Class A All-State LBs: Barnes The Ultimate Leader
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Rylan Barnes Rylan Barnes 6'3" | 200 lbs | LB West Hancock | 2023 State IA had himself quite the career at West Hancock. Barnes helped the Eagles achieve the highest of success on the football field, capturing state glory…
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Continue ReadingRylan Barnes Rylan Barnes 6'3" | 200 lbs | LB West Hancock | 2023 State IA had himself quite the career at West Hancock.
Barnes helped the Eagles achieve the highest of success on the football field, capturing state glory inside the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls. Along the way, he impressed the coaching staff at Iowa State enough to receive a preferred walk-on offer.
Barnes was just one of the many standouts in Class A at the linebacker position this past fall.
First Team – Rylan Barnes Rylan Barnes 6'3" | 200 lbs | LB West Hancock | 2023 State IA – West Hancock – Senior
Grundy Center got the better of West Hancock this past fall in the state title game, but Rylan Barnes Rylan Barnes 6'3" | 200 lbs | LB West Hancock | 2023 State IA did everything he could to change that. Barnes had 80.5 tackles including 53 solo stops with 14 tackles for loss. He recovered three fumbles and picked off eight passes.
He also excelled on offense, rushing for 97 yards and a TD while catching 29 passes for 585 yards and eight more scores.
Second Team – Kyle Squires – Lynnville-Sully – Senior
The Lynnville-Sully defense had an exceptional anchor in Kyle Squires. The senior linebacker recorded 86.5 tackles with 62 solo stops. He was also causing problems with his ability to disrupt the offense, recording 15.5 tackles for loss with 2.5 sacks.
Squires added 529 yards rushing and nine scores to go along with five receptions, helping the Hawks reach the state semifinals.
Third Team – Max McGill Max McGill 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Woodbury Central | 2023 IA – Woodbury Central – Senior
An exceptional tackler, Max McGill Max McGill 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Woodbury Central | 2023 IA had 88 stops this past fall with 61 being recorded as solo ones. He was also in on 10 tackles for loss and sacked the quarterback twice.
McGill was just as difficult to tackle as he was to evade, rushing for almost 1,500 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Honorable Mention
AHSTW teammates Aidan Martin and Nick Denning recorded over 200 total tackles between them, while Ben Puente of AGWSR had 14 tackles for loss among his 106. Gavin Sleezer Gavin Sleezer 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB Alta-Aurelia | 2025 State IA of Alta-Aurelia, Tanner Thurn Tanner Thurn 5'8" | 150 lbs | LB East Buchanan | 2024 IA from East Buchanan and Tate White Tate White 6'1" | 195 lbs | DL Nashua-Plainfield | 2024 IA of Nashua-Plainfield were other standouts along with Grundy Center junior Clay Saak Clay Saak 5'11" | 170 lbs | LB Grundy Center | 2024 IA .