2024 MN Southeast LB Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In our latest look at the MN Southeast division ahead of 2024, we take a look at some of the top LB recruits coming out of this area. The LBs that have been playing in this division have been very productive figureheads of their defense, and they include some of the most sought-after players at their position in the state. These are the 6 biggest LB prospects in the MN Southeast Division this season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["641136"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66aadcd45f6d8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Pine Island was devastated when their prized standout, [player_tooltip player_id='641136' first='Blake' last='Schiltz'] ended up tearing his ACL last season, but he had proven so well already that he ended up committing to North Dakota State back in June. Schiltz has been used in a variety of roles for the Panthers, but he has been best suited at Middle Linebacker. Schiltz has a great upper frame, quick lateral movement, and is a tough tackler. Schiltz will explode into the backfield, and can just as easily swing around the Tackle to contain the outside-run game. His returning presence in the defense will be warmly received by Pine Island once he takes the field in 2024 for his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["592312"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66aadcd45f74f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the returning players from Stewartville's championship run last season, [player_tooltip player_id='592312' first='Mikky' last='Heydt'] saw limited playing time, but has been touted as a future leader of the defense. Heydt recorded 18 tackles, a forced fumble, and a pick-six for the team last season. Heydt runs an impressive 4.54 40 yard dash, and it showed as he had a quick burst around the edge playing at Outside Linebacker last season. Heydt has also been a standout on special teams as an effective gunner and excellent blocker on returns. Heydt should get a lot more playing time on defense next season, and should be on the radar as a quickly-rising prospect in Minnesota. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["592310"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66aadcd45f79b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='592310' first='Sullivan' last='Gill'] is a bit undersized for a LB, but I believe that [player_tooltip player_id='592310' first='Sullivan' last='Gill'] is poised for a breakout season in 2024. Gill is a two-way player for Cannon Falls, playing at both LB and RB. He has a solid frame, and shows good lateral speed at RB, and I think that if he can build some more weight to match his frame, Gill could very much translate his skill-set at the LB position and be a dangerous figure for the defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Justice Deno","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"185","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Stewartville","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66aadcd45f854"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Justice Deno is another impactful returning piece for Stewartville's championship defense this season. Deno led the team last season with 80 tackles to go with 7 TFLs, 2 fumble recoveries, and a sack, and was selected as an honoroable-mention All-District player. Deno was all over the field last season, and was always at the ball-carrier to make the stop. The first thing that stood out to me of Deno was his hip control, which helped him switch direction quickly to stop the RB. Deno does a good job at reading his blockers and finding the gaps to get into the backfield, and is a solid tackler. If Deno can build some more strength to better shed off of blockers, Deno could very much grow as a priority prospect among D2-D3 teams in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brock Kajewski ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"180","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Red Wing","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66aadcd45f8ef"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brock Kajewski has been one of my favorite players from Red Wing to watch. Kajewski finished last season with 85 tackles and 2 interceptions as he finished as a honorable-mention All-District player last season. Kajewski is a tough tackler, and plays with an understated level of tenacity that drives the defense. Kajewski has also been stealthy in pass coverage, reading the QB well and timing his jumps well to break-up or intercept passes. Kajewski plays at all 3 areas for the team, playing on special teams as a blocker, and is a solid pass-catcher playing at TE. I think that Kajewski's combination of size, strength, and athleticism should not be overlooked, and he is certainly going to be a difficult player to stop next season in the division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Josh Wohlers","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"190","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lake City","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66aadcd45f983"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Josh Wohlers has been one of the most productive defenders for the Lake City Tigers. Wohlers finished 4th on the team last season with 48 tackles to go along with 4 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, 3 passes defended, and 2 interceptions with one returned for a touchdown. Wohlers has also been a Small Forward for the Tigers' basketball team. While Wohlers doesn't have any film for football, his film from basketball showcased his quick speed, high vertical jumps, and aggressive defensive attacks that translated well on the field last season. Wohlers has been an excellent athlete that will translate his skills to the collegiate-level well, whether it's on the field or in the court. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->