PRZ WI Prospect Tour: Linebacker Standouts & Top Testers
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I wrap up my coverage of the Prep Redzone WI Prospect Tour in Franklin, WI with a look at the standout LBs. Coming into the event, this was a group that was filled with athletes that I couldn’t wait to…
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Continue ReadingI wrap up my coverage of the Prep Redzone WI Prospect Tour in Franklin, WI with a look at the standout LBs. Coming into the event, this was a group that was filled with athletes that I couldn’t wait to finally see live. Athletes that are up and coming, athletes that had a chance to further prove they are D1 prospects, and athletes who had the chance to show their development from last season. The five athletes below are all names that need to be on college recruiting boards. Also, don’t forget to scroll to the bottom to check out who finished in the Top 5 of the 40, shuttle, broad jump, and L Drill. Let’s check out how they earned a spot as a standout of their group!
Matthew Stenbroten Matthew Stenbroten 6'4" | 235 lbs | LB Lake Mills | 2024 State WI , ’24- Lake Mills
Our first standout is the Lake Mills sophomore. Matthew finished the day by earning the MVP for the LB position. Stenbroten had one of the best looking frames in the building standing 6’4″ 207 lbs. He has long arms, and his frame is ready to continue to pack on the size needed to play LB at the next level. What we saw last Saturday was a very special player take over the day. Matthew dominated the testing portion with a 4.64 40, 9’7″ broad jump, and 6’94 L Drill. In drill work, Matthew was such a smooth mover. He changed direction and speed with ease. His body control is special. When we flipped to getting the chance to go against RBs, Stenbroten proved that he had the quick twitch lateral agility and play speed to close quickly on RBs. He also had the loose hips that allowed him to stick tight coverage downfield. Matthew already sits as out ATH2 for his class, and he is only going to keep rising up the rankings. Great overall day for the stud underclassman.
2024 LB Matthew Stenbroten of Lake Mills is most certainly an FBS prospect. Long at 6’3” 200, easily accelerates & decelerates, plays under control and can move clocking a 40 in the 4.6 range.@MatthewStenbro1 | @LMHS_Football pic.twitter.com/i3y18iRpcY
— Jake Lemming (@HSFBscout) May 14, 2022
Gus Wenning Gus Wenning 6'1" | 225 lbs | LB Middleton | 2023 State WI , ’23- Middleton
The biggest surprise of the day was the Middleton defender. Gus spent 2021 playing in the defensive trenches, but will shift to his more natural position of LB for 2022. Because of the DL play I wasn’t expecting to see a super athletic player by LB standards. I was wrong to think that. The 6’ 223 lbs LB not only has the frame for the position, but also the athleticism. He ran 4.58 and 4.50 in the 40 while also jumping 9’4″. In drills, Gus took that testing athleticism and proved that he has the body control, quick twitch, and agility to be able to handle playing in space. Wenning is clearly an explosive athlete that needs to be on more radars. He was my breakout player of the day, and is going to breakout this season, so get on him now.
LB @WenningGus moves exceptionally well during drills and is pretty obviously a beast 💪 @PrepRedzoneWI pic.twitter.com/06E25h7tqr
— CoachSalomon (@SalomonDLcoach) May 14, 2022
Carter Christy Carter Christy 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln | 2024 State WI , ’24- Wisconsin Rapids
Carter has been making huge strides in the weight room this offseason, so I couldn’t wait to see how he performed. The 5’11″ 200 lbs sophomore has a thick, powerful frame built from moving serious weight in the weight room. He stood out to me in the drill work where he was able to show off his down hill, aggressive play style as he went 1 on 1 against RBs in run game scenarios. His run defense has been his strength, and I’m expecting it to be how he makes his biggest impact for Wis Rapids this fall. Because of graduation, Christy is going to have to take another step forward on the field. His performance on Saturday gave me another boost in confidence that he will do just that. The Class of 2024 was well represented by this group!
Super impressed with LB @CarterChristy42 , great footwork @PrepRedzoneWI pic.twitter.com/t2O6i0mX1J
— CoachSalomon (@SalomonDLcoach) May 14, 2022
Dylan Dobratz Dylan Dobratz 6'0" | 220 lbs | OL Wausau West | 2023 State WI , ’23- Wausau West
Dylan was another athlete I couldn’t wait to see coming into the event. In 2021 he was asked to put the team first and play on the OL for Wausau West. This fall, i can’t wait to see the athletic junior line up in his more natural position. The 6’ 209 lbs LB looked and played the part of an LB ready to breakout. Dobratz plays at 100 mph on every rep and snap. In our run defense drills, Dylan looked his most natural. He closed quickly, was able to adjust to the RB with subtle lateral adjustments. This was a great start for Dylan as he looks to prove that he is a next level LB. Keep an eye on him this fall. He is another athlete setting himself up for a breakout year.
Jacob Hanson, ’25- Green Bay Southwest
Jacob is an intriguing freshman to know. He spent his freshman season being a two way player for Green Bay Southwest. He has also spent the offseason making massive gains in the weight room. All of that offseason work started to pay off on Saturday. The freshman went 8’11″ on the broad jump, and was just a blink away from cracking under 5.00 in the 40. I can’t wait to look back and see how he improves on those numbers the next three years. On the field, Jacob played even faster and more explosive than he tested. He closed quickly allowing RBs little time to make him miss. He is raw, but he is at a great starting point for a freshman. By his senior season, there will be few prospects with as much varsity experience as Jacob. Name to keep an eye on.
Good rep with long clamps by @JacobKHanson of Green Bay Southwest. Certainly is a 2025 LB to watch out of Titletown.
@PrepRedzoneWI @MJ_NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/LlGiL4XzVp
— Nate Wahl (@NWahlScouting) May 14, 2022
Top 5 Combine Performances by Drill
Player | Height/Weight | School | 40 Time |
Gus Wenning Gus Wenning 6'1" | 225 lbs | LB Middleton | 2023 State WI | 6’ 223 lbs | Middleton | 4.50 Seconds |
Matthew Stenbroten Matthew Stenbroten 6'4" | 235 lbs | LB Lake Mills | 2024 State WI | 6’4″ 209 lbs | Lake Mills | 4.64 Seconds |
Jeffrey Hines | 5’10″ 198 lbs | Kenosha Tremper | 4.87 Seconds |
Dylan Dobratz Dylan Dobratz 6'0" | 220 lbs | OL Wausau West | 2023 State WI | 6’ 209 lbs | Wausau West | 4.94 Seconds |
Tyler Van Sluys Tyler Van Sluys 5'10" | 195 lbs | LB Grafton | 2025 State WI | 5’8″ 181 lbs | Grafton | 4.98 Seconds |
Player | Height/Weight | School | Shuttle Time |
Matthew Stenbroten Matthew Stenbroten 6'4" | 235 lbs | LB Lake Mills | 2024 State WI | 6’4″ 209 lbs | Lake Mills | 4.34 Seconds |
Talan Summers Talan Summers 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Franklin | 2024 State WI | 6’1″ 201 lbs | Franklin | 4.40 Seconds |
Caleb Hawn Caleb Hawn 6'6" | 260 lbs | DL Sun Prairie West | 2024 State WI | 6’ 204 lbs | Sun Prairie West | 4.47 Seconds |
Jacob Hanson | 5’10″ 193 lbs | Green Bay Southwest | 4.50 Seconds |
Dylan Dobratz Dylan Dobratz 6'0" | 220 lbs | OL Wausau West | 2023 State WI | 6’ 209 lbs | Wausau West | 4.54 Seconds |
Player | Height/Weight | School | Broad Jump |
Matthew Stenbroten Matthew Stenbroten 6'4" | 235 lbs | LB Lake Mills | 2024 State WI | 6’4″ 209 lbs | Lake Mills | 9’7″ |
Gus Wenning Gus Wenning 6'1" | 225 lbs | LB Middleton | 2023 State WI | 6’ 223 lbs | Middleton | 9’4.5″ |
Jacob Hanson | 5’10″ 193 lbs | Green Bay Southwest | 8’11″ |
Dylan Dobratz Dylan Dobratz 6'0" | 220 lbs | OL Wausau West | 2023 State WI | 6’ 209 lbs | Wausau West | 8’8″ |
Caleb Hawn Caleb Hawn 6'6" | 260 lbs | DL Sun Prairie West | 2024 State WI | 6’ 204 lbs | Sun Prairie West | 8’6″ |
Player | Height/Weight | School | L Drill Time |
Matthew Stenbroten Matthew Stenbroten 6'4" | 235 lbs | LB Lake Mills | 2024 State WI | 6’4″ 209 lbs | Lake Mills | 6.94 Seconds |
Caleb Hawn Caleb Hawn 6'6" | 260 lbs | DL Sun Prairie West | 2024 State WI | 6’ 204 lbs | Sun Prairie West | 7.16 Seconds |
Gus Wenning Gus Wenning 6'1" | 225 lbs | LB Middleton | 2023 State WI | 6’ 223 lbs | Middleton | 7.30 Seconds |
Talan Summers Talan Summers 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Franklin | 2024 State WI | 6’1″ 201 lbs | Franklin | 7.38 Seconds |
Jacob Hanson | 5’10″ 193 lbs | Green Bay Southwest | 7.44 Seconds |
LB Combine MVP: Matthew Stenbroten Matthew Stenbroten 6'4" | 235 lbs | LB Lake Mills | 2024 State WI , ’24- Lake Mills
This comes at no surprise. Matthew was the MVP for the position overall, and it started during the testing portion. Matthew finished first in every exercise except the 40 where he finished in second place. Being able to put up these numbers with his 6’4″ 209 lbs frame does a great job of showing how special Stenbroten is. I believe he is a D1 level athlete, and will be a top recruit by his senior season if not before.