2024 MN South Central LB Standouts

Once again, we look into the MN South Central division to look at some of the biggest names at LB in the division currently. These LBs have already established themselves as some of the best LBs in the state and are slated to be priority recruiting targets for several college teams once this season ends. Here are 6 of the best LBs in the South Central division to watch out for right now!    The prized athlete from Belle Plaine announced his commitment to Bemidji state at the end of July after a year in which [player_tooltip player_id='422176' first='Tristan' last='Holbrook'] was a game-wrecker for the Tigers' defense. Holbrook plays with tough physicality, utilizing his bulky frame to it's fullest potential, and it made it hard for anyone to run through him last year. Keeping his knees low and exploding off the snap, Holbrook is unstoppable once he breaks into the backfield, and his pursuit and tackling form is textbook. Holbrook is the unquestioned leader for the Tigers' defense, and he will be a scary player for any offense to go against moving forward.     [player_tooltip player_id='1016990' first='Hunter' last='Johnson'] is one of the strongest athletes among this group, posting a 355 lb max squat and a 435 lb max deadlift. With this strength, Johnson was a beast last season, overpowering blockers and showing his hard-hitting ability. Johnson takes good pursuit angles against the run and shows quick lateral movement. Johnson plays with a continuous motor at full speed, and is unsparing in his pursuit for the ball-carrier. Johnson is an exciting LB to watch in this division, and he should earn several looks from colleges at the end of the season.     [player_tooltip player_id='1010402' first='Grant' last='Janni'] plays a variety of roles for St. Peter, playing at LB, RB, and as a kick returner. Jannis is a powerful athlete, posting a 545 lb max deadlift and a 325 lb max bench press. On defense last season, Janni finished with 15 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 1 fumble recovery in 6 games on defense. Janni played with a low pad-level and broad shoulder-level, and he showed flashes of his strength and speed in his limited reps on defense. Janni is slated to break into the starting lineup on defense in 2024 where we could see a lot more of his potential on that side, and his versatility has already made him a priority target among D2 and FCS teams.     Jack Meier is one of the most versatile athletes on the Tigers' football team, playing MLB and TE with great effectiveness. On defense, Meier plays with fluid hip movement and change-of-direction that matches in coverage against opposing receivers step-by-step. Meier's speed makes him a dangerous in pursuit; he is someone that should never be left unguarded by the line or he will disrupt the QB in an instant. Against the run, Meier has excellent lateral speed and brings down ball-carriers with little resistance. Meier is a massive asset for the Tigers and he should earn a lot more attention heading into his senior year.     Don't be fooled by Ryan Dorcey's lighter frame, because he will light up players very easily. Dorcey was an all-district selection last season, and he has been rock-solid in the run-defense, playing with a low pad level and excellent tackling form. Dorcey is strong on contact, overpowering ball-carriers backwards, and does a good job reading and pushing pursuit angles on the fly. Dorcey has also been solid in pass-coverage, showing smart instincts knowing when to drop back into coverage. Dorcey is a name that needs to be heard more in 2024 among this group.     [player_tooltip player_id='591747' first='Andrew' last='Stelter'] is already shaping up to be another brilliant LB prospect coming out of Marshall. His athleticism is certainly enthralling for his age, with a 410 lb max squat, 425 lb max deadlift, and he runs a 4.83 40 yard dash. Stelter's athleticism has shown as a shortstop in baseball as he was a first-team all-region selection last season. While there isn't any film currently for him in football, Stelter is bound to earn more reps next season at LB with this level of progress that he's making with his development. Stelter could very much succeed as a two-sport athlete in the collegiate level if he continues to develop his mechanics.

Once again, we look into the MN South Central division to look at some of the biggest names at LB in the division currently. These LBs have already established themselves as some of the best LBs in the state and are slated to be priority recruiting targets for several college teams once this season ends. Here are 6 of the best LBs in the South Central division to watch out for right now!