Stats: 9 Tackles, 2 SacksrnLaDainian has been a stud in the middle of the Sussex defense. In Level 3 the LB continued to roam from sideline to sideline, filling gaps with aggression and power or spying QBs and chasing them down for sacks. Mielke has a blend of athleticism/power that should attract college coaches. He can fight through blocks in the trenches, and then drop into coverage and show the agility needed to play in space. Mielke has a balanced attack, and has really improved from a year ago. LaDainian continues to trend upwards. Don’t sleep on the senior.

Stats: 18 Tackles, 3 TFLs, .5 Sacks, 1 FFrnIn one of the best games of the week, the senior LB out of Hamilton Sussex stepped up big time. The instincts the senior demonstrated over and over should grab the attention of the next level. Oconomowoc used a lot of misdirection, but Mielke did a great job of doing his job and not getting caught out of position. He also repeatedly made highlight plays that stemmed from his ability to anticipate plays. The 6′ 215 lbs senior MLB showed good athleticism to match the dual threat QB on the other side. If he keeps playing like this against top competition you can expect to see him climb the rankings. He is definitely an LB to know.

While not the biggest kid at 6′ 190 lbs Ladainian proved to be a name to know at the position for 2024 athletes. If you follow along on Twitter you saw the graphics. I really liked what I saw from the junior and his footwork. Mielke moved so well thanks to his light feet, and he was well balanced over his feet. The junior was also impressive with his change of direction. His Shuttle Drill illustrated that nicely as he ran an impressive 4.41. That balance and his feet allowed him to do well in the battles against RBs. Ladainian won reps in both the run and pass battles.

Getting to the ball and making plays isn’t a surprise for the Sussex athlete. He just set his schools’ record for tackles in a season. Just like at the Showcase, his film shows an LB who can be reliable against the run and the pass. He is comfortable playing in space behind his initial alignment. He also has the range to meet ball carriers at the line form sideline to sideline. The rankings on the right are going to move in a positive direction as we begin updates after the coverage of the Showcase.

Stats: 12 Tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 Sack, 1 FRrnThe 6′ 195 lbs LB has been a force for Hamilton HS all season long. He has carried that right into the playoffs. Mielke’s range and high motor stand out to me most in this week’s highlights. On multiple plays he had to cover a lot ground to make stops. I also liked how quickly he read the QB when in coverage. It gave him an extra step to get himself in position. Even when his man or zone wasn’t targeted you would see Mielke end up at the catch point to make a hit. LaDainian was also strong in the run game. He was stout at the line taking on blocks. The talented Arrowhead OL had a hard time sticking a block on him. Mielke is rising his stock this season. Keep an eye on him.