2028 ND Rankings: Meet the Top Linebackers

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>LB4: [player_tooltip player_id='1597648' first='Dakari' last='Collette'], Minot </strong><a href="https://x.com/DakariCollette">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dakari is a linebacker that I can tell already, is going to play like a sideline to sideline linebacker in the near future. He shows off sound downhill penetration off the snap, and has some quick shedding hands that pop out on tape. Dakari is a linebacker that also impresses me with the finesse he plays with all over the field, as there is a consistent pop that comes with his physicality when he makes contact. Plays with a big motor too that is bound to group in this linebacker group as yet another prospect out of what looks like a hotbed at Minot High in the 2028 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>LB3: [player_tooltip player_id='1598041' first='Gabe' last='Gruba'], Enderlin</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To be honest, Gabe popped out on both sides of the ball but seeing that he is a heat seeking missle when he makes contact with the ball carrier on tape, linebacker suits him best in my eyes. Gabe's body type also intrigues me, as there is a lot of length yet to grow from an upside perspective. Gabe checked in at LB3, due to his pre-snap instincts, as you can tell Gabe has a progressive football IQ that is just going to get better and better over time as his tape comes thru. The upside I feel is huge on this young man as one of Enderlin's higher debuts in our rankings..</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>LB2: [player_tooltip player_id='1213313' first='Jett' last='Heck'], Bismarck Legacy</strong> <a href="https://x.com/JettHeck">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jett is a 5'11 170 pound linebacker out of Bismarck Legacy that knows how to rock the boat of the ball carrier he goes up against. The presence this kid plays way bigger than what his measurables will show you for sure. Jett is one those linebackers that plays at another gear with his game-speed as this young man is one of the most sudden linebackers in this early 2028 grouping. I would expect nothing less than to Jett to become a ball-hawk over the coming years for the Sabers over at Bismarck Legacy and man, if he could have another growth spurt, I like his shot to be one of the best linebackers this class has to offer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>LB1: [player_tooltip player_id='1093065' first='Knoxx' last='Wedelstedt'], Bismarck Century</strong> <a href="https://x.com/Knoxxw22">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thou shall trust their eyes in a live eval, as Knoxx came out to our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase last Spring and cracked our top performers as a running back. But man, when you peek at the tape, that athleticism and wirey instincts Knoxx has for the ball, I would love to see him at camps as a linebacker as the grit this young man plays with oozes more like a linebacker. I will say that our LB1 [player_tooltip player_id='1093065' first='Knoxx' last='Wedelstedt'] might be the hardest hitting linebacker in the class as almost everything you see on tape is a hard-nosed knockback tackle. Knoxx will be another linebacker in this class that has ball-hawk capability and plays with a easily noted sidleine to sideline presence. Even as a 2028 prospect, I surely like this kid as a scholarship level in the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->