’23 Preseason Super 7 – Class A 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 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 Class A linebackers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='252340' first='Gavin' last='Sleezer'], '25, Alta-Aurelia -</strong> Sleezer (6-3, 200) stands out during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16414355/635ac7ba02b20315c4102064" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>sophomore highlights</strong></a> for lowering the boom on the opposition. He flows well to the ball and regularly plows his shoulder into the ball carrier with force before wrapping up. He reads his keys and plays within the scheme. He rolled up 95.5 tackles as a 10th-grader with 48 of them being sol. He registered 13.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248020' first='Tanner' last='Thurn'], '24, East Buchanan - </strong>Clips are limited in <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14643415/Tanner-Thurn/highlights" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thurn's Hudl profile</a></strong>. There are only two from last season - one of him playing running back and the other has him lining up at linebacker. Both reveal a physical, down-hill football player that overpowers opponents. In '22, 49 of his 85.5 total tacklers were solo. He posted 20.0 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156621' first='Tate' last='White'], '24, Nashua-Plainfield - </strong>The 6-2, 205-pound White totaled 80.5 tackles (43 solo, 7.5 for loss) last season for the Huskies. He also threw in a 30-yard punt return, showing off his athleticism. It can be witnessed while watching his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14963789/63179fceab9cb70470612f60" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong>. He's an old-school Mike linebacker, patrolling the middle of the field. He runs well to the ball and brings force upon arrival. He quickly identifies opponent plays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360482' first='Riley' last='Kaalberg'], '25, Columbus - </strong>Kaalberg produced 69.0 tackles with 47 of them being solo and 8.0 for loss. He added 3.0 sacks and a 73-yard kick return for a touchdown. During his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17981418/6495bba44205db095c8fc209" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sophomore highlights</a></strong>, we see a disciplined and patient linebacker with quick reactions when it's his time to make the stop within the flow of the defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156640' first='Ian' last='Blowe'], '24, Akron-Westfield - </strong>A talented running back who led the team in rushing last fall, Blowe delivers on defense, too. He contributed 64.0 tackles (45 solo, 8.0 for loss) and recovered three fumbles. His <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14883875/6356a1aa19af8d0b68fee35b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> on defense open with a few clips of him punishing the opponent. Your head needs to be on a swivel with him in pursuit because physicality is the name of his game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ethan Wiersma, '24, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn - </strong>Wiersma (6-0, 200) was credited with 41 solo tackles among his 51.1 total stops. Three of his tackles resulted in lost yardage for the opponent and he picked off a pass. His <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16638215/637015caa676c70a7c13c9b2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlight reel</a></strong> provides solid evidence of a standout two-way player. He aids the running game as a tight end. On defense, he plays the run well and looks solid in coverage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ryan Stiles, '24, Earlham - </strong>The first clip in his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16474558/6355446a2ab16705081a94f3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlight package</a></strong> features Stiles blowing up a running play before it can get started. He forces a fumble that his team recovers. You can see he's prepared. He's effective lining up on the second level or with his hand in the dirt. He posted 35 solo tackles and 49.0 total stops. He had 3.0 tackles for loss and a sack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->