CCL Top Defenders: Orange Division

Today we will be taking a look at the Top Defenders in the CCL Orange Division. These teams include St. Laurence, De La Salle, Nazareth Academy, and Benet Academy. <hr /> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>St. Laurence:</strong></em></span> Casey Forbes - Forbes plays CB, he read/reacts to play quickly and has solid footwork in his backpedal which helps him stay with his man in coverage. Once he reads the play he will plant his foot in the ground and explode out to attack the ballcarrier which results in him making open-field tackles. Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/9567746 Damion Rhoden - Rhoden plays OLB, he takes a solid read step which helps him react quickly to the play. This results in him filling holes in run support and getting to his pass coverage drops quickly where he has the speed to cover sideline to sideline. Rhoden also gets pressure on the QB with his pass rush and stays with his man in coverage. Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/9559270 Antonio Vargas - Vargas plays SS, he has a solid backdrop which helps him stay with his man in coverage. Vargas comes downhill in run support and attacks the ballcarrier by not being afraid to lower his shoulder. Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/12327735 Ryan Carroll - Carroll plays MLB, he fills holes in run support and attacks downhill. He takes solid pursuit angles that help him make open-field tackles and collapses the pocket with his pass rush. Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/11179660 <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>De La Salle:</strong></em></span> Aiden Ralph - Ralph plays OLB/DE, he reacts quickly to the play which helps him diagnose if it's a pass or run. He fills holes in run support, attacks downhill, and makes open-field tackles. Ralph gets in the backfield which results in pressuring the QB and he gets his hands up during his pass rush to deflect passes. Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/9934129 <img class=" wp-image-28321 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/07/4jkhbTjm_400x400-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="110" height="110" /> Jason Moore  - Moore plays CB, he attacks downhill and takes solid pursuit angles which helps him make open-field tackles. Moore is able to read plays quickly which helps him jump routes as well. Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/11230852 Frederick Meriweather - Meriweather plays CB/FS, he fills holes in run support, takes solid pursuit angles and he does so by getting off of his blocks to make the tackle. Meriweather stays with his man in coverage by flipping his hips and having a fluid change of direction. Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/10421318 Armani Diaz - Diaz plays OLB/SS, he takes solid pursuit angles which helps him make the open-field tackle which is seen when he comes down in run support. Diaz also stays with his man in coverage and gets pressure on the QB. Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/10101622 <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Nazareth Academy:</strong></em></span> <img class="size-medium wp-image-44751 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/05/hans-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="20212" first="Daine" last="Hanson"] - Hanson plays DE, he gets off the block to make the tackle with the use of his hands at the LOS which also helps him get pressure on the QB. If he isn't able to get to the QB in a pass rush he will get his hands up to deflect passes never giving up on the play, if it's a run play he takes solid pursuit angles towards the ballcarrier to bring him down. Overall, Henson does the dirty work in the trenches which opens up the linebackers to flow to the ball without having to get past blocks. Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/9356259 <img class=" wp-image-44760 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/05/hughes-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="266" height="175" /> [player_tooltip player_id="20304" first="Drew" last="Hughes"] - Hughes plays DE, he gets off of his blocks to make the tackle and even overpowered a lineman to make the tackle through the opposing player by driving him back into the ballcarrier. Hughes gets solid penetration into the backfield rather it's a pass or run, he holds contain and takes solid pursuit angles to bring down the ballcarrier. Just like his partner in crime (Hanson), he gets it done in the trenches which allows the linebackers to flow freely towards the ball. Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/9356278 <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Benet Academy:</strong></em></span> <img class=" wp-image-57533 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/10/John-Weidenbach-259x300.jpg" alt="" width="148" height="171" /> [player_tooltip player_id="20840" first="John" last="Weidenbach"] - Weidenbach plays MLB, he's a freshman that started on Varsity that has a high ceiling. Weidenbach fills holes in run support where his attack play-style is prominent. In doing so, he takes solid pursuit angles which helps him cover sideline to sideline. Weidenbach gets pressure on the QB forcing errant throws and QB hurries. Overall, Weidenbach had a solid freshman year on varsity and with further development can be a dominant force in the state at LB. Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/3301394 Nick Bafia - Bafia plays CB, he runs a 4.5 40 yard dash which helps him stay with his man in coverage and catch up to the man he's guarding if there is separation created between the two. Bafia plants his foot once he reads the play and attacks towards the ballcarrier which is where he showcases his hard-hitting ability. He has solid footwork in his dropback and has a fluid flip of the hips in transitioning between his backpedal and running with the WR to defend the route. Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/9916791 Michael Manning - Manning plays NG/OLB, he is dominant at getting into the backfield with the use of his hands which includes swim moves, bull rush, etc. Manning gets solid pressure on the QB and shoots the gaps in run support. He also takes solid pursuit angles towards the ballcarrier to bring him down. Manning gets it done in the trenches and doesn't let up. Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/9916707 <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Notables:</strong></em></span> Dell-Rio Johnson III: 2022 St. Laurence Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/11179730 Carson Forney: 2022 Benet Academy Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/11637504 <hr /> Overall, these players are going to play big roles on the defensive side of the ball for each respective team. They all have the ability to play at the next level and don't be surprised if you see any of these names in the newspaper for huge games this upcoming season.