A 2026 linebacker that my gut told me pre-showcase was going to have a big day at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, was Aberdeen Central’s Joey Dallmann Joey Dallmann 6'0" | 212 lbs | LB Aberdeen Central | 2026 State SD , who in the end was our linebacker MVP. The verified 6’0 212 pounder, was one of the most popular names I heard in conversations with college coaches on Saturday and for good reason, as Joey’ saw his stock rise in just about every category on Saturday in Aberdeen. I loved watching this young man’s football IQ take full advantage during the live eval, as Joey showed off well-versed technique with his hands getting off his blocks. The defensive rep that impressed me most was at the end of 1v1s in a battle of the MVPs as Joey showed off in pass coverage how physical he can be, how sound his longevity appeared to be, and how sound his instincts were. You have to love the upside this young man has at linebacker, as you wouldn’t know how light his linebacker tape was from the 2024 season based on what I saw on Saturday.

Joey was a linebacker I had a high bar set forth in our previews last week, as a linebacker that college coaches needed to surely watch in Aberdeen. He let his play on the field on Saturday at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase do the talking, as he came in as our LB MVP. The 6’0 212 pounder, had one of the biggest hand sizes (9.75) at our showcase and that tells me why his physicality on tape is so damaging on both sides of the ball. He saw growth in testing in my eyes with his pro agility time improving, going 4.56 at his size mentioned. What struck a chord most for Joey, was in pass coverage as I was impressed with his longevity and athleticism in coverage towards the end of our showcase 1v1s as he took almost the whole field to get the win as I felt that rep solidified why he is getting recruited as a linebacker at the next-level despite not all the tape in the world at the LB position, but his upside is certainly there as we saw. I called it last week, I wouldn’t be surprised if the floodgates start opening on Joey’s recruting trail very soon.

A constant competitor at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase for the last couple of years, has been linebacker Joey Dallmann Joey Dallmann 6'0" | 212 lbs | LB Aberdeen Central | 2026 State SD of Aberdeen Central. After just picking up his first offer from right up the road recently, I have a gut feeling Joey’s summer on the recruiting trail is just getting started. The 6’1 225 pounder, shows off every ounce of that size on both sides of the ball but I really like the next-level fit at linebacker as his instinctive movement and excellent physicality at the point of attack has damaging strength. He is one the best blockers at fullback in the Dakotas, and has excellent upside that has his best ball ahead of him. Twitter