PRZ Iowa | 2025 Watchlist | Names to Know: Defense

Ben Salomon

March 1, 2022 @ 11:02 AM

There are some elite youngsters in Iowa’s class of 2025 who have already made an impact on Friday nights or, at the very least, have shown one way or another that they are of full ability that is just waiting in the wings. Either way, these Freshmen have their programs set up for the next few years and it is only a matter of time before they take center stage. Get to know these defensive stars below. [player_tooltip player_id="252329" first="Brody" last="Clubb"], DL, 6’3 220, Clear Creek-Amana, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14978924/618a7e0402b1d40f48cda400">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BrodyClubb">Twitter</a> Clubb stood out from the get go for the Clippers in his very first high school football action with 5 tackles and a sack. He would go on to finish his first Varsity season with 39.5 tackles; a respectable number for any Defensive Lineman, let alone a Freshman. It is hard to believe, at his size and with his body control, that Clubb is going to be hunting down Quarterbacks for three more years. His physical foundation is as solid as they come and his natural ability is through the roof. It is scary to think about how dominant of a player he will be if he and the weightroom become best friends. [player_tooltip player_id="252328" first="Joey" last="VanWetzinga"], DL, 6’2 245, Pleasant Valley, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16308768/6189fe710dcaab066025e50b">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JVanwetzinga">Twitter</a> VanWetzinga is an absolute powerhouse of a Freshman Nose Guard. The way he locks out and knocks back or dips, rips, and leans through opponents is as impressive as it gets and he is doing it against some of the best, most experienced Offensive Linemen in 5A. Just as impressive are the things he has been doing in the gym this offseason. He is already so functionally strong; the way the big numbers he throws around in the weightroom will contribute to his on field development is sure to make him one of the imposing players across Iowa in the years to come. [player_tooltip player_id="252334" first="Jack" last="Limbaugh"], DL, 6’4 205, Algona, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13547095/619584a3042898089cdeeb94">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/limbaugh_jack63">Twitter</a> Oftentimes when Freshmen step onto a Varsity field and dominate it is because they can overwhelm with superior athleticism. Limbaugh is certainly a superior athlete, but what makes his early success even more impressive is how he compliments his natural ability with technical, position specific skill. Most notable is how well Limbaugh uses his hands to separate from blockers on runs and execute well-timed moves when pass rushing. Limbaugh hit a beautiful snatch move on the edge against Sergeant Bluff-Luton and had to bend full tilt off it to get to the Quarterback. [player_tooltip player_id="252337" first="Hayden" last="Soma"], LB/FB, Harlan, 5’10 205, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/16769606/619c6517041d7804e0c96134">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/HaydenSoma">Twitter</a> Cyclones Linebacker and Fullback [player_tooltip player_id="252337" first="Hayden" last="Soma"] is as tough and fearless as they come. One play that illustrates this is a block he put on an opponent in the 3A state championship game. He lined up a target on kickoff return and absolutely decleated them. Big things can be expected down the line from a Freshman who can play that violently on the biggest possible stage. He is an angry runner and lead blocker and does an excellent job defending the run at Outside Linebacker. He has already shown how well he can fold into the box and set a hard edge. [player_tooltip player_id="245555" first="Harrison" last="Tripp"], LB, Norwalk, 6’1 185, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15108012/618894383df5ff0664e19d25">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/HarrisonTripp4">Twitter</a> Tripp is a name to keep a close eye on as a well-developed and physically capable youngster that dominated the Freshmen ranks. When watching Tripp’s film for the first time your eyes are immediately drawn to him because he is the biggest, fastest, and most well put together player on the field. The measurables certainly pass the eyeball test. His movement is what makes you confident that he is ready to play and be very effective at the Varsity level. Tripp has plenty of twitch in his first few steps and then erupts towards the ball once he locates it. Look out for him this fall. [player_tooltip player_id="245539" first="Parker" last="Pearson"], DB, Dowling Catholic, 5’8 145, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16045584/6179ee7032dc93037c0751e7">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Parkerp_10">Twitter</a> Pearson, whose older brother was a dominant Defensive Back for Norwalk, is going to be suiting up for Dowling for the remainder of his high school career and the Maroons got one heck of a player. Pearson showed off plenty of natural ability that lends exceptionally well to his job description as a Corner. He moves really well in reverse, is patient in his drop, has noticeably mobile hips, and can accelerate in bursts to cover ground when breaking on opponents or the ball. Pearson will be a name to keep an eye on as a key contributor to what should be a fearsome defense.