’23 Preseason Super 7 – 8-Player 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/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-1a-linebackers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 Class 1A LBs</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-a-linebackers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 Class A 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>Believe it or not, high school football practice will kick off on 8 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 8-Player linebackers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156461' first='Cam' last='Buffington'], '24, Winfield-Mount Union - </strong>Despite being at a school with a small enrollment, Buffington (6-3, 225) stands out as one of the state's top athletes. He averaged 19.7 points and 9.5 rebounds in basketball this past winter. He ran the <a href="https://www.gobound.com/ia/ihsaa/boystrack/2022-23/winfieldmtunion/v/stats" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">100 meters in 11.27 seconds</a> during track in the spring. Buffington earned '22 second-team all-state honors from the IPSWA in football after totaling 95.5 tackles (76 solo, 6.0 for loss). He added a sack and three interceptions. The Iowa Hawkeye commitment's <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11757541/63583f60066af404fc7c60db" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> speak volumes. He's playing a couple levels above everyone else with his size and speed. He'd be starting at any school in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oliver Schmitt, '24, Turkey Valley - </strong>The IPSWA named Schmitt (6-0, 180) to its all-state second-team after a '22 campaign that saw him record 57.5 tackles (27 solo, 2.0 for loss) with 2.0 sacks and two picks. He also contributed 22 touchdowns on offense. Schmitt's <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14872998/63e2c1f196760b0ab4396668" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> begin with defensive clips showing a linebacker adept at reading and reacting. He gets downhill quickly and arrives with force. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Austin Vaverka, '24, Gladbrook-Reinbeck - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16588634/Austin-Vaverka" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vaverka's Hudl page</a></strong> holds offensive highlight videos from individual games. When watching them, you see a talented athlete coming out of the backfield. He's dangerous carrying or catching the ball on offense, where he scored 20 touchdowns in '22. He's accelerates and changes directions well. Those skills also must serve him on defense, where he earned second-team all-state laurels from the IPSWA last fall after recording 79.0 tackles (48 solo, 16.0 for loss) and 6.5 sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trenton Beard, '24, Colo-Nesco - </strong>Like Vaverka, Beard (5-7, 230) has posted individual game highlights on his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14908013/Trenton-Beard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl page</a></strong>. We do get to see him play defense. He provides a presence in the middle of the unit. He plays well sideline to sideline but also stuffs the run inside the tackles. He looks like a D-Tackle playing on the second level. He racked up 81.5 tackles last fall. He had 59 solo tackles and 4.0 stops for loss. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359047' first='Ambrose' last='Savage'], '25, Lamoni - </strong>The name alone might get him on the list, but Savage (5-11, 170) belongs here because of his play. He registered 78.0 tackles (48 solo, 4.5 for loss) and two fumble recoveries. He threw for seven touchdowns, ran for three more and returned kicks as well. He flows really well to the football as a linebacker, keeping the play in front of him and attacking for the tackle when he's in position. It's all on display during his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16406615/Ambrose-Savage/highlights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sophomore highlights</a></strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1358266' first='Tate' last='Martin'], '25, BGM - </strong>Martin (5-11, 180) stacked up 15.0 tackles for loss and a sack as a sophomore in 22. Of his 60.5 tackles, 46 were solo. He intercepted three passes, returning two of them for touchdowns, and recovered four fumbles. While viewing his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16194828/6359f4ddab924c0530ba357c" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10th-grade highlight reel</a></strong>, you see a linebacker standing out in coverage on the front end of the video. Later in it, he shows an aptitude for stopping the run as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156497' first='Triton' last='Gwinn'], '24, Mormon Trail - </strong>Gwinn (6-0, 160) thrives on both sides of the ball for the Saints. He rushed for 15 touchdowns, caught 13 TD passes and 45 of his 58.0 tackles were solo. He intercepted three throws and recovered a fumble. The first two clips of his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14910732/6358198bc12499068440580c" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> show him returning one punt for a touchdown and another for a long gain. The package ends with him creating a turnover on defense. He impresses as an all-around athlete with sharp skills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->