’27 Rankings Update: Breaking Down Linebackers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2027-rankings/?position=LB">2027 Linebacker Rankings </a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Impressive depth defines many of the position groups for the in-state class of 2027. None of them is filled with more overall talent than linebacker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are new or updated scouting reports on select members from the group:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["466364"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b0ab4fa81f7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I've watched Wallace grow physically and as a football player over the last two years. It's been an impressive transformation with plenty of room to go before he hits his ceiling. Miami (OH) offered a scholarship during last season, when he also visited Iowa, Iowa State and Minnesota. Missouri and Northwestern also are involved with his recruitment. The attention sprouts from what you see during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18011744/6734e3c7474f9c7090023002">sophomore highlight video</a>. Wallace ramped up his physicality this season to complement his athleticism and thorough understanding of the game. You see him play WR and think about potential at TE. Then he operates at linebacker and the possibilities there are special.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1609271"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b0ab4fa82ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I scouted Stecker during the regular-season finale at Iowa City High. As you can observe during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18366660/67424d2623225e784780e26c">sophomore highlight video</a>, Stecker is a high-motor menace with explosiveness. That leads to plenty of tackles. He piles them up by quickly diagnosing what he's seeing from the offense. Stecker moves well laterally and flows smoothly to the ball. He stays on assignment and delivers when it's his turn to wrap up. Stecker finished with 58.0 tackles (36 solo, 7.5 TFL) as a 10th-grader.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["513361"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b0ab4fa835c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Blount Jr. crashed the scene with a fabulous freshman season of 2023. He followed it up with a super sophomore campaign that saw him collect 40.0 tackles (3.0 TFL) on a balanced Jaguars defense last fall. He played through an injury all during the year, which limited his reps. When breaking down his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19713272/673225049e15beea10b70f20">sophomore highlight video</a>, he made a difference when he was on the field. Versatility is a strength for Blount Jr. He can play in the middle or outside, and holds up well against the run or in coverage. He's quick to the ball, physical and is a technically-sound tackler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1105160"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b0af2f06206"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ankeny regularly develops quality defenders. Whitinger proved this season that he's another product of the pipeline with 88.0 tackles (11.5 TFL), 2.5 sacks and an interception. It earned him all-state recognition as a sophomore in the state's largest class. Whitinger exhibits good linebacker traits when watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19973371/6744d84e962b45bb4b29076a">10th-grade highlight video</a>. He diagnoses plays well, flows to the ball and is a fundamentally-sound tackler. Whitinger can run, which help him in coverage. He separates well from blocks already and will improve even more with added strength to come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1532913"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b0b582eed21"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Iowa Football Coaches Association named Milburn a Class 4A first-team all-state performer in 2024. The sophomore racked up 102.0 tackles, 95 of which were of the solo variety. He had 9.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. It's pretty easy to see how he reached those lofty statistical heights when viewing his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/23181888/674c0229625776be6d66d438">10th-grade highlight video</a>. Milburn is a classic, stout middle linebacker that makes life miserable for opposing offenses. He bursts through gaps and wraps up the ball carrier. Milburn's motor and physicality stand out, but he's also athletic and fast.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1204438"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67b0b582eed7c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vinyard is an excellent athlete that happens to play linebacker. He may continue developing at the position, which would be ideal with his frame and athleticism. But those traits also work at tight end, where he caught a TD pass last season. He might end up on the edge depending on how his body fills out. On the second level, Vinyard recorded 29.0 tackles, 22 of which were solo. He had 7.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. When breaking down his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18405824/6727cce0c232bc050770c640">sophomore highlight video</a>, Vinyard's versatility allows Wolves' coaches to move him around the defensive formation. He breaks down the ball carrier well and is a proficient tackler in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->