Senior Linebackers Elevating Off-Season Training

Earlier this week I started a series of reports on positional groups by posting on some of the best and brightest among the state's trench warriors on both sides of the ball.   The plan is to work through all the positional groups and continue off-season progress as this fall's ballers battle their way through the grind.   In this report we will continue in that theme by checking out some of the most lethal linebackers in the state. These guys are all senior heat-seeking missiles coming off standout seasons and have been getting even bigger, faster and stronger this off-season.   So, without further adieu, let's check out what these guys have been doing so far in 2026:   [player_tooltip player_id='1530394' first='Julian' last='Gallegos'], 5'11,195, LB/DB, Eisenhower, '27, first out of the chute is a versatile defender who is coming off a good season even though the team was down compared to prior years. As an aggressive read and react linebacker who can also drop back and play safety, he is a headhunter with next-level closing speed tracking the ball and when he arrives unloads both barrels. Once the season was over he went right into basketball to boost cardio, speed and explosiveness as well as hitting the off-season weight training hard. He is still mapping out which camp-combines to attend in the spring and summer months to help put the finishing touches on his senior-year grind. This guy has been in the 100+ tackle range the last few years and is looking to blow past those numbers with a big senior campaign. Get out and see a defensive force in action this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1585530' first='Mason' last='Moaliitele'], 6'0, 210, RB/LB, Derby, '27, it was a season of highs and lows for this baller athlete as he sustained a mid-season injury that limited him to eight games last fall. However, in those games he was a seek-and-destroy mauler of a linebacker who ramped up his rehab to make it back for the Panther playoff run and contributed 100+ tackles, a half-dozen tackles for loss, a pair of sacks and a couple of picks. This guy is a hammer coming out of his backer position who uses his instincts, quick feet and explosiveness to slam the door shut on the run game in the box. He also plays pass coverage like a d-back floating in zone to bait the QB or smother guys out of the backfield. He has been conducting his own two-a-day training plan and will be working with Coach Tabor and PIA shortly as well as get going on the camp-combine circuit in the coming months. This guy is prepping for an all-state kind of season.   [player_tooltip player_id='944905' first='Drake' last='Blasi'], 6'0, 205, LB, Maize, '27, speaking of all-state seasons, I have been following this guy for a while now and got to see him a couple times in action last year as he helped his team blaze through the regular season undefeated and finish with a lofty 10-1 record and earned all-state honors along the way. He led a talented LB corp for the Eagles and is an apex predator of a defender who anticipates with surgical pre-snap reads, while shooting gaps and playing sideline to sideline creating chaos along the way. Last fall he accumulated 100+ tackles, averaging double digits all year to go with eight TFL and a pair of forced fumbles. He has been working out with trainer and coach Rashad Daniels and is gearing up for a lights-out baseball season. His training is already showing gains as he is up to 205 pounds and his forty has seen times in the low 4.6's this far into the grind. This guy is going to be a beast this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1652617' first='Maddox' last='Girard'] , 5'11, 195, MLB/LS, Salina South, '27, up next is a two-way baller who has stepped up as one of the top linebackers in his class and is also a next-level long snapper. Last year he and his 'mates started the season slow but rallied at mid-season to win three of their last four games, including two thrilling upset victories in the playoffs. For the year he was an active marauder of a linebacker who can play inside or out and piled up 70+ tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks and had a fumble recovery. When the playoff run ended he went right into wrestling and is off to a record-breaking season. After wrestling he will shift gears to working out with Sharp to bulk up while getting faster and more explosive. He will also hit the camp-combine circuit to fine-tune his outstanding long-snapper skill sets. With the outlook moving in the right direction for the Cougars look for this guy to be one of their leaders this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1594489' first='Joshua' last='Duerksen'], LB/ATH, 5'11”, 195, Hesston, ‘27, next up is a two-way playmaker coming off a season when he accounted for 107 tackles, averaging 11 per game, and added a pair of tackles for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble and had a pick-6. He helped his team get off to a strong start before running into a buzzsaw of a schedule toward the end and finished 6-4. This guy was a factor all year, using his next-level speed and explosive game to terrorize offenses. He plays with physicality, arriving fast and furious and hitting ball carriers in the mouth. He is already preparing for track where last year he used his size and strength to set records in the shot and discus but also had the speed and acceleration to anchor the 4x100 team. The gains are showing, as he has put on 10 pounds and amped his bench up to 325 with a 36"+ vertical so far into the grind. Get your popcorn handy, he is going to put on a show this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1250567' first='Brody' last='Sedlacek'], 6'0, 200, LB/RB, Hanover, '27, this time last year he and his teammates were talking about winning it all, even while the Axtell machine rolled on with their title(s) and unbeaten streak intact. Fast forward to the end of last season and the Wildcats had incredibly walked the talk, not only winning the state championship but incredibly knocking off Axtell twice and breaking their 58-game win streak. Along the way this guy was a mauling, brawling linebacker who racked up 97 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt. He plays a high-IQ game and flows to the ball quickly before blowing up gaps in the box or tracking down fleet-footed backs on the perimeter. He is currently playing hoops and is training with Kegan Schumann/Revive Performance. Camps and junior days for this spring are still being considered. This guy is a battle-tested, proven winner ready for another monster season.     <a href="https://x.com/willxmcmonagle"></a>In conclusion, get out and see these guys, they are going to be en fuego...   And, most importantly...   Keep Grindin'

Earlier this week I started a series of reports on positional groups by posting on some of the best and brightest among the state's trench warriors on both sides of the ball.