Monsters in the Middle: Minnesota’s most Intimidating Linebackers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whether it's on the ground or through the air, offenses will try their best to work around a bruising middle backer that can knock anyone clear off their feet. Today, I'll be looking at some of these backers from across the state that scare skill players senseless. Let's get it going. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Spencer Ness","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Bemidji","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Spencer Ness is a Bemidji High prospect whose game can be summarized through his relentless pursuit of the football. Despite playing middle backer and excelling at the position, I observed him flying around the field no matter where the ball went, making tackles near the sidelines that many slower, clunkier middle backers could never dream of making. At 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, Ness admittedly isn't the biggest guy out there, but the plays he makes are most definitely next level. My personal favorite was a goal line stand where he punched a ball out a streaking receiver's arms on the one yard line, giving his team the ball and saving a touchdown on a play where many other athletes would have phoned it in. His attitude, effort, strength, and speed are all there, and I bet we'll be hearing his name on Saturday mornings in due time.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["105390"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"This dude is scary. At 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, [player_tooltip player_id='105390' first='Dominic' last='Heim'] is built like a semi truck, and he sure hits like one. When I say he lifts ballcarriers clear off their feet with his hits, I am not exaggerating in the slightest. Heim runs through tackles, lowers his shoulder, and legally flattens anyone unfortunate enough to get the ball in their hands near him. His Twitter is chalked full of lifts that many college players couldn't touch, including a 415 pound bench press that was a school record at Eden Prairie. He's got the neckpad, he's got the strength, and he has plenty of D1 schools checking him out. Look for a big senior campaign out of this guy.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["447667"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Arguably the most diverse blend of speed and strength on this list, [player_tooltip player_id='447667' first='Evan' last='Hatton'] is a lightning quick linebacker who can also shell out some big hits. The rising senior out of Mounds View thrives in a nine technique, where he blitzes opposing offensive tackles and gets to the quarterback in a hurry. If there's a quick running back waiting to block him, Hatton simply lowers a shoulder and bulls them over. He's too fast for offensive tackles, and too strong for any running backs to properly square up. Although pass rushing seems to be his forte, Hatton's game spans far beyond that. He nullifies any sort of outside run by staying home and hawking down the ballcarrier, bringing them down in a hurry. This guy's game is versatile, and his senior season should be a fun one to keep tabs on.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["706022"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Another big backer with plenty of firepower, [player_tooltip player_id='706022' first='Jackson' last='Primus'] combines a hulking frame with speed and instincts that take his game up another notch. He uses his 6-foot-1, 220 pound frame to throw himself into the trenches, taking on backers and blockers alike on his mission to negate any form of yardage. Some of Primus' biggest plays actually came in the state tournament. The Rocori product stopped plenty of short third and fourth down plays, which all led to either punts or turnovers that kept his team in the game until the final whistle. Rocori made it to the state quarterfinals last year, and with Primus championing the defense for another season, it seems like they are due for another trip to the Bank.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["241916"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Last but not least on this list is [player_tooltip player_id='241916' first='Cashmere' last='Granau'], another big body that disrupts any offense with his physical style of play. The Minneapolis North product stands at 5 feet, 11 inches tall, weighs 225 pounds, and uses every bit of his frame to prey on ballcarriers and deliver big hits. His pass rush may not be anything fancy, but frankly, he doesn't need anything fancy. He gets low, he bullrushes, and he drives offensive linemen straight back into the football. If Granau doesn't get the tackle on plays like this, you can bet one of his teammates did thanks to the disruption Granau causes on a play-to-play basis at middle backer. He is also incredibly versatile when it comes to stopping the run, and I noticed him take strong pursuit angles to hawk down running backs who had escaped outside contain. This guy's got the muscle, the instincts, and the football IQ to play at the next level, and his senior year should show even more strides for the already talented Granau.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-646d286573f25"} /-->