’23 Preseason Super 7 – Class A Defensive Linemen

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-5a-defensive-linemen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Class 5A Preseason Super 7 D-Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-4a-defensive-linemen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Class 4A Preseason Super 7 D-Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-3a-defensive-linemen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Class 3A Preseason Super 7 D-Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-2a-defensive-linemen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Class 2A Preseason Super 7 D-Line</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-1a-defensive-linemen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Class 1A Preseason Super 7 D-Line </a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-quarterbacks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 QBs</a>&nbsp;(scroll down in link for all classes)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-running-backs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 RBs</a>&nbsp;(scroll down)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-receivers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 WRs (scroll down</a>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-a-tight-ends/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 TEs (scroll down</a>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-a-offensive-linemen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 OL (scroll down</a>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IOWA CITY, Iowa –&nbsp;</strong>We've reached mid-July. A new high school football season is right around the corner. It will be here before we know it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To help get us prepared, we're listing seven top players returning at each position in all seven classes. You can read about the positions we've covered at the links above.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're digging in on defense. Next up is Class A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320786' first='Trent' last='Cakerice'], '24, Grundy Center - </strong>A recent <a href="https://twitter.com/TCakerice/status/1676649009169965069?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Iowa Football Preferred Walk-On (PWO) commitment</a>, Cakerice (6-5, 235) produced 69.0 tackles (37 solo, 11.5 for loss) with 5.0 sacks. He was the only non-senior on the '22 IPSWA all-state first-team. Cakerice looks like he's just scratching the surface of his potential when you watch his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14900268/6386648f23523f0b7c5eae81" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong>. He plays with good balance and burst. He appears comfortable lining up in different spots along the front and is effective from all of them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='125574' first='Cody' last='Fox'], '24, East Buchanan - </strong>Fox (6-5, 270) is committed to Iowa Football as an offensive lineman. He also stands out on the other side of the ball for the Buccaneers. He led the class in tackles for loss (21.0) and sacks (9.0) last fall. He added 33 solo tackles. As you would expect, his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14567821/637baa1f57981d0be094d260" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> contain more O-Line clips than D-Line. He dominates on both side of the ball because he's better than everybody else. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156639' first='Aidan' last='Salow'], '24, Maquoketa - </strong>The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Salow racked up 19.0 tackles for loss last season, two off of Fox's Class A lead. Salow also registered 37 solo tackles and 4.5 sacks. His <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14829370/6494f55a0dc0260e88c8194b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> reveal a problem for offensive linemen. He explodes off of the snap and does well in maintaining his lane. He keeps his head up and eyes on the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1418222' first='Marcus' last='Silva'], '24, Lawton-Bronson - </strong>Silva (6-0, 230) is coming off a junior season that saw him compile 48.5 tackles (31 solo, 14.0 for loss) with 5.0 sacks. His <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16090313/Marcus-Silva" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl page</a></strong> contains clips of his '22 exploits. He often lines up very wide and gains speed as he approaches the offensive linemen. He reads the run well and sets a nice edge, funneling traffic inside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dawson James, '26, Lynnville-Sully - </strong>At 6-2, 230 pounds already, James is one of the more intriguing prospects in this class. He totaled 39.0 tackles as a freshman last season, which included 23 solo stops and 14.0 tackles for loss. He added a pair of sacks. His <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18084692/643b18da19a52507dcd88c96">ninth-grade highlights</a></strong> show an advanced football player for his age. He's also a good athlete that stands out on the offensive line as well. He sheds blocks well as a D-Tackle using a combination of quickness and strength. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Landen Helmrich, '24, North Linn - </strong>Helmrich (5-9, 190) was named to the IPSWA all-state second-team after each of the last two seasons. In '22, he recorded 36 solo tackles with 13.5 stops for loss and 3.0 sacks. He's also a strong wrestler. Unfortunately, I could only find video of him competing on the mat and not on the gridiron. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='247996' first='David' last='Smith'], '24, West Hancock - </strong>Unlike Helmrich, Smith (6-1, 210) has a <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14897122/david-smith" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl Page</a></strong>. Like his fellow second-team all-stater, Smith doesn't have any locatable video on line. He piled up 49.5 tackles (30 solo, 14.5 for loss) with 5.5 sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->