Iowa's best high school football players: Meet the state's top linebackers
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 linebackers.
There are hundreds of standout football players in Iowa and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know about any other linebackers worthy of fans’ attention in 2023.
Iann Blowe, 5-10, 200, Akron-Westfield
The Westerners have turned things around from a 2-7 record last season to 8-1 and a first-round Class A playoff victory this season. Blowe spent the past three seasons as the lead running back, combining for 1,968 yards and 20 touchdowns. He is the team’s leading tackler with 63, including 7.5 for loss and four sacks.
John Braun, 6-1, 195, Sr., Van Meter
Braun is second on the team with 40 tackles, trailing only all-stater Porter Doggett. His only pass reception in the season was a 30-yard touchdown. Van Meter, last year’s 1A state champion, is unbeaten again and moving to the Class 2A playoffs.
Cam Buffington, 6-3, 230, Sr., Winfield-Mt. Union
Buffington, who is the top-ranked linebacker in the state and the fourth-ranked prospect overall, committed to Iowa before his freshman season. Buffington earned second-team all-state honors on defense last season, recording 95.5 tackles. He tied for the lead in 8-Player with three pick-6s and was second in solo tackles (76). He amassed 1,484 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns (averaging 10.5 yards per carry) with six receiving TDs last season. The top-ranked and unbeaten Wolves average 56.3 points per game and Buffington has 1,130 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, along with 557 receiving yards and 11 TDs. On defense, where he will more than likely play at Iowa, he has 83 tackles (No. 6 in 8-player), 63 solo with 15 for loss and three sacks.
Caleb Chebuhar, 6-0, 215, Sr., Southeast Polk
Chebuhar has recovered nicely from a broken ankle suffered early last season. He is the second-leading tackler for the Rams with 44.5 stops, 35 solo and 4.5 for loss. Two-time defending 5A state champion Southeast Polk begins playoffs this week.
Jaxon Cherry, 6-2, 230, Sr., Webster City
Cherry may be known more for his offensive prowess as the leading rusher in Class 3A, but he’s also a talented defensive performer. Cherry closed the regular seaosn with 62.5 tackles, which ranks among the top 15 in Class 3A. He had 19 tackles for loss, third-best in 3A, and seven sacks, which is fifth-best. He is Webster City’s all-time leader with 4,304 rushing yards and 72 touchdowns.
Porter Doggett, 6-0, 180, Sr., Van Meter
Doggett made the first team all-state defense as a utility pick for last year’s Class 1A state champions. This season, the Bulldogs have moved to 2A and are undefeated and into the second round of the playoffs. Doggett leads the team with 45 tackles, 24 solo stops and 2.5 for loss. He has returned an interception for a touchdown.
Evan Dorn, 6-3, 210, Sr., Denver
Dorn ranked 10th in Class 1A with 73.5 tackles, 29 solos, 10 for loss and four sacks. He rushed for 527 yards and five touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass. Last season, en route to second team all-state honors, Dorn also had 73.5 tackles, 14 for loss and five sacks.
Myles Gardner, 6-3, 180, Jr., Waterloo Columbus
Ranked as the No. 1 prospect at linebacker in the Class of 2025 by Prep Red Zone, Gardner is also a talented wide receiver. He made the Waterloo all-metro team at receiver as a sophomore and has 38 catches for 588 yards and eight touchdowns heading into a Class 1A second-round playoff game. Gardner has registered 30.5 tackles, four for loss and has two interceptions.
Jackson Jaspers, 5-8, 155, Sr., Mount Vernon
At 5-foot-8, 155 pounds, the Mustang defender shows a ton of heart in his play. In 2022, he had 110.5 tackles to earn second team 3A all-state honors. This season, heading into the first round of the playoffs, Jaspers has 53 tackles, 33 solo with 12 for loss and 6.5 sacks. He returned a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
Kolt Knaack, 5-9, 150, Jr., North Tama
Knaack, who doubles as the Redhawks’ quarterback, finished his junior season with 51.5 tackles and three fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown. At QB, Knaack passed for 1,148 yards and nine touchdowns and rushed for 414 yards and five scores.
Chase Lamb, 6-3, 215, Sr., Waukee Northwest
Lamb has put together another strong season after earning second 5A all-state honors as a junior. He leads the Wolves with 55.5 tackles during the regular season, 10 for loss and a sack.
Tate Lyon, 6-0, 205, Sr., Pleasant Valley
Another talented two-way performer, Lyon has rushed for 617 yards and nine touchdowns for the fourth-ranked Spartans heading into a 5A playoff opener. On defense, he has 19 tackles, 14 of them solo.
Cameron Manary, 5-10, 175, Jr., Ottumwa
Manary was a workhorse on both sides of the ball for the Bulldogs. He finished the season with 1,136 rushing yards on 150 carries with nine touchdowns. Defensively, Manary charted 34.5 tackles – second on the team – with 6.5 for loss and two sacks.
Brayden McClain, 5-10, 195, Sioux City North
After leading the Stars in tackles as a junior with 72, McClain bettered that mark this season. He finished with 78 tackles, seven for loss, 3.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and interception.
Kade McElwaine, 6-0, 195, Sr., MFL MarMac
McElwaine set a school single-season record with 108.5 tackles last season, which ranked second in Class 1A. He was tops on the team and fourth in 1A with 70 solo tackles, then first on the team and third in 1A with 21 tackles for loss. The Bulldogs rolled to an easy victory in the first round of the 1A playoffs and McElwaine has recorded a team-high 65 tackles, 40 solo, with 14 for loss. He has intercepted two passes and on offense, his lone reception went for a touchdown.
Chett Mohr, 6-2, 200, Sr., Mediapolis
Mohr is second in Class 2A with 90 total tackles heading into a second-round playoff game. Of those, 72 are solo with 16 for loss and 2.5 sacks. Mohr made the 1A all-state second team as a defensive utility last season when he had 84.5 tackles, 69 solo and 15 for loss.
Oliver Potter, 5-10, 180, Sr. Woodward-Granger
Potter was an outstanding two-way performer for the Hawks after earning second team 1A all-state defensive honors last season. Not only did he lead the team with 61 tackles, but also rushed for 943 yards, averaging 9.2 yards per carry. Last season, Potter racked up nine of the team’s 14 sacks and led the group with 19 tackles for loss, and his 112 tackles were also the team-high.
Preston Ries, 6-1, 210, Sr., Monticello
Yes, you’ve seen his name listed on a previous list, but Ries is an absolute beast on both sides of the football. The University of Iowa commit has combined for 3,257 yards and 44 touchdowns at quarterback, but he also had 75 tackles heading into a second-round 2A playoff game, which is eighth in the state in 2A. A total of 22.5 of those have been for loss and Ries has three sacks and a fumble recovery.
Gavin Sleezer, 6-2, 200, Jr., Alta-Aurelia
Sleezer ranks third in the state – all classes – with 105.5 tackles and leads Class A. Of those, 71 were solo with eight for loss and four quarterback sacks. Sleezer also had 26 pass receptions for 404 yards and six touchdowns, rushed for 348 yards and three scores and even threw nine passes, completing five with a touchdown.
Matthew Sorfonden, 6-0, 190, Sr., Harlan
Sorfonden is the leading tackler for the two-time defending Class 3A state champions. Heading into a first-round playoff game, he had 64.5 stops, 12 for loss ands 2.5 sacks. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns and added a fumble recovery and also rushed for three touchdowns on offense.
Tanner Thurn, 5-10, 185, Sr., East Buchanan
It’s hard to imagine where East Buchanan would be this season without Thurn. Not only has he rushed for 1,068 yards and 20 touchdowns, averaging 8.5 yards per carry, but he also ranks seventh in Class A with 78.5 tackles. Thurn was named to the second team all-state squad as defensive utility as a junior and the Buccaneers have advanced to the second round of the playoffs this season.
Harrison Tripp, 6-1, 200, Jr., Norwalk
Tripp has accumulated 55 tackles for the Warriors, who qualified for the 4A playoffs. He has 12.5 for loss and two sacks, along with an interception.
Oliver Schmitt, 6-1, 185, Sr., Turkey Valley
Although the Trojans’ season ended with a loss in the first round of the playoffs, Schmitt was one of the most prolific performers in 8-player football. He was second in the state with 1,124 rushing yards (18 touchdowns) and seventh in tackles with 82. Schmitt earned first team all-state honors as a junior.
Austin Vaverka, Sr., Gladbrook-Reinbeck
A versatile two-way player for the 8-player sixth-ranked Rebels, who have made it to the second round of the playoffs. The returning first team all-stater leads the team with 73 tackles, 54 solo and 20 for loss to go along with a fumble recovery and interception. Vaverka has rushed for 417 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 10 passes for 246 yards and three scores.
Trevor Veenstra, 6-4, 255, Sr., Pella Christian
The reigning Class 2A shot put state champion, Veenstra is tied for third in Class 1A with 20.5 tackles for loss. He is second on the Eagles with 57 tackles heading into a second-round playoff game and has 6.5 sacks. Veenstra has also rushed for three touchdowns.
Charlie Watts, Sr., Roland-Story
Watts made 81.5 tackles in 2022, earning second team 2A all-state accolades. The Norsemen have improved their record from 4-5 last season to 7-2 this year with a first-round playoff win. Watts is a big reason why with 68 tackles (42 solo), 6.5 for loss and a sack, as well as an interception.
Derek Weisskopf, 6-3, 215, Sr., Williamsburg
Weisskopf has committed to the University of Iowa. He can do just about anything on the football field and helped the Raiders to a runner-up finish in Class 2A last season. This year, Williamsburg has moved up to 3A and lost just once heading into the playoffs. Jack-of-all-trades Weisskopf has a team-high 36.5 tackles, including 30 solo. He has passed for 375 yards and eight touchdowns and caught 13 passes for 210 yards and four touchdowns. Weisskopf is a two-time state high jump champion.
Brett White, 6-2, 210, Sr., Solon
A Baylor baseball commit that ranks as one of the top baseball players in the state, White ranked in the top five in 3A in 10 offensive categories hitting .460 with seven home runs and 38 RBI. Already a two-time all-state football pick, White has established himself as one of the best linebackers in the state while leading Solon in tackles each of the past two seasons. White has made 254 tackles, including 178 solo stops, in 32 career games over the past three seasons. A phenomenal senior regular season saw White amass 83 tackles, 54 solo, 19.5 for loss and three sacks.
Calvin White, 6-0, 210, Sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy
White is a valuable two-way player for the Cougars, who won six of their final seven regular season games to make the 5A playoffs after an 0-2 start. White leads the team with 60.5 tackles, including 14 for loss and 1.5 sacks and he has three fumble recoveries. On offense, White has 16 receptions for 161 yards and seven touchdowns and has rushed for four scores. He was a second team all-state pick last season.
Draven Woods, 6-3, 225, Sr., Southeast Polk
Woods is one of the top defenders on one of the best defensive teams in the state and the defending Class 5A state champions. He was a first-team all-state pick as a junior, when he racked up 70 tackles, 12 for loss, a sack, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Through the 2023 regular season, Woods has 48 tackles, 20 for loss, three sacks, an interception and fumble recovery he returned for a touchdown.
