Class 1A Senior LB Watchlist for 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jumping back to Class 1A, a conference that we covered extensively during the 2024 season, we take a look at the top upcoming senior LB prospects to watch in the conference next season. This is a great group of promising pieces playing at the second level of their defenses that have been difficult to go against playing for one of the most underrated groups in the state. Here are 5 senior LBs to watch out for in Class 1A Iowa in 2025!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Cooper Gates","_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":"West Branch","_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-67f310906a084"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cooper Gates was one of the few shining stars for West Branch's football team last season. Gates recorded a team-high 61.5 tackles to go with 13 TFLs and 7 sacks. Gates has an impressive level of tenacity in his ability to finish every play and his drive in getting around blockers to get to the ball-carrier. Gates boasts an impressive amount of power and strength from the lower body, along with excellent tackling form. That lower body strength stems from his success in wrestling, and he won several individual titles over the winter for West Branch. Gates is a stud for the Bears' defense, and he will be an important facet toward helping West Branch get back on the right track in 2025. </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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Hayden Hill","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Wilton","_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-67f310906a12a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After seeing little playing time during his sophomore season, Hayden Hill surged as a key component for Wilton's defense as they reached the state semifinals last season. Hill co-led the team with 80 tackles to go with 10.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks. Hill has excellent speed, quick feet, and sharp changes of direction moving laterally, making him very reliable in covering the field sideline-to-sideline. While mostly used in run support, Hill's speed also made him very dangerous as a blitzer, and he does a great job at reading the QB and understanding when to charge from his zone to blitz the QB. Hill has made a big impact for Wilton's defense, and he'll look to finish off his high school career by helping Wilton to a state championship. </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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Tommy Tanner","_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":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Hinton","_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-67f310906a1bf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tommy Tanner's size doesn't look ideal for a Middle Linebacker, but Tanner plays with an impressive level of sheer power that makes up more than enough for his frame. Tanner finished last season with 65 tackles (47 solo), 5 TFLs, 4 sacks, a fumble recovery, and an interception. With a 230 LB max bench and a 360 LB max squat, Tanner plays like a beast in a little package, showing great power and tackling ability, doing a great job at shooting the gaps while not getting pushed back easily by blockers. Tanner deserves his credit for his impressive display guiding Hinton's powerful defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1600525"],"_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-67f310906a20f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tanner isn't the only standout on Hinton's LB corps, as Jackson Kounkel also played a significant role toward helping Hinton to a state semifinal appearance last season. Kounkel recorded 65.5 tackles (52 solo), 4.5 TFLs, and 3 sacks in 2024. Kounkel has a strong upper-body frame, and he's not a player that you want to take a hit from in this conference. Kounkel's toughness and strong first-punch was shown as he took reps on the offensive-line for Hinton, and despite despite his size, he holds his own very well as a blocker, and those skills translate extremely well onto the defense. Kounkel and Tanner could form one of the best LB tandems in Class 1A next season that should pose as a threat for opposing offenses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1241517"],"_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-67f310906a256"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nodaway Valley has struggled heavily over the last 3 seasons, having gone winless each year, but they've recently unearthed a potential gem on their team in [player_tooltip player_id='1241517' first='Ashton' last='Honnold']. Honnold recorded 41.5 tackles (31 solo), 15.5 TFLs, and 2.5 sacks in 2024. Honnold took snaps playing as an Inside-Linebacker as well as on the edge as an OLB, showing great hands and a quick first step off the snap to win against his blockers. Honnold has plenty of speed and strength to get into the backfield and make a play on the ball-carrier to stop them behind the line. Honnold is an outstanding athlete playing for a struggling team, and he's a player that has plenty of upside to translate his skillset to the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->