Under the Radar 2023 Tackle Leaders

There are plenty of top tier prospects that have already signed their respective National Letters of Intent and those who have plans to sign in a couple weeks, but there is also another batch of talented players with next level abilities that remain unsigned and who had tremendous high school careers. Looking at the in state linebackers who were statistically amongst the best, here are some second level defenders that remain available and led the state in tackles in 2022.   LB Matthew Brimhall, Snowfake HS   Brimhall is a very athletic inside linebacker that flies around and will fit nicely at either inside or outside linebacker at the next level. He is a downhill kid that moves well laterally and can tackle in space while taking good angles to ball carriers and bringing a nice thump upon contact. He shows that he can apply pressure off the edge or up the middle with good timing and has a few pass rush moves as his disposal. In coverage, he shows fluid hips in transition, some ball skills and is smart when breaking to the ball. Checking in at 6'0" 205 Ibs, he is a D-III+ player at the next level and remains unsigned.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Matt_Brimhall25/status/1518987520461008897?s=20&t=6pyPapp953TAWAVEfM2p7w </div></figure>     LB [player_tooltip player_id='214109' first='Cole' last='Lalama'], Queen Creek HS   The 6'1" Mike backer excels in coverage and can be a middle hole dropper, baiting quarterbacks into bad throws and showing solid ball skills, closing speed and breaking abilities when collapsing on the ball. On tape, he also displays fluid hips in space and COD abilities while having active feet when moving laterally and playing with a low hat in the box. Due to his athleticism, range and speed he could play either inside or outside backer in college and has put together a very nice high school career which included 150+ tackles his Senior season. Currently, he holds offers from Black Hills State and Arizona Christian.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/LalamaCole/status/1600279478919233537?s=20&t=6pyPapp953TAWAVEfM2p7w </div></figure>     LB [player_tooltip player_id='394834' first='Jonah' last='Flowers'], Valley Vista HS   Flowers was another 150+ tackle kid in 2022 and is a no brainer college caliber player that passes the initial eye test. He has elite speed in the open field, closes fast and quickly diagnoses plays while taking good angles in the open field and exploding through contact. A very high IQ player, he fits the mold of the new age linebacker with his ability to both rush the passer with violence and cover in space/out of the backfield. One of the more violent and explosive linebackers the region has to offer, he has FCS caliber abilities.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Jonahflow/status/1597989231703781376?s=20&t=6pyPapp953TAWAVEfM2p7w </div></figure>   LB [player_tooltip player_id='169421' first='Deacon' last='Shea'], Notre Dame Prep HS   Shea is a true middle backer with size, short area speed and fills quickly with authority. Playing with a low pad level in the box, he has violent hands when applying pressure and getting off blocks while very strong at the POA and does a nice job at weaving through traffic to attack the ball carrier. Outside the box, he shows closing speed when pulling the chain and excels at tackling in space and tracking down ball carriers backside. A high motor kid that is tough in the box and athletic enough to cover and make plays in space, he is another no brainer college caliber prospect. Currently he does not hold any offers.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/deacon_shea/status/1601033390269964288?s=20&t=6pyPapp953TAWAVEfM2p7w </div></figure>

There are plenty of top tier prospects that have already signed their respective National Letters of Intent and those who have plans to sign in a couple weeks, but there is also another batch of talented players with next level abilities that remain unsigned and who had tremendous high school careers. Looking at the in state linebackers who were statistically amongst the best, here are some second level defenders that remain available and led the state in tackles in 2022.