Dawson Boysel Dawson Boysel 5'11" | 185 lbs | LB Western Alamance | 2027 State NC is one of the top returning junior linebackers in the region and a name college coaches should keep an eye on. At 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, Boysel has outstanding speed and instincts, allowing him to make plays all over the field. He averaged nearly 10 tackles per game last season, showcasing his consistency and motor. If Boysel follows up that performance with another productive campaign, he’ll establish himself as a sure-fire college prospect by the end of the season.

Boysel made a huge impact in his first year as a varsity starter for Western Alamance, with not only 96 total tackles, but quality stops, with 15 for loss. He was an anchor in the middle of a strong run defense, but also showed great ball production. He picked off two passes and had two fumble recoveries last year.

A true middle linebacker in the midst of a class that has far more outside backers, Boysel stands out for his ability to simply make plays. He plays close to the line of scrimmage, but rarely gets stuck in the wash, and has the speed and zone awareness to get plenty of depth in his drops. He had two picks, three sacks, and three fumble recoveries in 2025, and he’ll look to add some weight heading into his senior season, which should help him improve his stock.

Dawson didn’t come into this showcase with a lot of notoriety or fanfare, but I think Dawson really did well in all three elements of this showcase, which got him into this Top 5 recognition. I liked him a lot in the individual period, where he took coaching well and did an excellent job of executing fundamentals. He’s a player who has probably played his way onto our wait list heading into his senior season.