Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase: Nate’s Top Linebackers, Part II

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BROOKLYN PARK</strong>-- We take a look at our last batch of my top linebackers in the building at our Prep Redzone Minnnesota Showcase on Sunday. This list features our LB1 in the 2026 class and his performance on Sunday, 2026s that rose their stock in my eyes, and 2027s that intrigue with their upside at the linebacker position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1247065' first='Benjamin' last='Bergan'], LB, Anoka 2027 </strong><a href="https://x.com/benjamin_bergan">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1584002,"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/3/2024/12/IMG_2237-rotated-crop-481x316-1734578244.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1584002" style="width:338px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benjamin was a linebacker that caught my eyes on a few occasions at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase. What popped out first was his explosive traits that I saw with his broad jump as he jumped a 9'3 in the rep I watched which was likely in the first tier of the linebacker group so I expected him to be one to catch my attention later in our showcase. At 6'2 195 pounds, also went 4.35 in the pro agility and 7.31 in the L-Drill as the athleticism I saw out of been it's clear was continous during testing. Later in the live eval, Benjamin showed off loose hips during Indy drills and was quick to unlock those hips and use that explosive athleticism to his advantage, as one that grades to me as a sideline to sideline linebacker and from watching the tape the upside at the linebacker postion looks significant to these eyes, as there isn't even many reps from him yet at linebacker on tape. He can grow his balance with his footwork, as you could tell the explosiveness in watching his pursuit angles was there, but finding a smoother balance with that footwork to the ball will hopefully pay off some dividends for this young man.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1288402' first='Jordan' last='Heimer'], LB, Bryon 2027 </strong><a href="https://x.com/JHeimer24">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"16px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:16px">Looking into my notebook, I realized what a day it was for Bryon Bears athletes in my notes as there are a handful including 2027 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1288402' first='Jordan' last='Heimer']. I felt in the 2027 class of linebackers I watched Jordan was in the top tier for hip explosion to the ball in the reps I got to watch during early Indy drills. After getting the testing numbers back, it verified what I saw with his change of direction as Jordan went for a 4.26 in the pro agility. I thought he was persistent in the reps I watched attacking the hip and you could gauge on tape that I feel his highest upside could be linebacker at next-level as he just has a visual instincts in the reps I watched in person and on tape but surely could also be a sound RB fit too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1581345' first='Cameron' last='Finney'], LB, Roseville 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/BankzCam">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cameron was a 2026 linebacker that I wish I had caught early or more reps at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase as the late riser at our showcase showed off some skillsets that intigued me. The finesse downhill that Cameron plays with shows off some pure intentions with his heavy amount of physicality he showed off in the reps I got to watch from him last Sunday. You flip on his tape, what do you see? Geunine consistency with what I saw on Sunday with the constant physical nature I want out of linebacker at the next-level and one that probably had one of the biggest motors amongst the linebacker group at Park Center and that should set a high bar for Cameron even though I watched limited reps. This kid plays with a higher level of game speed than you might get from his testing numbers in my eyes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1581379' first='Logan' last='Kleist'], LB, Mankato East 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/KleistLogan">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I thought from a football IQ and technique perspective, Mankato East 2026 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1581379' first='Logan' last='Kleist'] showed off a higher than I expected as a newer 2026 linebacker on my radar. He also appeared as a linebacker that shows off great fluidity in the reps I got to watch on Sunday as a linebacker that also plays with a well-rounded football IQ that plays on both sides of the ball. He showed off a twitchy first step off the snap as a linebacker that I felt played with a sound motor from the reps I watched last Sunday at Park Center. Also, Logan showed off a 9'5 broad jump which shows off that the contribution of what we saw in our live eval lives up to the hype from seeing him in testing as the other interesting number from Logan is his 6'5+ wingspan as a nearly 6'0 195 pound linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575669' first='Tony' last='Turner'], LB, Spring Lake Park 2025</strong> <a href="https://x.com/TonyJTurner">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1583532,"width":"332px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_2029-rotated-crop-481x316-1734546900.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1583532" style="width:332px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's become evident since last summer that if there is a camp or showcase that I attend, you can bet [player_tooltip player_id='1575669' first='Tony' last='Turner'] magically ends up in my notebook as a constant standout. Yet, the lack of attention has been limited by college coaches recruiting this young man as he stood out again back to back weeks at our Dakotas Showcase and yet again at our Minnesota Showcase, which is no accident. Tony has shown off the constant great range that you want from a college football linebacker and that has shown in the live eval the last two weekends. Tony also shows off versatile hands that are quicker off blocks because as a hybrid LB/DE he is used to going up against larger bodies in the defensive trenches and I have felt especially at Park Center last weekend he has shown quick growth getting faster off his sheds. I don't think in my career with PRZ have I ever seen a kid constantly standout at showcases/camps as much as Tony as one that is so under the radar it's not even funny. You will love the finesse this young man will give you on every rep next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1120625' first='Luke' last='Henry'], LB, Eden Prairie, 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/LukeHenry48">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1583548,"width":"317px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/44-Luke-Henry-crop-4800x3152-1734547626.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1583548" style="width:317px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Circling back from our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase this Sunday, I found yet again Eden Prairie 2026 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1120625' first='Luke' last='Henry'] on my standout list again, and it surely is no accident. I felt from an instincts perspective, Luke was one of the strongest I see in my live eval from the linebacker group overall. The verified 6'3 205 pounder. In the later reps of our showcase, Luke showed off some off more fiery hips off his releases that I saw too in the linebacker group as you can just see the growing finesse and intent this kid plays with on every rep I saw on Sunday. Luke also shows off one of the biggest motors I have seen i this 2026 class in Minnesota as a linebacker that for good reason caughting the eyes of D1 schools right now which I think would be a good fit for Luke at the next level for sure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='923835' first='Aidan' last='Boche'], LB, Park of Cottage Grove 2026 </strong><a href="https://x.com/ABoche81629">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1584008,"width":"350px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_2235-rotated-crop-481x316-1734578437.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-1584008" style="width:350px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Aidan was a 2026 linebacker that I can assure surely passed the eye test in our linebacker group at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase and it didnt' take long either. For his 6'4 205 pound frame, Aidan you could tell in his reps plays with a high bar of instincts not just with his athletic movement but you could gauge his quick process on every rep I got to watch which is a huge credit to his football IQ. I was also intrigued with how rangey Aidan appeared to be for his measurables, as I was really impressed with this young man's vision in the reps I got to watch at Park Center and excellent length of his frame. It's significantly easy to see why he his our LB1 in the 2026 class in Minnnesota and one that surely looks like a Division I fit as he also displayed grade A character from what I grasped at our showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->