’23 Preseason Super 7 – 4A 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/2023/06/23-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 –&nbsp;</strong>July is flying by, which means a new high school football season is right around the corner. It will be here before we know it.</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 4A linebackers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320777' first='Dayne' last='Mauk'], '24, Dallas Center-Grimes - </strong>Mauk (6-3, 210) reports college opportunities from Missouri Western, Upper Iowa, Wayne State, Grand View and Lindenwood. He's visited Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Northern Iowa and others. His <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13336778/635ab477688fc00ee89073b3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlight reel</a></strong> shows an active backer who makes plays all over the field. He keeps his head up, eyes on the ball and gets off of blocks. He produced 14.0 tackles for loss last season with 74 solo stops among his 86.0 total tackles. He added 6.0 sacks and an interception. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dreshaun Ross, '26, Fort Dodge - </strong>The Iowa sports world at large took notice of Ross (6-3, 205) when he won a state wrestling title as a freshman this past winter. Shortly after that, he received football scholarship offers from Iowa, Iowa State and Purdue. Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska have since joined that party. His <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17996675/637db4ca66558e0b10ffe1df" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">freshman highlights</a></strong> ooze potential. He plays really well in space whether he's covering a receiver or weaving his way to a tackle in the running game. He produced 46.0 tackles (34 solo, 1.0 for loss) as a ninth-grader. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nathan Milburn, '24, Newton - </strong>Milburn (6-1, 190) pops off his<strong> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14967701/63544f81ff0227090073769a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> as an old-school middle linebacker that consistently reads plays well, reacts and makes the stop. He piled up 86.5 tackles in '22. They included 76 solo stops and 14.0 tackles for loss in '22. He added 4.5 sacks. His ability to identify what the offense will run on a set pre-snap places him in a good spot for coverage as well. He's a technically sound tackler, who stays low and wraps up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Owen Thomas, '24, Lewis Central -</strong> The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Thomas totaled 67.0 tackles (42 solo, 13.5 for loss) with 5.0 sacks and an interception last fall for an outfit that reached the state championship game. The <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14623346/6357750a2347f908a47b687b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>highlights from his junior season</strong></a> reveal an athletic, angular linebacker that flows well within the defensive scheme. He often finds the right lane to travel through from behind the front and finishes tackles. He also impresses as a tight end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hayden Segoviano, '24, Fort Madison -</strong> Segoviano (5-11, 202) shows excellent speed and recognition when you watch his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14757865/633b2658b53f430e44e2464d" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>11th-grade highlight reel</strong></a>. He displays strong form when making tackles and drives through the offensive player with strong legs. He moves well laterally. He racked up 63.0 tackles (30 solo, 10.5 for loss) with 6.0 sacks last season. He also contributed as a running back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacob VanderLinden, '24, Bondurant-Farrar -</strong> At 6-2, 200 pounds, VanderLinden contributed 51.5 tackles for a Bluejay squad that finished 9-2 in '22. He had 28 solo stops and 9.5 for loss. His <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14782910/6376b47c664b0b06709e0a79" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> show us a physical presence on the second level of the defense. He runs very well sideline to sideline and regularly fights off blocks to get to the ball carrier. He does a nice job dissecting plays as they happen in front of him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caden Stock, '24, Cedar Rapids Washington -</strong> Stock (6-0, 200) represents a major obstacle for opposing offenses when you view his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16556612/635f1f980dcb0d0b680ef574" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">highlights from his junior season</a></strong>. He identifies pass or run well during pre-snap reads, which helps him play fast. He often overpowers bigger O-Linemen with his strength and leverage. His well-rounded skill set led to him accumulating 46.0 tackles (30 solo, 7.5 for loss) with 3.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->