Stats: 14 Tackles, 2 TFLs

Senior ILB Thade Drier Thade Drier 5'9" | 180 lbs | LB/RB River Falls | 2026 State WI was a heat-seeking missile in Week 8. First we saw the range to chase down the ball off the edge and then run through his tackle attempt to drive the ball back. Then we saw some stops between the tackles and that got me fired up. Thade is undersized, but the way he can fly around the front seven with his lateral agility and then fire downhill when he moves into an opening is a next level skill. It was impressive watching him move through traffic untouched and then make those big time hits. The senior has a nose for the ball, knows how to get through traffic to get to it, and is a very reliable tackler when he gets there.

Stats: 11 Tackles, 2 Sacks, 3 TFLs

One of those new athletes to hit my radar that I mentioned in the intro is River Falls’ Thade Drier Thade Drier 5'9" | 180 lbs | LB/RB River Falls | 2026 State WI at LB. While the senior LB may be undersized for the position it hasn’t slowed him down from producing on the field. In Week 3 the tape shows an athlete who can consistently get into the backfield. He did it pressuring the QB and also did it against the run. It was the run defense reps that really impressed me. Being able to square up on and bring down shifty backs in the hole is no easy task, but Thade delivers. The senior also looked natural moving laterally as he mirrored the RB and met the in the hole out on the edge. It was a strong week for the senior LB. Check him out further in the highlights.