PRZ IA/NE Stock Up Showcase | Iowa's Top Performers

There was a lot of talent in attendance on Sunday, December 5th at the Iowa West Sports Plex in Council Bluffs. Plenty of household names from Iowa and Nebraska came out to show what they’ve got. Take a look at some of the top performers on the defensive side of the ball representing Iowa who excelled in each component of the afternoon: combine testing, individual drills, and one on one’s. [player_tooltip player_id="148879" first="Tyree" last="Gardner"], DB, C/O 2022, Waterloo West, 6’1 190 Gardner had one of the best broad jumps of the day at over 10 ft and the explosiveness shown there sure was on display the rest of the afternoon. His steps, especially as he got out of his stance, in individual drills and one on one’s got him moving in reverse in a hurry and kept opponents in front of him. Watching him stick to routes and read eyes to know when to deflect or break up a pass was excellent. [player_tooltip player_id="245543" first="Justus" last="Williams"], DB, C/O 2023, Norwalk, 6’2 175 Getting to see Williams, a hard hitting safety in person, was very impressive and throughout the afternoon he let everyone know that his athleticism and coverage skills are pretty on point, too. He was contesting everything during one on one’s against the top receivers in attendance. Nobody could shake him and it’s clear he could thrive in many schemes. He posted top times in the pro shuttle and L drill on top of that. [player_tooltip player_id="245452" first="Cole" last="Rogers"], DB, C/O 2023, Southeast Polk, 6’0 180 Recent state champion [player_tooltip player_id="245452" first="Cole" last="Rogers"] had one of the better all-around performances Sunday on defense. He consistently stood out across each segment of the event. It was clear to see how comfortable he is with, and how well-coached and developed, his position specific technique is during individual drills and one on one’s. Rogers appears to have the size and skill set to play Corner or Free depending on scheme. [player_tooltip player_id="167547" first="Tim" last="Mccarthy"], DB, C/O 2022, CB Lincoln, 5’11 165 McCarthy represented on behalf of the local talent really well Sunday afternoon in Council Bluffs. The Strong Safety showed plenty of versatility covering underneath and vertical routes, which suggests he could fit nicely into 1 or 2 high looks at the next level. McCarth certainly stood out from the crowd and drew some interest from coaches and scouts in attendance. This 2022 is still for a school to call home. [player_tooltip player_id="244175" first="Greyson" last="Else"], DL, C/O 2023, Urbandale, 6’2 240 Else was one of the names that jumped off the roster heading into this event; he had a very successful Junior campaign and has film that should see his recruitment really take off over the next few months. He confirmed everything through his performance Sunday afternoon. His get off is outstanding, has well-developed pass rush moves, and is physical. The Defensive Line Coach was raving about how well he moved at his size. [player_tooltip player_id="208664" first="Aiden" last="Hansen"], DL, C/O 2022, Lisbon, 6’4 230 Hansen’s stock blew up this year with his terrific play at Defensive End and Tight End. Getting to see him live made it clear that he could play either side of the ball at the division 1 level. The PWO he received from North Dakota won’t be the last opportunity like that to come his way. He is a lean, put together 6’4 who has sky-high potential. Programs would be smart to get in touch with this 2022 who is a little under the radar. [player_tooltip player_id="245590" first="Kaleb" last="Cline"], DL, C/O 2023, Spencer, 6’5 240 Cline, one of the top Offensive Line prospects in the 2023 class, opted to work defense Sunday afternoon and it was impressive to see how versatile of an athlete he is. He picked up technique during individual drills that carried over well to one on one’s and helped him rush inside gaps effectively. Cline could play defense at the next level if he wants, but all signs seem to be pointing towards big time opportunities as an OT. [player_tooltip player_id="245591" first="Franz" last="Reisz"], DL, C/O 2024, Harlan, 6’5 215 Reisz had a productive year on the Defensive Line for state champion Harlan and, on Sunday, it was very apparent why; he has a ton of length, knows how to use it, and is developing a skill set that is built around it. Reisz put together a body of work that is evidence he is on his way to being able to move at an elite level with that huge frame. The separation he gets, once he really fills out and catches up with his size, should be unblockable. [player_tooltip player_id="149568" first="Jaxson" last="Hildebrand"], LB, C/O 2023, Denison-Schleswig, 6’0 200 Hildebrand was easily one of the most impressive prospects to see live and in person Sunday afternoon. Hildebrand’s numbers in the L drill and pro shuttle confirmed that he is as fast and twitchy as he looks on film. His skill set fits that of a 3-4 Inside Linebacker at the next level to a T. Hildebrand was unbeatable in one-on-one angle drills with the Running Backs. His side to side and downhill movement was best in the group. [player_tooltip player_id="152886" first="Nolan" last="Simpson"], LB, C/O 2023, Burlington, 6’2 215 Simpson is a gap smasher and a destroyer of ball carriers. His film speaks for itself, but witnessing firsthand how he moves at his size showed a different side; he can play multiple positions. Simpson has the frame and feet to play on the edge at the next level with his hand down or otherwise. The skills shown Sunday make him dangerous as a Middle Linebacker, but would also help him thrive outside, especially in the boundary.