’23 Preseason Super 7 – Class 5A Defensive Linemen

<!-- 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 (scroll down</a>)</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 down</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 down) </a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IOWA CITY, Iowa – </strong>We've reached mid-July. 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've finished up on offense. Now comes the D-Line. We kick it off in Class 5A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='247989' first='Drew' last='Campbell'], '24, Cedar Falls -</strong> The younger brother of '22 Butkus Award winner Jack Campbell is one of the state's top defensive players. Watch <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14817775/636469264deadf0c74a56b84" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">his junior highlights</a></strong>. At 6-foot-4, 225-pounds Drew plays differently than his brother. Jack is fierce on the second level. His younger sibling is made to have his hand in the dirt. He looks like he's being fired out of a slingshot coming off the edge. He's strong already, and will put in strength work at Iowa to reach his potential. As an 11th-grader, he produced 41 solo tackles (20.0 for loss) with 9.0 sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='252328' first='Joey' last='VanWetzinga'], '25, Pleasant Valley -</strong> The Hawkeyes' first and only '25 verbal commitment to date, VanWetzinga (6-2, 250) jumped on his lone scholarship offer on July 1, less than two weeks after receiving it. He could certainly end up at center in college, but he stands out just as much at D-Tackle as a prep. He racked up 13.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks as a sophomore in '22. Much like Campbell, VanWetzinga overwhelms offensive linemen with strength and quick burst, as you can see watching his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16308768/634d8116f55fc10888b5a685" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sophomore highlights</a></strong>. It often looks like an unfair fight. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156557' first='Tono' last='Cornell'], '24, Iowa City High -</strong> Like VanWetzinga, Cornell (6-2, 295) could fit on either side of the line. It looks like he'll get his start on defense at Illinois State next year, but it's nice to have versatility. He contributed 3.5 tackles for loss on a deep defensive line last season. He has a knack for absorbing blocks and then getting off of them if there's a potential tackle in the area. On his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17670554/6352ab6164e9cb04acf51c66" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong>, Cornell explodes off of the snap and is strong after impact. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='247997' first='Sam' last='Watts'], '24, Linn-Mar -</strong> Watts (6-3, 225) recently verbally pledged to FCS champion South Dakota State. That came after he performed at <a href="https://twitter.com/SamWatts25/status/1671564602541322240?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iowa</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SamWatts25/status/1665456141281763337?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iowa State</a> Big Man camps. As he proves in his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14760033/63646538ff01a9042c72d10c" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong>, he's a handful coming off of the edge. He's also produces lining up inside. It's an interesting combination of speed and strength. He stacked up 24 solo tackles (8.0 for loss) and 6 sacks last fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='247995' first='Sam' last='Kueter'], '24, Iowa City High - </strong>Similar to the dynamic with Jack and [player_tooltip player_id='247989' first='Drew' last='Campbell'], [player_tooltip player_id='247995' first='Sam' last='Kueter'] is comfortable up front while his older brother, Iowa Hawkeye freshman linebacker Ben Kueter, prefers the defense's second level. [player_tooltip player_id='247995' first='Sam' last='Kueter']'s 6-4, 210-pound frame looks like it can add strength without losing the athleticism. He affects the action lining up at different spots along the line. The effectiveness in stunting shows a high understanding of what he's doing. <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14829875/635ff89fd45e850888007616" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">As a junior</a></strong>, he accumulated 21 solo tackles (11.5 for loss) and 4 sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='640854' first='Cooper' last='Martinson'], '25, Southeast Polk -</strong> Martinson (6-4, 280) stands out as a college wrestling recruit but don't rule out a future on the gridiron. He only includes a few plays from his sophomore season on his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16019521/cooper-martinson" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl page</a></strong>. His tackle for loss against Prairie left me wanting to see more of his reps. He was named among the top three defenders by the program following the state semifinal and championship games. He finished his sophomore season totaling 53.0 tackles (43 solo, 9 for loss) and a sack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sanel "Sunny" Salkic, '25, Waukee - </strong>Salkic (6-2, 270) plays fast and with a lot of energy when watching his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16107076/635616192ab16705081b87dd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sophomore highlights</a></strong>. He keeps his pads low and drives with his legs. He does a good job keeping his eyes in the backfield, riding blocks and then getting off of them at the right time. As a 10th-grader, Salkic recorded 24.5 tackles (20 solo, 9.5 for loss) and a sack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->