All-State Teams: Iowa Class 5A 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 5A.   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.   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/all-state-teams-iowa-class-5a-offense/">All-State Teams: Iowa Class 5A Offense</a>   DEFENSIVE LINE   [player_tooltip player_id='1421478' first='Melakhi' last='Hickey'], SR, Waterloo West   Second to Elite Team [player_tooltip player_id='1619297' first='Ryan' last='Bobo'] in sacks this season, [player_tooltip player_id='1421478' first='Melakhi' last='Hickey'] used his length to his advantage against offensive linemen to disengage and get after the quarterback. He finished the year with 40 tackles, including 16.5 tackles-for-loss (TFLs) and 12.5 sacks while playing both offensive and defensive line.   [player_tooltip player_id='2073254' first='Mohamed' last='Darboh'], JR, Des Moines Lincoln   The only junior in the group, Darboh racked up stats without the luxury of seeing the playoffs with Lincoln. A violent pass-rusher that is relentless in his pursuit of the quarterback, Darboh has gone overlooked to this point in his career. He'll need to continue to add weight, but he's a D1 defensive end or EDGE, and he showed that with his 63 tackles, including 18.5 TFLs and tying for the second-most sacks in 5A with 12.5.   [player_tooltip player_id='1221969' first='Jaden' last='Ubben'], SR, Cedar Falls   A senior and Drake commit, Ubben and teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1617646' first='Izzah' last='Grandon'] struck feat into opponents on the Tiger defensive line this season. Ubben possesses a long frame that he uses effectively to get into the backfield and prevent run plays from getting going before they even start. Even when opposing OL establish a solid leverage under his pads, Ubben doesn't give up on the play and maintains his pursuit of the ball-carrier. That skillset resulted in 48.5 tackles, including 20.5 TFLs and 8.5 sacks.   [player_tooltip player_id='1361747' first='David' last='Fason'], SR, Cedar Rapids Prairie   Well, the plan was to name other prospects that didn't make the elite team, but sometimes you've just got to tip your cap. Committed to Iowa as a preferred walk-on, Fason was an absolute terror up front for Prairie this season, finishing the year with a whopping 34 TFLs, the most in all classes, and nearly half of his 71 total tackles this season. Adding ten sacks to the equation, Fason has the potential to be an impact DL in his time at Iowa with athleticism, heavy hands and a desire to live in the backfield.   LINEBACKER   [player_tooltip player_id='1619997' first='Connor' last='Stolpe'], SR, Dallas Center-Grimes   The 5A leader in tackles by a mile, Stolpe was a machine for DCG, putting together a monstrous 112.5 tackles this season, out-pacing second place by more than 15 tackles. He also led 5A in solo tackles, finishing with 97, 16 ahead of the number two spot. Add the fact that he tied for 16th in TFLs, and 6-foot-1, 200-pound linebacker was as productive as they come.   [player_tooltip player_id='1609271' first='Gavin' last='Stecker'], JR, Bettendorf   One of the top linebackers in the state, Power 4 football recruit [player_tooltip player_id='1609271' first='Gavin' last='Stecker'] is shaping up to be one of the more heavily-pursued prospects in the Midwest by the time it's all said at and done. A long frame and a player that pursues the football, Stecker holds offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Minnesota, Kansas and Kansas State, and as long as he keeps his recruitment open, that list will only continue to grow. A read-and-react player that stacked up 77 tackles for Bettendorf this season, Stecker has some serious upside.   [player_tooltip player_id='1619483' first='Austin' last='Van Horn'], SR, Waukee Northwest   A prospect that was integral to Waukee Northwest's run to the state semifinals, [player_tooltip player_id='1619483' first='Austin' last='Van Horn'] was another fearless tackler in 5A. Stout in the middle of the Wolves defense, Van Horn was a sure-tackler that wrapped up and wasn't afraid to put his face through somebody's chest. Exemplified in his 93.5 tackles, Van Horn was a workhorse in the middle of the NW defense.   DEFENSIVE BACK   [player_tooltip player_id='1221964' first='Josh' last='Grete'], SR, Cedar Falls   One of several defensive backs that tied for second in 5A with four interceptions, [player_tooltip player_id='1221964' first='Josh' last='Grete'] was the complimentary leader on the backend of the Cedar Falls defense to Ubben and Grandon's pass-rushing abilities. Adding eight pass-breakups (PBUs), Grete found a way to the ball for the Tigers.   [player_tooltip player_id='1548918' first='Logan' last='Laubenthal'], SR, Iowa City Liberty   The first of two 5A leaders in PBUs, Laubenthal proved that the Lightning were much more than their highly-touted offense this season. A rangy DB that was all over the field, Laubenthal finished the year with 13 PBUs and three interceptions, including a pick-six.   [player_tooltip player_id='1691797' first='Daniel' last='Frazee'], SR, Ankeny   He may not have grabbed five interceptions like his Elite All-State Team teammate, Lamarious Clark, but Frazee was around the ball plenty, much like Laubenthal. Almost always in the vicinity of where the ball was going, Frazee also finished with 13 PBUs this season, tied for the 5A lead. Throw in his two interceptions returned for 39 yards total, and Frazee was formidable on the back end of the Hawk defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1198837' first='Jeremiah' last='Roberson'], JR, Dowling Catholic   One of many players opposing offenses had to account for when facing the Maroons, Roberson showed off his tip-drill skills in the state semifinals in Cedar Falls, grabbing a pick off the hands of a Valley receiver. Proving to be a critical play for Dowling to once again reach the state championship, Roberson's play helped culminate in a title for the Maroons. Through the season, he finished with a team-leading four picks and 27.5 tackles. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/all-state-teams-iowa-class-5a-offense/"> </a>

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 5A.