Prospect Tour Preview: Pennsylvania, RB/LB Matchups

[player_tooltip player_id="179394" first="Siddiq" last="Small"] / Isaiah Thomas [player_tooltip player_id="179394" first="Siddiq" last="Small"] is your ideal 2022 linebacker, good 6-foot frame, 215 pounds that can move and keep up with running backs. Outside linebacker capabilities, Small moves and sees through traffic well. Love his ability to shuffle, move laterally and run, I can tell practice translates to Friday nights for this young man. Some technically sound one-on-one tackling against ball-carriers in the backfield. Can stop and stand up lead blockers in the hole. Isaiah Thomas out of Kingston HS in NY carries a similar build to Smalls. Thomas provides Kingston with a little bit of everything. Displays RB/FB reps where he is seen taking hand-offs for good gains, lead blocking, catching screens behind the LOS, as well as some pass-blocking too. I don't see RB's handle this much of a load at this position alone. The powerful back also provides OLB reps where he can show off his timely blitz ability. https://twitter.com/siddiqsmall/status/1457091022853398531?s=20&t=Miwvy-Pgq-ugkqLtSHH1vw [player_tooltip player_id="66047" first="Kade" last="Werner"] / [player_tooltip player_id="242277" first="Riley" last="Parker"] Bishop McDevitt's [player_tooltip player_id="66047" first="Kade" last="Werner"] may very well be the best linebacker at this camp. His tape proves it. 81 tackles on the year, 12 TFLs. A downfield mentality, Werner screams to the football with incredible speed. Read and react ability is there when run-stopping. His up-field burst after diagnosing the run is impressive. Werner shows off seasoned tackling technique as well, knowing when to aim high, low, when to square up and when to strip the football. This young man isn't afraid to meet anyone in the hole. Just as impressive, Werner has some quality pass-coverage reps on tape as well, securing two INT's on the year. Canton's [player_tooltip player_id="242277" first="Riley" last="Parker"] matches Werner's build and production. I think of Riley as a running back but the young man is a stud on defense as well. Parker will be one of the more well-rounded prospects at this event. His full evaluation can be found <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/05/mapping-pennsylvania-district-four-hidden-gems-pt-1/">here</a>. https://twitter.com/KadeWerner/status/1478906096731443208?s=20&t=Miwvy-Pgq-ugkqLtSHH1vw [player_tooltip player_id="249395" first="Jaime" last="Rivera"] / Luke Winterbotttom [player_tooltip player_id="249395" first="Jaime" last="Rivera"] out of Abington high school has some lengthy tape that gets better the deep you're in to it. Like many of the athletes in this piece, Rivera is equally impressive a running back as he is a linebacker. Abington is lucky to have a two-way player this valuable on the team. Great awareness out of Rivera, INTs and TDs displayed at LB. On the beefy side as far as build goes, but a real runner to the football. Looks natural with the ball in his hands though, he's got some impressive multi-cut runs on tape that often end with vicious stiff-arms. [player_tooltip player_id="377415" first="Luke" last="Winterbottom"] is an under-rated prospect, much like Rivera. The tape isn't lengthy but I still like the kid's acceleration in open space. Has some home-runs on tape. Winterbottom is involved in an offense that likes to disguise it's looks pre-snap, often motioning Luke before the snap. Ideal scheme for this kid. [player_tooltip player_id="251458" first="Gavin" last="Pond"] / [player_tooltip player_id="248806" first="Markus" last="Barnett"] Would love to see this matchup in the Fall. Big [player_tooltip player_id="251458" first="Gavin" last="Pond"] fan. Good production at OLB in a 3-4 defense. Pond isn't the biggest 2024 prospect, yet is trusted to set the edge and blow up TE's and lead blockers headed his way. He's capable of doing so, securing just under 70 tackles last Fall, 14 TFLs and 4.5 sacks. Pond has good pass-coverage skills too, can be trusted to work his flat/curl zone. Neshaminy's [player_tooltip player_id="248806" first="Markus" last="Barnett"] brings some attitude to his game, you're going to feel this young man on both sides of the football. Quality production, 55 attempts on the ground for 340+ yards and 3 scores. This tough runner has a low center of gravity that helps him stay balanced through the trenches. He does a great job keeping his feet underneath him, making sure he's square with his goal. I prefer Barnett the LB over Barnett the RB however. Natural heat-seeker who I'd want setting the tone of my defense. Jake Yelton / [player_tooltip player_id="118752" first="Cameron" last="Kiersch"] Jake Yelton, out of Greencastle Antrim HS, is a relatively new name to me. Was impressed when plugging in the tape. Works primarily as the MLB of the defense, Yelton is a one-on-one winner in open space. Intrigued to learn this past Fall was his first full season of football. Can run hash to hash but finds more success when playing downhill, north to south. Sheds his initial blocks well. Really solid tape and production from a relatively newer name from a school that doesn't get enough coverage. A matchup against stud freshman [player_tooltip player_id="118752" first="Cameron" last="Kiersch"] would be worth the while of the camp alone. I personally like the Danville product at LB/S, but the kid can run the football too. I wouldn't mind seeing his full capabilities at RB for this camp, we already saw what he's capable of at LB from our previous camp. Kiersch's early versatility should make him stand out to coaches at the next level. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-279785" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/01/47-Cameron-Kiersch-270x300.jpg" alt="" width="270" height="300" />