore film from last year. His ability to dip inside like a linebacker and make a play on the ball shows how great his football instincts are. When he is back in the secondary, he shows a strong backpedal that can flip his hips really well, especially to the right side. Walker Jr. is a three-sport athlete at Milwaukee Riverside. He has a big motor that would be a good fit at the Division II level. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2CS9p8">So. Tape</a> <strong>Eddie Lortscher, DB, Southeast Polk (IA) (2022)</strong> <em>Twitter: @EddieLortscher</em> The prospects just keep coming out of Southeast Polk, especially on defense at the Prep Redzone Iowa Showcase, such as Eddie Lortscher. Lortscher has not only one of the best backpedals I saw in Bettendorf; he looks to be a fearless athlete with good extension. His tackling ability is at a good level, but I think he could get even more physical in the coming years. I really like this kid’s leaping ability as he shows it off multiple times, clip by clip I have watched. I feel Eddie has a strong future at Southeast Polk at the safety position as he has already made some varsity level plays on junior varsity last season. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/10953092/5f851d914206fe17c42bae51">So. Tape</a> &nbsp;