Iowa's best high school football players: Meet the state's top defensive linemen

Over the next few weeks, we will be taking a position-by-position look at some of the top players in Iowa high school football. This list focuses on defensive linemen. 

There are hundreds of standout football players in Iowa and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know about any other defensive linemen worthy of fans’ attention in 2023.

Keagan Augustine, 6-3, 230, Sr., Sioux City East

A tenacious defender from his end spot, Augustine is one of the Black Raiders’ leading tacklers with 35, six for loss and two sacks. That coming after a junior season in which he registered 25 stops. East made the 5A playoffs and travels to West Des Moines Dowling.

Eddie Becu, 6-0, 260, Sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

One of the defensive leaders up front for Xavier, Becu had 32 tackles, five for loss and two sacks during the regular season. He was a second team 4A all-state pick last season after collecting 31.5 tackles, four for loss and three sacks for the 4A state champions.

Brennen Blegen, 6-3, 290, Sr., Benton

The massive defensive tackle was second on his team with 42 tackles this season, 15.5 of those for loss and three sacks. A second team 3A all-state pick last season, Blegen also recovered three fumbles.

Colton Borcherding-Johnson, 6-1, 245, Jr., Norwalk

Playing alongside twin brother Kadan, Borcherding-Johnson had r43 tackles, five for loss, during the regular season. Norwalk plays a 4A playoff game on Oct. 27. Their older brother, Maddux, plays at the University of Iowa.

Carson Bruhn, 6-6, 250, Sr., Sioux Center

The University of Kansas commit is a two-way stalwart for the Warriors. At defensive end, he had 24 tackles, nine for loss and four sacks during the regular season. At tight end, Bruhn had 17 catches for 189 yards and four touchdowns. He was a second team all-state 3A defensive line pick last season.

Trent Cakerice, 6-5, 241, Sr., Grundy Center

Cakerice will head to the University of Iowa as a preferred walk-on. He tallied 69 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and returned one interception for a touchdown last season to help lead Grundy Center to the Class A state championship. He also registered a 36-6 record as a heavyweight wrestler. This season, Cakerice has 36 tackles, 10 for loss and five sacks as the Spartans prepare for a second-round Class 1A playoff game.

Drew Campbell, 6-4, 225, Sr., Cedar Falls

A defensive end from Cedar Falls High School, Campbell was offered a scholarship by Iowa last July and committed to the Hawkeyes in April. ultimately selected the Hawkeyes over offers from Iowa State, Kansas State and Northern Iowa. Campbell enjoyed a productive junior season at Cedar Falls last fall, finishing with 52 tackles, 20 tackles for a loss and nine sacks for the Tigers. His statistics were similar this season, 50 total tackles, 17 for loss and three sacks. Drew’s older brother, Jack, was the Butkus Award winner for Iowa and is now a rookie with the NFL Detroit Lions.

Brody Chubb, 6-4, 255, Jr., Clear Creek-Amana

Chubb made the move to two-way lineman this season after playing tight end opposite his time at defensive end the past two seasons. Chubb holds an Iowa State offer and has been among the best defensive linemen in Class 4A the past two seasons, racking up 83.5 tackles, 11 for loss and three sacks.

Jack Clark, 6-2, 215, Sr., Iowa City Regina

Clark made the Class 1A all-state second team at defensive end as a junior, when he registered 46.5 tackles, six for loss and four sacks. Clark, who is one of the top baseball catchers in the state, has had another outstanding season to date, with 36 tackles, seven for loss and five sacks heading into a second-round playoff game.

Ethan Dallen, 6-4, 220, Sr., Sioux City North

Dallen made a verbal commitment to UNI in August. He played defensive end for the first time last season, racking up 32 total tackles, four for loss, three sacks and a fumble recovery. In his recently concluded senior campaign, Dallen had 36 tackles, 11 for loss and eight sacks.

Drew Denekas, 6-4, 210, Sr., Central Lyon/George-Little Rock

Denekas was one of the leading tacklers for last year’s Class 2A state champions with 34 stops, 8.5 for loss and seven sacks. During his senior regular season, Denekas had 21.5 tackles, three for loss and a sack. He was a second team all-stater as a junior.

Wyatt DeWitt, 6-2, 252, Sr., Indianola

DeWitt was a first team Class 4A all-state pick as a junior, racking up 40 tackles, 14.5 for loss. Heading into a playoff game in his senior season, DeWitt has charted 32 stops, 7.5 for loss and three sacks.

Landen Helmrich, 5-10, 190, Sr., North Linn

Already a two-time all-state selection, Helmrich had a team-high 60.5 tackles including 13.5 for loss during his junior season. He closed his career with a 43.5-tackle season, including 13.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks. Helmrich rushed for seven touchdowns, caught a touchdown pass and averaged 15.6 yards per kickoff return.

Drew Hundley, 6-1, 220, Sr., Waterloo West

Hundley charted 30.5 tackles to rank among the team leaders for the Wahawks this season. He was an all-metro pick as both a sophomore and junior, finishing second on the team last season with nine tackles for loss.

Ben Kampman, 6-3, 210, Sr., Solon

The returning first team 3A all-state defensive end is the son of former University of Iowa star Aaron Kampman, who went on to play 10 seasons in the NFL. During the regular season, Kampman had 23.5 tackles, nine for loss and 5.5 sacks. As a junior, 15 of his 41 tackles were for loss and he had seven sacks.

Sam Kueter, 6-2, 190, Sr., Iowa City High

The younger brother of departed all-state linebacker Ben Kueter, now at the University of Iowa, Kueter had his own strong season a year ago ranking fourth on the team with 28.5 tackles from his defensive end spot. Kueter, who holds an offer from Northern Iowa, had 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks last season. This season, he is second on the Little Hawks with 55.5 tackles heading into a first-round 5A playoff contest, that includes 4.5 for loss, a sack and two fumble recoveries, one of which he scored a touchdown.

Colton Leichty, 6-4, 215, Sr., WACO

Leichty is a multi-sport standout who had a tremendous junior season for the Warriors, who made it to the 8-player state championship game. He made first team all-state after getting 90 tackles, 27 for loss and 17 sacks. This season, Leichty has 42 tckles, 15.5 for loss, five sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception heading into a second-round playoff game. He is also the team’s leading receiver with 17 catches.

Jack Limbaugh, 6-4, 228, Jr., Algona

Limbaugh is one of the top players in the 2025 class. He is ranked the No. 8 player in Iowa and the No. 53 edge in the nation by 247Sports. Limbaugh holds offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, Missouri and Nebraska. This season, he has 28.5 tackles, four for loss and three sacks. Lining up at tight end, Limbaugh has six catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns.

Cooper Martinson, 6-4, 280, Jr., Southeast Polk

Martinson is the second-leading tackler for the two-time defending 5A state champion Rams with 41 stops, including 4.5 for loss and 1.5 sacks. As a sophomore, Martinson amassed 53 tackles, nine for loss and one sack.

Keegan McMillan, 6-2, 305, Sr., West Sioux

McMillan earned first team Class 1A all-state honors last season when he finished as the second-leading tackler for the state runners-up with 45 stops, 10 for loss and a sack. McMillan is also an outstanding heavyweight wrestler for the Falcons.

Thomas Meyer, 6-5, 220, Jr., Clear Lake

Another two-way stalwart, Meyer, considered the top prospect in the state for the Class of 2025, has received offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. At defensive end, where he was selected to the Class 2A all-state second team as a sophomore, Meyer had 31 tackles, 12 for loss, two sacks and two fumble recoveries this regular season. At tight end, he’s caught 23 balls for 387 yards and seven touchdowns.

Franz Reisz, 6-5, 235, Sr., Harlan

As the Cyclones shoot for their third consecutive Class 3A state title, Reisz is one of the team’s leading tacklers with 25 from his defensive end spot. Among those are 7.5 for loss and three sacks. Harlan opens playoff action on Oct. 27.

Dantrell Skinner, 6-0, 210, Sr., Iowa City Liberty

Skinner, a Class 4A second team all-state pick after his junior season, had another strong senior campaign. He finished with 35 tackles, 16 for loss and 3.5 sacks, along with three fumble recoveries. As a junior, Skinner had 39 tackles, including nine for loss.

David Smith, 6-1, 230, Sr., West Hancock

Smith was the second-leading tackler on a team that reached the Class A state championship game last season with 49.5, 14.5 for loss. The Eagles were still alive, having advanced to the second round of the playoffs, with defensive end Smith leading the team with 17 tackles for loss.

Joey Van Wetzinga, 6-2, 255, Jr., Pleasant Valley

Van Wetzinga committed to the University of Iowa before the start of his junior season. A first team Class 5A all-stater as a sophomore, he finished the 2023 regular season with 32.5 tackles, 8.0 for loss and 2.5 sacks. His brother, Rusty, walked on at Iowa this season.

Sam Watts, 6-2, 195, Sr., Linn-Mar

Watts, who placed third in the state shot put last spring, ranks second on the team with 34.5 tackles heading into a first-round playoff game against defending state champion Southeast Polk. He has 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks, as well as a pair of fumble recoveries.

Draven Woods, 6-3, 215, Sr., Southeast Polk

The leader of one of the best defenses in the state, Woods leads his team this year with 48 tackles, three sacks and 20 tackles for loss. He led the Rams with 70 tackles last season.

Logan Wright, 6-3, 235, Sr., West Branch

Prior to this season, Wright was among the most disruptive defensive linemen in the state, racking up 60 tackles, including 23 for loss and 9.5 sacks from his defensive tackle spot. This season, Wright’s 19 tackles for loss rank sixth in Class 1A and he has 35 overall for a team that has advanced to the second round of the playoffs.

--Barry Poe

Photo of Carson Bruhn courtesy of 247 Sports