’23 Preseason Super 7 – 1A Linebackers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-5a-linebackers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 Class 5A LBs</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-4a-linebackers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 Class 4A LBs</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-3a-linebackers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 Class 3A LBs</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-2a-linebackers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 Class 2A LBs</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-quarterbacks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 QBs</a>&nbsp;(scroll down in link for all classes)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-running-backs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 RBs</a>&nbsp;(scroll down)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-receivers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 WRs (</a>scroll)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-a-tight-ends/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 TEs (scroll</a>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-a-offensive-linemen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 OL (scroll</a>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-defensive-linemen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 DL (scroll)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IOWA CITY, Iowa – </strong>Believe it or not, high school football practice will kick off on 9 days. The first games are less than a month away. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To help get us prepared, we're listing seven top players returning at each position in all seven classes. You can read about the positions we've covered at the links above.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're digging in on defense. Here are the 1A linebackers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kade McElwaine, '24, MFL MarMac - </strong>McElwaine (6-0, 185) piled up 108.5 tackles in '22 while earning first-team all-state honors from the IPSWA. He recorded 70 solo tackles, 21.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. You see an impressive melding of physical skills with preparation and knowledge when watching his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14199920/63817d1d0dc1910d743bbaa7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong>. He plays faster than most of his opponents and is difficult to keep blocked. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oliver Potter, '24, Woodward-Granger - </strong>Potter covers a lot of ground in a hurry during his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/15663024/Oliver-Potter/highlights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong>. He flows very well to the ball in pursuit and closes quickly. You can tell he's prepared in watching pre-snap alignment and post-snap reaction. He accumulated 111.5 tackles (67 solo, 19.0 for loss) with 9.0 sacks despite playing part of the season with a cast on his right arm. The IPSWA named him second-team all-state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Evan Dorn, '24, Denver - </strong>The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Dorn joined Potter on the IPSWA all-state second team last fall. He racked up 73.5 tackles (39 solo, 14.0 for loss) with 5.0 sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries. When watching his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15089333/638a0d59bed6a50f9c46c861" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong>, Dorn stands out for his athleticism and physicality. He's a technically sound tackler that gets downhill in a hurry. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320754' first='Ty' last='Frasher'], '24, Cascade - </strong>Frasher shows plenty of play-making ability during his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14922081/Ty-Frasher/highlights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">highlights on Hudl</a></strong>. The coaches move him around the defense. He often ends up arriving to the ball on time and wrapping up well as a tackler. He totaled 60.5 tackles (40 solo, 12.0 for loss) with 2.0 sacks as a junior in '22. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156641' first='Wyatt' last='Powell'], '24, MFL MarMac - </strong>A second Bulldog on the list, joining McElwaine, Powell also enjoyed a stellar junior campaign. He finished with 58.0 total tackles with 42 of his stops being solo and 16.5 for loss. He added 8.5 sacks. He scored 18 touchdowns, including the housing of a kick return. His <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14891251/636feae64205d607741e9fc6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> reveal a tremendous athlete with good instincts for the game. He delivers on both sides of the ball and also stands out in basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Craig Miller, '24, Cardinal - </strong>Miller provided value all over the field for Cardinal. He recorded 55.5 tackles (30 solo, 4.0 for loss) and led the team in rushing. He stands out as a fluid athlete on both sides of the ball. He shows a nice burst when he's carrying the rock, as we can see on his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16453644/64222bcb15f634173c939a6f" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlight reel</a></strong>. The clips show him playing offense, which he does with physicality. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320851' first='Max' last='Adams'], '24, Sioux Central - </strong>Adams (6-3, 205) looks impressive during his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16641050/637986574206090634012cab" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlight package</a></strong>. It starts with him shining while carrying the football. It then features a fast and physical linebacker. He adds in a clip of him forcing a fumble while covering a punt, which was a nice touch. Forty eight of his 53.0 tackles were solo stops in '22. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->