Although the Huskies’ lacrosse team struggled in 2023, Weikel was a constant for the team. He led the team in both goals (33) and total points (41) despite missing two games. His physical style in football undoubtedly helped him battle in front of the Huskies’ opponents’ net. As one of the top returning tacklers, I wrote about Weikel in December. Check out my observations here.

Weikel embodies the nature of a classic, old-school linebacker known for his punishing and physical style. He is a force to be reckoned with, capable of dominating ballcarriers with a relentless and tenacious mentality. His strength at the point of attack is a defining characteristic, disrupting plays and being a wrecking ball on defense. Weikel’s sure tackling is a standout feature, marked by his overall strength that ensures opponents aren’t getting out of his grasp. His strong frame contributes to his physicality, making him an imposing linebacker for offenses to worry about throughout the entirety of the game. Beyond his physical attributes, Weikel’s mental toughness and relentless attitude further distinguish him as a player capable of setting the tone for a defense.

142 tackles, 13 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 FF, 1 INTrnWeikel is a physical linebacker. What stood out immediately for me was how efficient he is. The junior rarely takes a false step and always moves towards the ball. With his tackling numbers, this is obvious, but he is better against the run than the pass. However, he does have good enough feet to get into a pass drop and make plays on the ball. He is not the kind of player who will go for the highlight hit at the expense of making the correct play – he is consistent with his tackling technique.

The stock was beginning to rise for Andover’s hammer of a 2025 LB Kaleb Weikel after his excellent sophomore season last year, and he’s only built on the hype, potential, and projection as a now-junior. The 6’2, 220 lber. has heard from NDSU and SDSU all season long thanks to his three-down capability, thick and powerful build, and role as a key cog and leader in Andover’s still-ongoing 5A state title run. Weikel has good range and makes plays all over the field, can blitz, cover, eat blocks, and impact the run game, and is instinctive in the turnover department. He diagnoses and reacts with urgency, closes quickly, and can slip under blocking attempts and make tackles through contact. That Andover LB corps is loaded in 2023 and I’m excited to see them compete and make plays with the season on the line these next few weeks.

Weikel made a tackle on the outside on 4th down, resulting in a turnover on downs. His pass rush resulted in a hit on the quarterback and an incomplete pass. Later, he knocked down a pass on a throw to the outside.