Dawson Whitinger, - Prep Redzone

Dawson Whitinger

Linebacker

2027 Class

6'2" Height

220 Weight

Ankeny School

State Rank
Position Rank

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About Dawson

Dawson Whitinger is a 6'2" Linebacker in the 2027 class. Whitinger attends Ankeny in Iowa. Whitinger's Player Profile was created on December 5, 2023. Subscribe to Prep Redzone to see where Dawson Whitinger is ranked and what our scouts have written about them.

Expert Analysis

Eliot Clough

Prep Redzone Scout

With 88 tackles last season for Ankeny, Dawson Whitinger Dawson Whitinger 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Ankeny | 2027 State IA is the top returning tackler in 5A. The youngest of the bunch as just a junior returning for his third year with the Hawks, Whitinger was everywhere for the Ankeny defense in 2024.

Finishing with 11.5 tackles-for-loss (TFLs) and 2.5 sacks in addition to a pick, Whitinger did a little bit of everything for the Hawks last season. Ankeny loses their second and third-ranked tacklers from last season in Ben Taylor and Samuel Sandvig, so the junior will be called upon to step up even more this fall.

A stalwart in the middle of the defense for the Hawks, Whitinger will be pivotal in Ankeny’s attempt to get back to the Dome this season after a one-year hiatus.

10 months ago

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Rob Howe

Prep Redzone Lead Scout

Ankeny regularly develops quality defenders. Whitinger proved this season that he’s another product of the pipeline with 88.0 tackles (11.5 TFL), 2.5 sacks and an interception. It earned him all-state recognition as a sophomore in the state’s largest class. Whitinger exhibits good linebacker traits when watching his 10th-grade highlight video. He diagnoses plays well, flows to the ball and is a fundamentally-sound tackler. Whitinger can run, which help him in coverage. He separates well from blocks already and will improve even more with added strength to come.

1 year ago

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Oscar Galindo

Prep Redzone Nebraska Lead Scout

Sophomore Dawson Whitinger Dawson Whitinger 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Ankeny | 2027 State IA is another player who was very close to making the rankings in the last update but just missed the cut. Dawson, who will be joining the Ankeny Hawks after transferring from cross-town rival Ankeny Centennial, is an interesting prospect with upside on both sides of the ball. Whitinger projects very well as a linebacker at the next level with good size (6’1″, 190 pounds) and, as he showed at the Stock Up showcase, great athleticism and explosiveness (9’6″ broad jump and 4.82 40-yard dash). When watching his tape, I was impressed with his instincts when it comes to gap play and filling his lanes. He doesn’t get caught up with blocks at the LOS very often and displays good flow to the ball. Good closing speed and finishes his tackles. Excited to see what Dawson can do as part of the Hawks!