Class of ’26: WNY LBs

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best of the Best</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1293300"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1645169,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-67e2dcf57009a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Amuka transferred to St. Joe's after an outstanding 2023 campaign at Frontier. When he came to the Marauders, he immediately had an impact being named to the All Catholic, All WNY and All State teams. David has a big frame with long arms which gives him that ability to shed blocks and bring down opposing backs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1624527"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1645167,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-67e2dcf57012b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A breakout player in 2024, Wayne is a stout MLB that flows extremely well. He has excellent vision and tackles with ruthless aggression. Kayden has fluid hips and can change direction with his superb athleticism.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["806776"],"_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-67e2dcf57017f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A first year Crusader, Mbaiyo proved to be a stud tackler and has phenomenal range with good closing speed. He is solid in pass coverage and possesses the size you would like in your MLB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1586813,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1743105' first='Camryn' last='Slade']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"185","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Gowanda","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e2dcf570244"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Slade is one of the toughest players in Section VI. He double times as the team's starting RB and was their leading tackler at LB, where he earned 1st team All State and 3rd team All WNY honors. He possesses excellent technique and superior vision.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1549050"],"_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-67e2dcf57029d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hill was not on many people's radar heading into last season but he quickly showed he can play football. Jamere is a pass rushing OLB that racked up over 100 tackles and 10 sacks in his junior season. He read-and-reacts very well and is quick off the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["806966"],"_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-67e2dcf5702ec"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nucci is coming off of an excellent junior year where he lead the Vikings in rushing TDs with 11 (as part of a ground and pound approach) and on defense, showed he is a run stuffer the clogs running lanes as good as anyone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rising the Ranks</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two LBs that I really thought should have received post-season accolades were [player_tooltip player_id='1344751' first='Brock' last='Lepsch'] from Wilson and [player_tooltip player_id='1624510' first='Stone' last='Rozak'] from St. Joe's. Both players are versatile as they can play the run as well as the pass. Lepsch is more of a run stuffing MLB while Rozak is a pass rushing OLB with a long wingspan.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players to Watch in 2025</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several LBs that I had as breakout players last season suffered injuries as juniors but should be players to watch in their final year. [player_tooltip player_id='1743118' first='Parker' last='Klepfer'] from Lake Shore is a dynamic playmaker that can be seen as a LB or DB. [player_tooltip player_id='1272112' first='Isaac' last='Chilungu'] from Kenmore West is an aggressive player that stuffs running lanes extremely well. [player_tooltip player_id='1345201' first='Timothy' last='Domino Jr'] had a quiet season but he still possesses solid size at 6'2 210 lbs and is an exceptional athlete that can play TE and LB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other LBs to look out for are [player_tooltip player_id='1743112' first='Patrick' last='Luke'] from Lockport, Andrew Kozlowski from Grand Island and [player_tooltip player_id='1364054' first='Rowan' last='Carreira'] from Canisius. Luke had a solid sophomore season but did not post many numbers as a junior. The talent is there for him to breakout as a senior. 2024 was Kozlowski's first year on varsity and he has the potential to be a top end LB next to Nucci. Carreira is a name that is new to me but he is a player from Canada that is believed to transfer to Canisius this season. If he does, he will be an added force to their already stacked LB corps.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->