All-State Teams: Iowa Class 3A Defense

With the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/prep-redzone-iowa-2025-mr-football-elite-all-state/">Elite All-State Team</a> taken care of, we'll spend the month of December handing out Class All-State awards. Now, we move to the defensive side of the ball in 3A.   In writing these articles, we want to cast a wider net, expanding on the names that have already been established as the best of the best across classes, so we won't repeat names that were already listed on the Elite Team.   DEFENSIVE LINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1923999' first='Damion' last='Nowman'], JR, Saydel   A bright spot in a tough season for Saydel, Nowman is a name to know going into 2026 as one that could really pop after a breakout junior campaign. Without a playoff appearance, Nowman finished third in 3A in tackles-for-loss (TFLs) with 20.5, just one of four players in the class to reach 20 TFLs. He finished with 66 tackles and 7.5 sacks, as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1849099' first='Isaiah' last='Lange'], SO, Mount Pleasant   Another new name on the block, Lange popped early in the season as <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/defensive-stock-risers-through-three-weeks/">a stock-riser</a> for Mount Pleasant. He finished the year with 41 tackles, including 18.5 TFLs and 13.5 sacks. Like Nowman, the 6-foot-3 and 220-pound DL will be a name we keep tabs on going into next season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1844812' first='Max' last='Larson'], SR, Clear Lake   Another sack-leader in 3A, Larson was critical upfront in what was a dominant regular season for Clear Lake. Finishing the season with 46 tackles, just under half were TFLs, as he finished with 20, adding ten sacks to tie for third in 3A.   [player_tooltip player_id='1685816' first='Cedar' last='Smith'], SR, Nevada   With three teammates on the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/all-state-teams-iowa-class-3a-offense/">3A All-State Offense</a> -- two offensive linemen and a tight end -- Smith had quite the challenge every day in practice. Clearly, it made him better. Smith, who lived in the backfield against Heelan in the state title game, finished his senior season with 15.5 TFLs and seven sacks.   LINEBACKER   [player_tooltip player_id='1840820' first='Noah' last='Krapfl'], SR, Dubuque Wahlert   One of the top tacklers in the state after a state championship last season, Krapfl lived up to that reputation in his final year with Wahlert. Finishing second in 3A and just the second player in the class to eclipse 100 tackles, Krapfl finished with 108. He also led 3A in solo tackles with 83, adding 13 TFLs and five sacks.   [player_tooltip player_id='1241540' first='Jaxon' last='Anderson'], SR, Mt Vernon   An absolute monster in the middle of the Mount Vernon defense, Anderson struck fear into every opposing offensive coordinator and quarterback this season. Clearly at the top of the scouting report every week, the senior still got his every single week. Somehow without a Division I offer, Anderson sure looks the part, and so did his play this year. He finished this season with 79.5 tackles, including 27.5 TFLs, 12 sacks and a 45-yard pick-six.   Jack Georgen, SR, West Delaware   A unique offensive line/linebacker hybrid for West Delaware, take a look at the stats, and it becomes apparent that Georgen might prefer his spot on defense. Finishing third in total tackles in the class, Georgen finished with 93.5, including 23.5 TFLs and ten sacks for the Hawks.   DEFENSIVE BACK   [player_tooltip player_id='1620016' first='Jace' last='Bellamy'], SR, Winterset   One of the most productive players in all classes, Bellamy had a wildly productive final season for Winterset. He not only led 3A in total tackles with 110.5 as a defensive back, but he did the traditional job of a DB, too, also leading 3A in interceptions with seven. Throw in his ten pass-breakups (PBUs) and pick-six, and Bellamy played like he typed in a cheat code in the preseason.   [player_tooltip player_id='1204540' first='Jaxson' last='McIntire'], JR, Clear Lake   One of the top two-way players in the state, McIntire served as the starting quarterback and on the backend of the defense for the Lions. Holding an Iowa State offer from the previous staff, the junior projects to playing defensive back at the next level. He grabbed two interceptions, swatted away seven PBUs and totaled 30.5 tackles.   [player_tooltip player_id='1906706' first='Grant' last='Whitcomb'], JR, Bishop Heelan   A key piece in Heelan's run to the state title, Whitcomb entered his junior campaign with zero interceptions in his high school career. He finished the year tied for second with six, including grabbing a pick in the state title to keep the Crusaders' hopes alive. A rangy DB with long strides and the ability to stick receiver on deep routes, Whitcomb was a major bright spot defensively for Heelan.   [player_tooltip player_id='1671558' first='Lucas' last='Brown'], SR, Nevada   One of the compliments to the play upfront by Smith and running back/linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1242256' first='Austin' last='Waldera'], Brown surely benefitted from the pressure his teammates put on opposing quarterbacks. Brown grabbed six picks, returning them for a total of 156 yards, just edging out his teammate, Clay Franzen, who also grabbed six interceptions. He returned those picks for 148 yards. Either way -- both provided turnovers for the Cub offense to turn into points.

With the Elite All-State Team taken care of, we'll spend the month of December handing out Class All-State awards. Now, we move to the defensive side of the ball in 3A.