Prep Redzone MN Showcase: Nate’s LB Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My last but not least content piece from Session 1 of the Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase in Plymouth features what I felt were near or top-tier linebackers on my day of live evals. We found new names scratching thier surface, high character, men amongst boys in the 2029 class and more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2175897"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e86bea1c814"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It has been no secret for the last seven years I have been with Prep Redzone Minnesota, that Mountain Iron-Buhl churns out next-level athletes, and even though he's only in the 2029 class, I surely feel like we found another one in 2029 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='2175897' first='Caleb' last='Unhjem']. You have to start with this young man's character, as it's pretty uncommon to see a freshmen reach out to every college coach and scout after an even to make an early connection. The verified 5'11 204 pounder, ran an impressive 6.85 L-drill from the start of our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase and that COD ability matched what you saw in his later reps. He was mixed in with mostly upperclassmen in the LB group, but surely [player_tooltip player_id='1292679' first='Oliver' last='West'] and I couldn't agree more that that Caleb blended in well with the group, as a high effort and motored linebacker that's it clear as day, is one that already is putting in the effort in the weight room. His aiblity to take coaching is another skillset that will take him a long way as he has three years left to improve his stock for the Rangers defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/CalebUnhjem" id="https://x.com/CalebUnhjem">TWITTER</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2172809' first='Elijah' last='Jackson']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"191","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Robbinsdale Armstrong","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e86bea1c992"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A new name that came onto my radar in the 2028 class out of the Metro in the linebacker group, was Robbinsdale Armstrong's [player_tooltip player_id='2172809' first='Elijah' last='Jackson']. What I saw out of Elijah in the early testing session, showed off an athlete that has solid fluidity and the translation of that I saw later into his Indy reps that I got to watch as a linebacker that can get down to the ball with also a solid motor. He's very under the radar with no tape that I could find, but hopefully this is the start of his development for more production this offseason and into summer as well in the weight room.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1635249"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e86bea1ca2a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of a few Park Center Pirates that caught our attention at Saturday's Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase was 2028 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1635249' first='Charlie' last='Aasen']. Charlie was another late bloomer for me in the live eval. A new name to my eyes on Saturday, Charlie showed off how well-versed he could be with his change of direction in pass coverage reps as it's worth noting that he ran a 6.42 in the L-drill and a 8'11 in the broad jump which tells the the tail why I liked this kid's explosiveness so much in the later Indy reps. Surely one that I felt with my live eyes was a in the conversation for top-tier in the linebacker group especially amongst the underclassmen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1584490"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e86bea1caad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Levi came in as our LB2 in the 2029 class out of Chisago Lakes and let's just say when you catch high attention of just about every PRZ scout in attendance evaluating, you had yourself a pretty sound day at our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase. He also ended Session 1 in Plymouth as one of our top performers in the linebacker group, which I must say after being at double-digit PRZ Minnesota Showcase over the years and the LBs that have came thru, that's a tall task that Levi is hitting early for the Wildcats product. He surely is not built like your typical freshmen at all off the eye test as Levi brought the zest you want to see early, with a massive motor and man, did every PRZ scout in attendance love the way this young man finishes in every rep. 4.64 in the lasered 40 time, 4.36 in the pro agility, and a whopping 9'3 in the broad jump show you everything you need to see as far as explosive traits for this young man's future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1665821"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2178162,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69e86bea1cba3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>LB MVP</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taking the reigns of our Prep Redzone Minnesota Showcase linebacker MVP, is a prospect that I really liked the development I saw on Saturday in Plymouth in Centennial's Tristan Melqust. Tristan is one that jumped onto my radar quickly has he was surely one of the most wirey linebackers we saw in attendace that had a quite impressive first step for 6'3 215 pounds which is an absoulute match for the next-level when it comes down to the linebacker position. The length that you see in his 6'5 wingspan was well-noted on Saturday, as Tristan could utilize that to not only get off blocks even quicker, but also showed off what a work-horse he is with his hands and motor. He doesn't have his first offer yet, but in my eye he surely said very soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->