Film Room: ’26 Linebackers Ready for Next Level

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linebacker is a deep position in Iowa's 2026 recruiting class. It makes sense with talent that vast student-athletes capable of helping programs at the next level still are available.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a group of guys that can boost colleges pursue success:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1361684"],"_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-67da135d16e6b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cedar Rapids Kennedy excels at player development, particularly of hard-nosed guys. That means talent at linebacker with dudes like Bunting. On a defense that got everyone involved, Bunting collected 17.0 tackles (12 solo, 2.5 TFL) and a sack. As we see during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17728407/67b69180372d41a142f32694">junior highlight video</a>, Bunting can cover a lot of group side to sideline thanks to good straight-ahead speed and lateral quickness. He diagnoses plays quickly and flows well to the football within the scheme. Bunting also would an asset on special teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["773219"],"_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-67da135d16ee5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Breyfogle produced at a high level for the Black Raiders last season. The junior piled up 59.0 tackles (33 solo, 7.0 TFL) and a sack. When we pop on his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18566944/6727df21da33ac90e3a0c28c">11th-grade highlight video</a>, he illustrates how he came about his statistics. Breyfogle recognizes what the opposition is running quickly if he doesn't figure it out pre-snap. It allows him to fly to the football. Breyfogle embraces the game's physicality. His clips also include him standing out on special teams, an added bonus with colleges having reduced roster sizes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1238608"],"_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-67da135d16f2e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Friend posted 43 tackles (21 solo, 5.5 TFL) and 3.0 sacks last season. He also intercepted a pair of passes. Friend shows us during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14950242/6721a104e94ad52ac6c54ba1">junior highlight video</a> a versatile linebacker that can play the pass. The Lions move Friend around the formation so he can take advantage of mismatches. He operates with physicality and a nose for the football. Friend probably fits best at middle linebacker with his ability to separate from blocks and blow plays up before they get started. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1599553"],"_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-67da135d16f72"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We don't need to dive deep into Antonelli's <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17693065/673802d70942f8f785e78698">junior highlight video</a> to understand how he came by 56.5 tackles in 2024. He ruined a lot of plans with 42 solo stops, 20.0 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks. Antonelli fits the mold of a playmaking outside linebacker/edge rusher because he doesn't stay blocked very long. He mixes strength and quickness to overwhelm is opponents and get them on their heels. He's adept at diagnosing the offense, flowing to the ball and arriving with good form on his tackles. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1238599"],"_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-67da150be2006"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">While not one of the bigger guys on the field, Perez-Hall stands tall on the second level of the defense. His <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18047886/671efd410f40bd694878ba36">junior highlight video</a> reveals how he produced 43.0 tackles (30 solo, 7.0 for loss) and 2.5 sacks. Perez-Hall runs well sideline-to-sideline and plays with a good burst in pursuit. He identifies the offense quickly and gets off of block attempts with strength and active hands. Perez-Hall plays fast but under control, breaking down ball carriers and hitting them with a technically sound tackle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1619461"],"_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-67da186e4fc3e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">On a senior-heavy roster that reached the state semifinals for the first time in school history, Wyldon was one of the team's top tacklers as a junior. He finished the campaign with 47.0, the second most on the team. Thirty four of his stops were of the solo variety, and he recorded 1.5 tackles for loss. When watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19272686/672bc954cd069cd96f9e46da">junior highlight video</a>, we witness a versatile defender that can be moved around the formation. Wyldon is a hybrid that can get home when blitzing off the edge, cover receivers from the slot corner spot and act as a safety. That's the type of flexibility colleges seek. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->