CA Showcase Top-Performing LBs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Breaking down the top-performing LBs from <strong>Prep Redzone's CA Showcase</strong> on 1/15. Ponderosa '24 LB [player_tooltip player_id='595715' first='Blake' last='Branham'] out of Colorado was the positional MVP of the day.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["595715"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63d8d20f41a76"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Branham finished as the LB MVP of the showcase. He flashed speed and explosiveness during testing, finishing as the top LB in the 40 (4.68) and broad jump (9'2”). He made multiple plays in 1v1 coverage over RBs and TEs, showing short-area quickness and ability to break on the ball. On film, he's a downhill 4-3 OLB that can jump passing lanes in underneath coverage and track down ball-carriers out towards the sidelines. Branham is the top returning tackler for Ponderosa (CO) next season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BlakeBranham7/status/1614785542566350848?s=20u0026amp;t=ZfcMVEkeoQwBIESxPBSxPw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BlakeBranham7/status/1614785542566350848?s=20&amp;t=ZfcMVEkeoQwBIESxPBSxPw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["270853"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63d8d20f41ada"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith finished in the top-3 of every testing category for LBs in his second year at the showcase. He's a disruptive pass-rusher on the edge that can get to the QB multiple ways and uses violent, technical hands to disengage blocks. He flashes short-area burst tracking down scrambling QBs and shows relentless motor to the ball. He plays a little high at times and would like to see him be more consistent with his pad level as a sophomore. Smith's an ascending EDGE talent that could put his name on the radar soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/RyderSmith2026/status/1590165186845241344?s=20u0026amp;t=ZfcMVEkeoQwBIESxPBSxPw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RyderSmith2026/status/1590165186845241344?s=20&amp;t=ZfcMVEkeoQwBIESxPBSxPw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["578765"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63d8d20f41b2d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Granger flashed natural athleticism in the testing portion and ability to play in space in 1v1 routes with RBs. He was Centennial's second-leading tackler in 2022 behind last year's Showcase LB MVP Samari Anderson. He's an active OLB/SS on film that can contain the edge and provide run support near the LOS. He takes on pull/down blocks aggressively and is quick to disengage and locate ball-carriers. Granger figures to be one of the top returning tacklers for Centennial next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/9810542/63b230c34205b90820fc81d4">Junior Highlights</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>More Standouts:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595787' first='David' last='Luera']- Mission College Prep, 2023</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Mario Luera- Mission College Prep, 2023&nbsp;</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595783' first='Cooper' last='Woodhall']- Torrey Pines, 2025</strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->