Nate’s SD Big Dogs of the Week: Week 3-4 Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1622004' first='Leif' last='Karlson'], DE, Lennox 2027</strong> <a href="https://x.com/leifkarlson">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not the first time we've had Leif on on our Big Dogs of the Week defensive list this year, and probably won't be the last time he's on it either.. Four out of his five tackles against powerhouse Sioux Falls Christian went for tackles for a loss. He's certaintly generating more fluidity off the snap it seems like week after week. The 6'3 230 pounder also just is attacking each ball carrier with more intended strength when he gets downhill which shows me Leif is growing into his frame and adapting to utilzing his size to his advantage. Surely a 2027 defenisve end on the rise out of Lennox. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='848977' first='Oakley' last='Anderson'], LB, Huron 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/OAnderson_20">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oakley is a linebacker that seems to get better each week from our tracking and this week he finds himself as one of our Big Dogs of the Week out of Huron. Double digit tackles against and a win against a tough Tea Area team are big wins in my book, as Huron finds themselves now in the #3 spot in 11AA in the SD Power 5 poll which we are a part of. Oakley has always seemed like a linebacker that plays with a chip on his shoulder, but I feel that chip is even bigger in his senior season as a linebacker that logged 114 total tackles last year but is still waiting on his first offer. Oakley shows the attentiive vision as a run-stopper that attacks the inside and outside runs with attention to detail and sound balance. College coaches, Oakley is a linebacker you go outside your LB measurables threshold for because you will love this kid's motor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='848938' first='Weiland' last='Benbo'], LB, Rapid City Central 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/weiland_benbo">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1893217,"width":"329px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/7-Weiland-Benbo-e1716316481229-crop-4051x2660-1716346245-crop-640x421-1723756773-crop-512x336-1758036317.jpg?w=511" alt="" class="wp-image-1893217" style="width:329px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another under the radar 2026 linebacker waiting on his first offer that has been off to a sound start in his senior season is Rapid City Central's [player_tooltip player_id='848938' first='Weiland' last='Benbo']. The amoutn of growth I have seen thus far this season with Weiland's downhill ball-tracking ability has been immense for the Cobblers team captain as this young man was a grinder during camp season that got a ton of reps. He's also gotten faster unlocking his hands off blocks as their certainly is a quicker speed and instincts in that skillset. Weiland is one that I have had graded as an athlete, but you can see the pure instincts in last week and before on tape that this young man is surely a linebacker at the next-level despite all the position flexibility he has. He's a high character kid you will want on your roster!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1568248' first='Dawson' last='Unruh'], DE, Sioux Falls Christian 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/DawsonUnruh15">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1893218,"width":"334px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/12/IMG_1944-rotated-crop-384x253-1758036346.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1893218" style="width:334px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yes, you did just find our #1 ranked specialist in the South Dakota 2026 class on our Big Dogs of the Week list for defense as [player_tooltip player_id='1568248' first='Dawson' last='Unruh'] had a big week at defensive end for #1 ranked Sioux Falls Christian. Nine tackles, nearly 2 sacks,, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and one pass break up is the stat line for Dawson last week showing truly how athletically gifted he is wherever he lines up. He shows off an excellent twitch off the line for his 6'0 220 pound frame and watching his hands getting off blocks, in my eyes he plays way bigger than what that frame gives off. The agile movement is also glaring on tape for Dawson, as he moves naturally in his movement as a defensive end. Another one that I can't find has an offer yet and that surprises me a lot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771526' first='Joey' last='Dallmann'], LB, Aberdeen Central 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/joeydallmann2">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1893220,"width":"328px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/IMG_3393-rotated-crop-384x253-1758036388.jpg?w=384" alt="" class="wp-image-1893220" style="width:328px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you are a college linebacker coach, you might want to take a look at [player_tooltip player_id='771526' first='Joey' last='Dallmann']'s Week 3 tape for further evaluation. What you will see from the 6'1 225 pounder is the firm physical tackler that also shows excellent technique when he wraps up his ball carrier to knock him back, as he logged a plethora of tackles for a loss against Brookings. He's also one of the states best swiss army knifes you will find on all three levels still uncommitted in this 2026 class as that nearly one minute tape should show you the stout football IQ you could be getting from Joey at the next-level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Ashton Gebhard, LB, West Central 2026</strong> <a href="https://x.com/joeydallmann2">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashton is a newer name that caught my attention in Week 3-4 out of West Central as one that has gotten some recent attention at the NAIA level. It doesn't take long to be intrigued by the clear-cut vision that Ashton has at middle linebacker as one that it's evident has a nose for the ball. Another area that encourgaging with Ashton on tape is his tenacity getting thru high traffic areas with his strength and light use of his hands as he seems to recognize when he needs to shed off blocks versus using his power at the point of attack. I can surely see why he's starting to trend upwards for college recruiters out there in the GPAC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->