2022 Dakotas Showcase Standouts (LB)

My final story from the Stock Up Showcase in Aberdeen will cover the Linebackers who stood out last Sunday at Presentation College. Reading the list before the camp, there was already a lot of names I knew and was excited to watch. Once the camp got going there was a lot of names I didn't know that I enjoyed watching. That's how you know this Showcase had a positive impact on us scouts and coaches that were in attendance as well as for the kids competing. Linebackers are usually good tacklers, since that is the one thing we can't do at showcases, the technically sound guys find there ways to standout, showing the things that get the linebacker to the tackle, rather than just the tackle itself. I had a hefty list to start, but was able to narrow it down to a top five, check them out here!   [player_tooltip player_id='395464' first='Jaxon' last='Kellogg']- Bismarck Legacy <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13970692/634c569cc11a270fa4400a44">2023, Highlights</a>   Kellogg was about middle to top half of the pack in testing results. He was good in changing directions quickly more than anything. The competition and drills portion is where he really showed out and earned himself camp MVP. His footwork worked really well in drills to show his balance and lateral quickness. In competition with the RB's, is where his athleticism really showed. He covered a lot of ground quickly to make plays in a short distance chasing the ballcarrier. He also ran well in the pass covering segment of camp as well and breaking up passes to the RB's.   [player_tooltip player_id='161257' first='Bradley' last='Immormino']- Custer 2023, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12936096/6356b4f8d45e060654494f70">Highlights</a>   Immormino tested fairly well amongst defensive players, top half in results. He showed good straight line speed in the 40 and had a good shuttle time. In competitions is where I had a lot of tallies on him for plays made. In the red zone track-and-tag drill with the RB's is where he made the most plays. He made it very difficult for the ballcarrier to gain the 20 yards into the end zone. He was about the only LB who would tag the RB at least once on every rep. His lateral movement and ball sense always kept him in good position to make plays, but also his anticipation on the ballcarrier helped make plays.   [player_tooltip player_id='289640' first='Camron' last='Maciejewski']- Hot Springs 2024, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14867407/636d7d600662460b083654bf">Highlights</a>   Maciejewski was a top tester on the defensive side, in the top ten for defensive players. He showed his explosion and won the broad jump. In LB drills he was showing good footwork and agility with his change in direction. Those attributes would show in the competitions as well, especially in the track-and-tag drill. He showed good balance as well keeping a good pad level while chasing the ballcarrier. He also had the speed to turn and run with the RB's on the pass coverage competition as well, a good pass covering LB in the middle.   [player_tooltip player_id='472719' first='Caden' last='Devries']- Madison 2023, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16428929/636403f4b3c8e20c98796d52">Highlights</a>   DeVries competed fairly well in testing for defensive players, making top ten in one category, and just missing in two others. In drills, he was the one I had a lot of tallies on for his agility and footwork. He was generating a lot of buzz throughout the whole camp amongst us scouts and coaches. His size and the way he was able to use it was impressive. The track-and-tag drill showed his awareness in field position and relation to the ballcarrier. He did a great job moving around and stopping the ballcarrier from reaching the end zone right away.   [player_tooltip player_id='321181' first='Connor' last='Gray']- Sioux Falls Lincoln 2025, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16519538/613d665a8cde9e0b20006ce8">Highlights</a>   This was Gray's first appearance as a LB I believe. His testing put him in good position to be noticed at the camp, given his age and trying out a new position. He was in the top ten in the 40, and just missed the top ten on the other three tests. He stood out to me right away in drills with very quick and precise feet in bag drills. His pad level kept him in good position and helped him change directions quick. Gray was excellent in the pass coverage competition and made life very difficult for the QB and RB's on the routes. His speed and awareness kept him in great position to keep making plays on the ball.

My final story from the Stock Up Showcase in Aberdeen will cover the Linebackers who stood out last Sunday at Presentation College. Reading the list before the camp, there was already a lot of names I knew and was excited to watch. Once the camp got going there was a lot of names I didn't know that I enjoyed watching. That's how you know this Showcase had a positive impact on us scouts and coaches that were in attendance as well as for the kids competing. Linebackers are usually good tacklers, since that is the one thing we can't do at showcases, the technically sound guys find there ways to standout, showing the things that get the linebacker to the tackle, rather than just the tackle itself. I had a hefty list to start, but was able to narrow it down to a top five, check them out here!