Prep Redzone IA Showcase: GameChanging Linebackers

This content series is sponsored by GameChanger – The Official Scorekeeping, Stats, Team Management & Technology Partner of Prep Redzone.

ALTOONA– After unloading our massive Prep Redzone Iowa All-Camp Team on Monday night, it is now time to clock in with our evaluations from some of the key position groups we saw at Southeast Polk High School. We start with the linebackers. Although not the biggest as far as numbers go from our Iowa Showcase, this class of linebackers certainly has some significant depth with plenty of prospects that can punch you in the mouth in the backfield and stand their ground when it comes to coverage. We found six linebackers last Saturday at Southeast Polk that checked the boxes from this scout’s eyes when it came to their play and a quick evaluation of their tape! FYI, more photos will be uploaded into this post inside the coming week.

Ryker Stelling Ryker Stelling 5'11" | 200 lbs | LB Kennedy | 2023 IA | Cedar Rapids Kennedy | 2023

The LB Camp MVP showed off some excellent versatility from the reps I got to watch at Southeast Polk on Saturday. This young man has some sound vision and instincts and understands when the ball is snapped on just where he needs to be with his high level football IQ. He shows off that he can become a menace in pass coverage especially covering intermediate routes from the tailback out the backfield. He also possesses a strong physicality level for his size to eat up the inside box based on the tape I have watched recently. He shows off a significant use of his hands to get off blocks quickly and escape into the next level up. He also levels up with a stance that college coaches are going to like this summer once we get deeper into the prospect camp circuit. Certainly a scholarship level prospect in my eyes. No offers yet, but that will change in the next month or two.

Jalen Trudeau Jalen Trudeau 5'10" | 205 lbs | LB Woodward-Granger | 2023 IA | Waukee Northwest (IA) | 2023

Jalen was another LB prospect that rocked the boat from what I caught in 1v1s. He shows off a quick trigger off the snap that no matter where he lines up on the field, you need to be aware where this young man is if you are an offensive unit. You could see it in his shuttle numbers just how efficient this kid is from side to side as he can change his direction quite quickly. Tap into his tape, and you find someone that is a boomer as far from a hustle points perspective that will use his speed and stamina and ample physicality to make a significant contact level on the ball carrier. He isn’t the biggest linebacker you will ever see, but his frame (5’9 195) comes with force with growth in the weight room and you will see more consistent reps from in the 2022 season.

Caden Schisel | Burlington (IA) | 2024

Caden looked to be the most dynamic athlete we saw from the testing sessions at Southeast Polk, logging a consistent 4.5 and 4.53 in the 40 yard dash. Caden also was our top broad-jumper which from what I have watched for years scouting the linebacker position shows the explosiveness from the lower body which pays dividends when you get into reps. With the rolling tape, you catch Caden from the TE position but do not think for second this young man cannot lay some serious wood, as he really connects on a contact level that gives him the best chance for that big hit, which is why he came out as a linebacker last Saturday. Seldomly, do I see a TE at this size that has the finishing skillset on his blocks but Caden sure does from multiple angles. His forceful hands will for sure in my eyes give him an opportunity to play on Saturdays from that linebacker spot.

Miles Robbins | Spencer (IA) | 2025

Talk about a kid that came out surprising some scouts/coaches with his speed, as Miles was one of the better put together linebacker prospects I watched on Saturday that really hammered that speed/size ratio I like to evaluate. Whether Miles was positioned off the edge or in the MIKE position you can expect this dude to enter the opposing backfield with plenty of grit and excellent physicality when he gets his hands loose off a block. You will also catch Miles at tailback and one that has long strides to make his way quickly into the redzone. Miles is likely one of the top linebacker prospects in his class out of the NW part of the state from the tape I have watched from this 2025 class.

Caleb showed some significant twitchiness in his reps I got to watch from Saturday and certainly is a prospect if I had more time, I would have watched a heck of a lot more. He has sizeable hands that showed poise in Indy drills and just a solid knack with making significant contact to draw off the ball carrier out of contention. Similar to most Bellevue West prospects I have watched this young man has such instinctive angles that he takes in to become a force in the box or can flip his hips and become productive in pass coverage. He has that finished wrap-up ability from a tackling standpoint that you just keep wanting to watch. Caleb came into Southeast Polk with legit measurables and I for sure think he has all the tools to be an asset at the D1 or D2 level. Just collected his first NAIA offer yesterday, and I am sure that won’t be his last scholarship opportunity this summer!

Teague Smith Teague Smith 5'10" | 190 lbs | LB Fort Madison | 2024 IA | Fort Madison (IA) | 2024

Teague showed off some sizeable range from what I got to watch from Saturday at Southeast Polk. I liked watching his footwork come into play in the Indy drills I got to watch, as he showed consistent steps to get to the ball in stride. Teague is as close as you can get to a sideline to sideline coverage linebacker as his tape shows off a LB prospect that is all over the field and consistently right there when he sees a gap he can tap into. Teague has some development as far as getting to be even more physical around the ball, but with the offseason and more future, he will certainly grow onto that technique along with an increased build into the Fort Madison weight room this summer.