A stalwart defender in the middle of the defense for the No. 7 team in 3A, Jaxon Anderson Jaxon Anderson 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB Mount Vernon | 2026 State IA has racked up some hefty numbers for Mount Vernon this season.

Unlike a prototypical middle linebacker that piles up tackles throughout the season and not posting the flashier stats on defense, Anderson has gotten after the quarterback in the Mustangs’ first five games. Between his 12.5 TFLs and five sacks — not to mention his 45-yard pick-six against Fort Madison in Week Four — Anderson sits atop the scouting report for teams that travel to the town of just over 4,500 that’s situated 15 miles east of Cedar Rapids.

Anderson got his feet wet as a sophomore on the varsity in 2023 before breaking out last fall. His performance earned him first-team all-state honors from the Iowa Football Coaches Association. Anderson has taken another step forward so far in ’25, as evidenced by what I witnessed during an in-person scout in a Week 3 matchup with Solon. He piled up 11.5 tackles, eight of which were of the solo variety, with 2.5 stops for loss. Anderson operates with great instincts. He plays at a fast tempo and embraces the game’s physicality. You can tell he’s prepared by watching him get positioned during pre-snap reads and then flowing to the football when it’s put in play. There’s a home for him somewhere on the next level.

Mount Vernon led all Iowa teams in sacks (68) last season, and it wasn’t even a close margin. Among the key players for that defense was Jaxon Anderson Jaxon Anderson 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB Mount Vernon | 2026 State IA , who held a big share of those daunting numbers that the Mustangs put up, recording a team-high 70 tackles (49 solo), 14 TFLs, 8.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, and a pick returned for a touchdown. Despite playing from his natural Inside-Linebacker position, Anderson had a lot of opportunities to blitz and get into the backfield. Anderson made the most of his opportunities, with great closedown speed, pursuit angles, and jarring power knocking over defenders and ball-carriers. Anderson should maintain a key role next season as one of the returning pieces of Mount Vernon’s defense.

Another standout from Mount Vernon’s stellar defense on Friday night was Jaxon Anderson Jaxon Anderson 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB Mount Vernon | 2026 State IA . Anderson recorded 8.5 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery against Keokuk. Anderson does a great job at understanding when to drop back and when to pressure the backfield, and what impressed me the most was his quick closing speed to get into the backfield and force the stop behind the line. Anderson finishes the season as the team’s leader in tackles (48), and his solid presence in the middle of the defense should be vital in helping a potentially deep playoff run for Mount Vernon this year.