UND Flagship Camp: LB Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"16px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:16px"><strong>GRAND FORKS--</strong> We move back to the defensive side of the ball at the UND Flagship Camp and take a look at the linebacker group from our notebook of standouts in Grand Forks. From the 2025 prospects still waiting for their first offer, to muliple new UND commits and how their camp performance was from our eyes, and more. We break the ice and tell you all about the linebacker group below.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1185260' first='Owen' last='Lesko'], LB, LaMoure-Litchville-Marion, ND 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/OwenLesko">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1371687,"width":"338px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/07/IMG_1218-rotated-crop-385x253-1723653249-crop-308x202-1723653478.jpg?w=307" alt="" class="wp-image-1371687" style="width:338px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Owen is a 2025 linebacker that I cannot believe is still without an offer this late into August. At the muliple camps I have caught him at he has put up more ideal testing numbers you want to see for the linebacker position at the Division II and NAIA levels. Owen is one of those linebackers that played with another gear in the reps I got to watch in Grand Forks and tracks the ball constantly well from sideline to sideline with a massive motor. I felt he has grown this summer (and showed it at UND) with his technique of getting off blocks not only quicker but with more finesse. This young man has to be an early fall offer in my eyes at the scholarship level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Theo Grace, LB, Kearney, MO 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/TheoGrace2025">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1371681,"width":"342px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/16-Theo-Grace-e1703376455272-crop-459x301-1723653209.jpg?w=458" alt="" class="wp-image-1371681" style="width:342px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is clear that the Fighting Hawks saw what they wanted from Kearney (MO) 2025 linebacker Theo Grace at the second UND Flagship Camp, as Theo is now a UND commit that flashed early in my notebook. I was highly intrigued with how agile Theo was with his change of direction and how physical he was at the point of attack in the pass coverage reps I watched out of him with his 6'1 205 pound frame. Theo is a middle linebacker that crushed it with his instincts in Grand Forks too as a 2025 prospect that excelled this summer at prospect camps and turned his early Division II offers into FCS offers due to his camp performances and is now a Fighting Hawk commit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='973578' first='Jack' last='Ames'], LB, Hawley, MN 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/JackAmes34">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1371679,"width":"346px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/07/IMG_8439-rotated-crop-385x253-1723653119.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1371679" style="width:346px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jack is a Minnesota outstate linebacker I caught wind of his skillsets last summer in Fargo, and liked the development I saw out of him in Grand Forks from one summer ago. The change of direction I witnessed last summer has grown a bunch out of Jack, as its easy to see why his recruiting has picked up a little steam in the NSIC. Jack did a sound job of attacking the hip during the drills I watched out him at the UND Flagship Camp and the consistency of what I saw lines up soundly when you crank the first 30 seconds of his tape. His vision has also gotten more instinctive since last summer as his downhill presence is constantly charging into the backfield. Jack holds one offer from Minnesota State-Moorhead and honestly I like the fit Jack could be within that Dragons defense in my eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='802392' first='Joshua' last='Chavez'], LB, Watford City, ND 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/JoshuaC45909432">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1189675,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/Joshua-Chavez-crop-339x223-1708566503.jpg?w=338" alt="" class="wp-image-1189675" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joshua is a linebacker that has constantly caught my attention at muliple camps in North Dakota this summer, including the UND Flagship Camp. Getting a live-eval on him certainly shows the bulk of skillsets he could bring to the table at the next-level. That live-eval persistently shows smoother change of direction and showed off in later reps in Grand Forks that although Joshua might not be the biggest linebacker on the field, he plays with pure physicality on contact and a big motor than his tape will give him credit. He is another prospect that also has sound character for his future locker at the next-level and has showed it on a few occasions this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1194604' first='Jett' last=''] Olson, LB, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, MN 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/[player_tooltip player_id='1194604' first='Jett' last='']Olson995800">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1371677,"width":"361px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/10/IMG_9431-rotated-crop-385x253-1723653066.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1371677" style="width:361px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was fired up to get my first live-camp eval of [player_tooltip player_id='1194604' first='Jett' last=''] this summer as the newest Southwest Minnesota State linebacker commit showed off what I had hoped to see all summer long. He appeared to be more wirey with his footwork during Indy and 1v1s in Grand Forks and although I didn't get a chance to time his quick transitions to the heart of the ball I felt since scouting him last fall that he has gotten more sudden with his release and with more finesse with his pursuit angles I witnessed. Can't wait to see what [player_tooltip player_id='1194604' first='Jett' last='']'s senior season looks like for KMS as the development from this young man is very intriguing to me since Fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"24px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:24px"><strong>UND Linebacker MVPs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not only did these two walk-out with an offer and both committed nearly on the spot they were also my Linebacker MVPs for their camp performance. They also flourished with their excellent character.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Brody Thornton, LB, Menomonie, WI 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/BrodyThornton9">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1371689,"width":"347px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/IMG_1453-rotated-crop-385x253-1723653620.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1371689" style="width:347px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not only was Brody physically imposing from the eye-test he certainly had the skillsets to back up his 6'3 215 pound frame. What flashed the best for Brody for me at the UND Flagship Camp, was how physical he was in his reps in pass coverage which for that size and a prospect that predominantly is a hybrid EDGE/LB at Menomonie, myself and the Fighting Hawks coaching certainly saw the absurd upside that this young man has at his disposal as one that can grasp new concepts and schemes I am sure very quickly. What also popped out in Grand Forks was how wirey Brody's first step off the snap as one that certainly defines the term versatile and has an outstanding football IQ on both sides of the ball for the Menomonie Mustangs. I believe the Fighting Hawks got a steal of out Western Wisconsin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='725868' first='Wyatt' last='Kuhn'], LB, New Salem-Almont, ND 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/WyAtt_kuhn21">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1371691,"width":"349px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/08/IMG_1454-1-rotated-crop-385x253-1723653709.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1371691" style="width:349px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our other linebacker MVP from the UND Flagship Camp was New Salem-Almont 2025 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='725868' first='Wyatt' last='Kuhn'] as yet another prospect that the upside showed off full circle in Grand Forks. The length that I watched out of Wyatt's lower body to the ball certainly caught our attention as even from our last-live eval you can tell his instincts have just continued to grow especially with his pursuit angles. Wyatt also gotten more fiery with his hands with his sheds and the vision this young man has is fun to watch in-person. Wyatt is the definition of a small town hidden gem that the Fighting Hawks should be fired up to watch develop over the coming years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->