National Preps Showcase Top Performers: LB

<em>Overall, a very strong group on the day, the linebackers were an athletic bunch with good size and speed at the position. With the Washington football season set to get underway this weekend, these prospects should finally begin to get 2020-2021 film that will help their recruiting stock as they enter into their 2021-2022 seasons. Below we will take a deeper look at some of the top linebackers that attended the National Preps Collegiate Showcase last month and who should start to see college interest role in this Spring. </em> &nbsp; <em><strong>2023 Bam Afalava 6’2" 230 Ibs., John R. Rodgers HS</strong></em> Physically, a very well put together prospect especially for his class, Afalava displayed his ability to move smoothly in space and during COD drills. Only a rising Sophomore, he flashed his versatility during his freshman year in which he was able to show comfortability in coverage while being a sound tackler and showing pass rush ability. Due to his natural length and movement ability/bend, he could mold into a true DPR guy at the next level. &nbsp; <em><strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="87349" first="Avery" last="Ellis"] 6’1" 225 Ibs., Royal HS</strong></em> A versatile prospect that also plays running back, he will find his home in the second level of the defense at the next level. With ideal size, athleticism and movement ability at the ILB position in college, Ellis has the potential to make an impact early on in his career. On tape, he shows natural ball skills/cover ability while taking good angles to all carriers both in space and while blitzing. A very instinctual player that has a nose for the ball and plays with good physicality, he should have a dominant Junior season. &nbsp; <em><strong>2022 Daniel Maiava 6’2" 220 Ibs., Bethel HS</strong></em> One of the most impressive overall athletes in the strong linebacker group, Maiava is a downhill thumper that showed quick play diagnosis and strong breaking ability. Still developing going into his Junior year, Maiava has good closing speed while playing with a high motor and good toughness. Versatile playing both inside and outside, he should find his home at the next level as an outside linebacker. &nbsp; <em><strong>2022 Malcolm McClure 6’2" 225 Ibs., Bishop Manogue HS (NV)</strong></em> One of the top linebackers in the state of Nevada, McClure is coming off a dominating Sophomore season in which he played inside/outside linebacker and fullback for one of the top teams in the state. On tape, he is a downhill thumper that brings good pop at the POA and closes gaps in a hurry while athletic enough to flip his hips and run with backs and tight ends downfield. Displaying a natural ability to bend off the edge and apply pressure from multiple angles with active hands, the 2022 prospect is also a devastating blocker that takes good angles to defenders and plays with a high motor and physicality both in traffic and in space. &nbsp; <em><strong>2022 Metitilani Noaese 6’0" 217 Ibs., Bethel HS</strong></em> One of the top linebackers in the state in the 2022 class, Noaese is poised for a huge Junior season for one of the top teams in the state. Athletic in space and comfortable coming off the edge, he displayed solid COD in the short area and good overall speed through out multiple drills. Staying patient in the recruiting process, he should start to see more college interest come his way as he continues to develop and settle into the position. &nbsp; <em><strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="87399" first="Xavier" last="Pulea"] 6’1" 220 Ibs., Clover Park HS</strong></em> A very sound and fundamentally disciplined inside linebacker, Pulea is a big and physical prospect that is sneaky athletic in space and has good ball skills, especially for his size. Quick to diagnosis plays and trigger downhill, he is a strong tackler in the box and will continue to help his stock as he continues to increase lateral movement skills and mobility. With two more years of high school football to play, he should develop into a FCS ceiling caliber player.