Iona Kupu Iona Kupu 5'11" | 220 lbs | LB Chandler | 2027 State AZ might not look like the biggest player on the field at first, but once the ball’s snapped, it becomes pretty obvious why he is so productive. He’s strong as hell at the point of contact, and if he gets both arms around a ball carrier, they’re not getting much farther. What separates him, though, is that he is not just a downhill thumper. He has the lateral speed to fly along the line of scrimmage, the patience to let things develop, and really good timing when it’s time to trigger. He doesn’t overrun plays or just blindly shoot gaps — he sees it, trusts what he sees, and gets there in a hurry. That’s a big reason why he has already piled up 155 tackles across his first 20 varsity games. The most encouraging thing on film is how comfortable he looks when the offense drops back, too. For a guy who’s clearly instinctual against the run, he’s far from lost in coverage; he finds his zone, sticks with assignments, and knows when he can come off to make a play. That kind of three-down versatility is the real deal for a linebacker, especially on a Chandler team with another loaded schedule ahead. He’s already ranked as the 8th best linebacker in the class, but there’s a pretty strong case that he’s still flying a little under the radar. If he keeps putting up this kind of production against that level of competition, those rankings are going to have a hard time staying where they are.

Kupu has anchored the Chander defense from the inside over the past two seasons. 6’0” 220 lbs. he’s a reliable three down linebacker that plays with good patience and eye discipline. Calculated and controlled with his movement he allows himself time to diagnose and lets the play develop before exploding to the ball. Does a good job not overrunning plays or biting on misdirection. Aggressively fills run lanes, plays with good leverage, and takes on blocks with good strength and hand usage. High motor defender, he’ll chase hard sideline to sideline and has the lateral quickness to flow cleanly down the line. Strong tackler that wraps up, runs his feet on contact, and finishes through the ball carrier. Flying under the recruiting radar but expect to see a bump this offseason.

As a sophomore, Kupu led Chandler in tackles and was also near the top of his class with 105. At 5’11” 220 lbs. he shows three down ability by making plays as a run filler and dropping back into coverage. He’s patient with his reads and footwork but is quick to react and locate the ball. Steps up to fill run lanes aggressively taking on blockers with his shoulders square and good pad level at the POA. High effort player that has the speed to chase downfield and to the outside using good lateral movement to play flat down the line. Flashes good awareness to create turnovers with good timing and effectiveness of punch out and rip techniques. Brings strong contact as a tackler that drives through the ball carrier with leverage. He’s the second ranked LB prospect in the 2027 class and #36 overall.

Playing as a sophomore on a talented Chandler defense, Iona Kupu Iona Kupu 5'11" | 220 lbs | LB Chandler | 2027 State AZ currently leads the Wolves in tackles. His instincts and lack of hesitation to act on them make him an incredible run stuffer. Whether it be filling gaps the moment they develop in front of him or working down the line of scrimmage and powering through the trenches to make a play on the other side, Kupu goes everywhere the running back does. A versatile linebacker, he’s not only good against the run, but the ’27 backer also has an interception and two passes defensed in eight games. With years of development left before his high school career is over, Kupu is a player coaches should keep a close eye on.