WIAA State Finals: Top LB Performances

The land of WI is home to a lot of linebackers with next level potential. A lot of the top talent was able to make it to the State Championship Games and make a lasting impression. This crop of LBs comes in all shapes and sizes and also have shown a variety of strengths and traits that will translate to the next level. Today we are going to dive into some of those top LB efforts. Enjoy and get to know these senior steals and future athletes to know!    Stats: 6 Tackles   Jase showed off some impressive grit and toughness just to be in the game. He came back from a broken ankle that looked like it would end his season ,but the senior was able to work his way back onto the field and help his team bring home the D7 State Championship. On the field it looked like Jase was playing at 100%. He did a great job of shutting down the inside run. The senior was quick to trigger downhill, got through traffic well, and was a stout tackler. The senior has been a long time varsity contributor and saved his best for last.     Stats: 5 Tackles   Sam was the top defensive player in the D3 Championship game. Sam looks the part of a next level LB with his strong 6'2" 215 lbs frame. Lomira needed Sam to have a big game to slow down the Rice Lake rushing attack and he was up to the task. Sam showed he could quickly disengage from blocks, came downhill with violence, and was a very sound tackler that quickly shut down all forward momentum on his tackles. Sam plays with a strong base of instincts as well that allowed him to quickly diagnose and flow with plays. He is on the rise and still available.     Stats: 7 Tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 Sacks   Xander was all over the field in the D5 State Championship game vs Wrightstown, but mostly he was in the offensive backfield. Curtice did a great job diagnosing plays so quickly that he was able to always maintain his gap. His burst when blitzing was also a big strength and helped him get into the backfield clean to wreck havoc on the offense. The senior has a long frame that has strength packed into it, but he has plenty of room to continue to build on that in a college weight room. Xander was a big piece behind the physicality of the Stratford defense this season. Check him out.     Stats: 12 Tackles, 1 TFL, 2 FFs   Isaiah was up to the challenge of trying to slow down the Baldwin- Woodville rushing attack. The OLB looked very comfortable meeting ball carriers out on the edge and making the one on one tackle. The senior is a very agile, and rangy OLB who fits the new age of OLB/nickel roles. An athlete who can play off the edge in space while avoiding kick out blocks and making tackles but also drop into coverage when needed. It was great watching how aggressive he attacked his tackles too, including punching the ball out on multiple occasions.     Stats: 9 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT   Another key piece to the St. Cat's championship win was LB [player_tooltip player_id='685926' first='Mariano' last='Talamantez']. The senior intercepted the first pass of the game by B-W, perfectly jumping the route over the middle. Despite being undersized, Mariano is a menace in the middle of the St. Cat's defense. He is able to range sideline to sideline and has excellent short area agility to avoid blocks very quickly then get back downhill to meet the ball carrier. The senior always knew where the ball was and was able to get himself to it and involved in the tackle all game long. I left impressed by the senior LB.     Stats: 5 Tackles   While the sophomore doesn't have elite length, at least not yet, Flowers was able to hold his own on the edge in the D3 Championship Game. The sophomore played with strong hands consistently keeping separation. He has the quickness and body control to rip or dip around OTs. His first step off the line also helped him load up some power on contact. Flowers is an up and coming prospect that I will be excited to watch develop on this talented, well coached team.     Stats: 4 Tackles   Because Catholic Memorial went to the air so much, we didn't get a ton of reps to watch Abe in his best environment. However, I was very impressed by his physical, strong frame that is college ready. Abe is a downhill thumper who thrives against rushing attacks. Once he gets his sites on the ball it is hard for an OL to get him off his path to the ball. Abe can power through blocks and his tackling was some of the most reliable we saw at State this year. Abe is an under the radar athlete to know at the LB position.     Stats: 11 Tackles, 1 FF   Grant had more responsibility than he expected coming into this game. About halfway through the starting QB was injured, so Grant was thrust into the starting job along with his LB duties. On defense is where he impressed a lot throughout the game. He has a solid frame that was is blessed with an excellent combo athleticism and power. With that he was able to play sideline to sideline as he tried to help slow down the Lomira rushing attack. Grant just hit our radar in this game, so I am excited to see what he does with a full season of potentially starting both ways in 2025.     Stats: 11 Tackles, 2 Sacks, 2 TFLs   Bay Port's [player_tooltip player_id='987075' first='Nick' last='Hawker'] put together a massively productive night in his final HS game. He was literally all over the field making tackles from sideline to sideline or on kickoff coverage. The senior has plenty of athleticism to be able to roam the field and chase down the ball while doing so. It was very impressive watching the MLB navigate the front seven, closing on the ball while also avoiding blockers. The senior also stepped up in the biggest moments, such as his sack to essentially end the game and Muskego's comeback attempt when he flew through the middle of the OL to get to the QB. Nick was a primetime performer and helped Bay Port earn their first D1 State Championship.     Stats: 5 Tackles, 1 PBU   The top LB prospect in the State Finals was junior OLB [player_tooltip player_id='533161' first='Brock' last='Gauthier']. The former safety, now OLB has put on some quality size now looks like a legitimate LB prospect. Brock still has that speed and athleticism from his safety days, and it allows him to fly off the edge to get after the QB, or drop into zone coverage and easily read and slide to stay in passing lanes. Brock also checks the box when it comes to physicality. You can count on him to take on blocks against the outside run, forcing the ball back inside or getting off blocks and making the tackle himself. Gauthier is a very well rounded LB and a top prospect to know in the Class of 2026.     Stats: 5 Tackles   A final standout from the D1 game was junior LB [player_tooltip player_id='1220676' first='Brody' last='Axelson']. Brody impressed me with his quick closing burst leading to sound pops when he tackled. The athletic LB also made a lot of plays by flying through the front seven without getting touched by offensive linemen. Brody was quick to react and it made it hard for linemen to cut him off. The junior also showed that he could read the flow of the OL, move with the play, and then still come downhill to get involved in the tackle. Axelson will be one to keep an eye on this offseason as he prepares for his senior season.

The land of WI is home to a lot of linebackers with next level potential. A lot of the top talent was able to make it to the State Championship Games and make a lasting impression. This crop of LBs comes in all shapes and sizes and also have shown a variety of strengths and traits that will translate to the next level. Today we are going to dive into some of those top LB efforts. Enjoy and get to know these senior steals and future athletes to know!