’27 Rankings Update | New LB Names to Watch

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area   In case you missed it, the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2027-rankings/">Class of 2027 Rankings Update</a> dropped on New Year's Eve. I wrote an <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/27-update-closer-look-at-how-rankings-came-together/">overarching piece</a> on the update. Then we turned our attention towards writing about student-athletes grouped by position.   At this stage of the game, we've written quite a few words on members of this graduating class. Many of the seniors-to-be in these rankings have become known names along the prospecting trail.   While we'll continue to write about that group, we wanted to dive into guys being highlighted in our positional breakdowns that have received less attention or are being introduced to the data base for the first time. It just kept with our goal of writing about as many student-athletes as possible.   Today, we take a closer look at guys on the linebacker:    If feels like I'm writing about a new Waukee Northwest student-athlete regularly. The ascending program continues stacking talent, and it can be tough keeping up with it. Eckerman produced at a high level for a Wolves' outfit that reached the state semifinals for the first time in the young program's history. The junior piled up 37.5 tackles, 25 of which were of the solo variety. He produced 9.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, and forced a pair of fumbles. As he showed during an in-person scout at the UNI-Dome and again during his 11th-grade highlights that can be found on his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18389107/eli-eckerman/highlights">Hudl page</a>, Eckerman is a handful standing up off of the edge. He explodes at the snap, uses his hands well and gets downhill in a hurry.     Mora stood out as an interesting two-way prospect when I caught West Sioux playing in the state semifinals at the UNI-Dome. The junior caught 23 balls for 179 yards and a touchdown as a threat in the passing game. Defensively, he stood out even more, racking up 80.5 tackles, 62 of which were solo stops. He posted 10.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. Mora also picked off a pair of passes and added a two-point conversion. You can witness how he produces while watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14936839/68d15316c84f128180e5f7fe">11th-grade highlight video</a>. Mora's pre-snap reads set a successful process into motion. He's moving towards the ball before it's snapped and gets downhill in a hurry. Mora is a technically sound tackler, getting low and driving through the ball carrier.     It was a tough season on the east side of Waterloo, but guys like Banks gave the Trojans hope that the future might be better. The junior did what he could, registering a team-best 73.5 tackles, including 39 solo stops. He was credited with 12.0 tackles for loss, a sack, a pair of forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Banks impresses during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19984139/6901594d72554d600e1dd662">11th-grade highlight video</a>. Read and recognition before the ball is snapped positions him for success. He shoots the gaps quickly, gets the pads down and pops on contact. Banks is fast laterally and straight ahead. His frame can comfortably add plenty of good weight, giving him a sizable ceiling.     Clarke made his presence felt on offense with 177 yards (5.2 YPC) and a touchdown rushing, adding a couple of catches. The junior was an absolute menace on defense, however. He piled up 76.5 tackles, 54 of which were solo stops. He posted 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks on the campaign. He also chipped in an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. When watching Clark's <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/19863319/690cfb6f2f56fab6dec03296">11th-grade highlight video</a>, we witness how he gets the job done. He is very fast to the football with excellent balance and straight-line speed. Clarke is prepared for the opponent as we see when watching him before the snap. He diagnoses plays quickly. A sound tackler, Clarke doesn't miss them much.     Western Dubuque is a consistently solid program churning out quality prospects for the next level. Nickol flashed that ability as a junior in 2025. Twelve of his 16.0 tackles were solo stops, and he was credited with a pair of tackles for loss. Nickol gave scouts something to think about on the other side of the ball, too, catching three balls for 69 yards and a touchdown. There isn't a lot of film to go on from what we can find on his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19597464/noah-nickol/highlights">Hudl page</a>. What we do see is an athletic performer on the second level of the defense. The traits that make him successful as a wrestler shine through at linebacker, where he plays with balance and physicality while valuing leverage.     Locating information on Strunk can be difficult. There isn't any film posted on line. He doesn't publicly promote his accomplishments. If you watched the 2025 Lightning in action when it advanced to the program's first state championship game, however, you know Strunk was an integral part of the success. He's another case of a Liberty player maximizing his natural gifts by playing smart and physical football. He plays hard and through the whistle. Strunk parlayed his talents into impressive numbers in 2025. The junior piled up 52.5 tackles, 30 of which were solo stops. He recorded 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: howe30 in the coupon code area