Lights Out Linebackers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linebackers are the heart of a great defense. These four players make big-time stops weekly and have helped their teams reach the state championship games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dave Brinton || LB || 6'2 || 220 || Corner Canyon High School || 2023</strong><br>Brinton is a speedy and hard-hitting backer. Once he snuffs out the ball, he flies to it like a heat-seeking missile. Brinton does a great job getting around offensive linemen and takes excellent angles that result in numerous tackles each game. In coverage, he does a good job staying patient, holding his zone or man in check. Brinton has great acceleration allowing him to track down pass catchers. He's a physical tackler who does a great job filling the hole against some of the most rigid backs in the state. Brinton is a beast at linebacker and showed it against Farmington with 13 tackles and a sack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='406854' first='Siale' last='Esera'] || DL || 6'3 || 250 || Timpview High School || 2023 </strong><br>Esera will more than likely be a defensive tackle when he goes on to BYU, but he is making a push to play linebacker in college with how well he is playing right now. He is the heart of the Thunderbird's defenses, and offenses are game-planning to try and contain him each week. Esera set the tone from the start in Timpview's win against Orem making plays on the first two snaps of the game. He does a great job flowing to the ball and quickly recognizes what an offense is trying to do. Esera is a great player regardless of position, and Lehi will need to make sure they game plan to stop him, or he will wreck their game plan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mason Anderson || LB || 5'10 || 200 || Skyridge High School || 2023 </strong><br>Anderson does so much that goes unnoticed throughout a game. He constantly takes on linebackers sometimes, even two, and still manages to hold his ground. Anderson is also good at shedding blockers and has excellent strength for the position. In addition, he does a good job sifting through all the traffic. Anderson plays to the whistle every time, no matter how many hits or blockers he has to fight through to relentlessly pursues the ball. He had 11 tackles in the Falcon's win over the Bingham Miners and made each one count. Anderson's presence in the front seven is one of the many things that make Skyrige's defense elite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hema Katoa || LB || 6'0 || 180 || Lehi High School Football || 2023</strong><br>Katoa had eight tackles and was instrumental in the Pioneer's stellar defensive performance against the Stallions. He used his speed to capitalize on a bad snap and jumped on the ball, creating a game-changing fumble. Katoa is good in coverage and uses his quick hands to bat passes. He takes good angles and makes plays crashing through holes. Katoa is a great tackler in space, making him an effective spy for athletic quarterbacks. In addition, the 6'0 linebacker can change directions and track some of the state's best back from sideline to sideline. The Lehi defense faces a challenging task in the Timpview rushing attack, but Katoa is up to the task.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->