Midseason SD Position Power Rankings: LB
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In the last of the Midseason ranking lists, let’s look at some of the best linebackers who have been playing this year in SD and see who makes the cut as the top players. There have been so many elite…
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Continue ReadingIn the last of the Midseason ranking lists, let’s look at some of the best linebackers who have been playing this year in SD and see who makes the cut as the top players. There have been so many elite LBs this year and it will be hard to put them in a spot that will show how great they are, but remember this is based on what they have done this season so far. So, let’s jump right into looking at some of the top LBs that South Dakota has.
5. Noah Hutmacher Noah Hutmacher 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Chamberlain | 2023 State – Chamberlain
Hutmacher rounds in here at the 5 spot and this was tough to have him be this low but LB is so deep this season that it has impressed me. Hutmacher is a jack-of-all-trades player that can do so much for his defense even with his role as a traditional linebacker being something that is the main focus for him. Coverage-wise is where I see him truly excel, while not being the lockdown defender what he does do is prevent big gains and stop that yardage from turning into big gains. He is a stopper, through and through is exactly what he does best by making the offense halt in their tracks when he is on the field. No matter who you want to have him match up with, he will play with 120% and not let a big play come out of it, making him an elite defensive presence for his team. His rushing and run-stopping are nothing that you should sleep on either, he gets to the QB fast and with so much acceleration coming off the edge or even up the middle for that matter. Hutmacher does so much for his team and is truly invaluable for his defense, this lands him at the 5 spot on the rankings list.
4. Gabe Gutierrez Gabe Gutierrez 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State – Sioux Falls Lincoln
At the 4 spot, we have the ever-talented Gutierrez who doe so much for his team as a certified deflator that can take the air out of an offense and make the game turn on a dime. Gutierrez is generally an MLB who has the middle of the field as his turf and does not like it when other plays come near since they will not be leaving it without a big hit. He is an enforcer on the field and that makes him someone that other plays will always look out for. Not to mention his ability as a field general is something that should very well be seen as one of his overall best traits in his arsenal. He can read the offensive line to determine where to stuff if it is a run play or where to cover if it turns out to be a pass play. His overall IQ is something that also makes him quite deadly in the defensive aspects and allows him to be one of the best leaders that South Dakota has right now. Overall, Gutierrez is a deflating MLB who makes the middle of the field his land and he wants you to step in it, making him my 4th-ranked LB at the mid-season point.
3. Caden DeVries – Madison
DeVries is easily one of the best coverage linebackers in South Dakota and one of the best that I have scouted nationally for that matter, making him our 3rd ranked LB. DeVries is great at making some key tackles and that is what he has been doing for his team this year, being at the top of the state in total tackles overall. He manages to keep up with fast wideouts who can burn even the best CBs at times, and he applies the pressure on them when he is in coverage. As well, he keeps up with TEs in man coverage too, and is not one who can be bullied around easily if at all. He makes great tackles that are fast and do not drag out for too long on players trying to run the ball too, it is very seldom this year I have seen him get run over. DeVries gives such good coverage that he is a borderline defensive back but can also give you big hits and stuff the run as well, ranking him at the 2 spot.
2. Richard Benenge Richard Benenge 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Harrisburg | 2023 State – Harrisburg
Benenge has been playing very well but you cannot have a tie for first and he just happens to be second at the mid-season point so far. Benenge has his top ranking very good reason, that being when he is on the field he can lead and command his defense to have them play at just as high of a level as he can. He is everything that you would want in a linebacker, with his coverage being very great for a linebacker and what I like to see moreover is how elite he is at the pass rush. He can get into the backfield and disrupt the office in such a way that it affects them for the rest of the game. QBs will always seem to see if he is heading there and get the ball out fast if he is, that being an elite defender at its finest. He racks up TFLs and tackles, and along with being the leader of his defense, it is hard for me to put him at this 2 spot but there is another player this year that is simply playing out of his mind.
1. Jaxton Eck Jaxton Eck 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB Brookings | 2023 State – Brookings
At the one spot we have Eck and he is just the complete package of linebacker through and through. Eck has been elite in all aspects of defense this year posting great stat lines every single game and doing it in such a different variety of ways. Eck is not much one for coverage at times but is serviceable for what you need him to do, but where he truly excels in how he can blitz and disrupt the offensive rhythm like no one else I have seen tape of can. He gets into the backfield fast and by the time that he gets there, there will either be a sack or fumble, something that he is no stranger to causing this year. He has managed to turn his defense into offense by even getting some touchdowns returned caused by his fumbles. He is one of the main reasons that his defense of Brookings is seen as a top unit overall and a big part of that is in part with Eck. He racks up tackles, sacks, fumbles, and more, what more would you want with your LB? Eck comes in at the number 1 spot on this list and it will be interesting to see where he lands at the end of the year.