5 Seniors to Watch in ’21: Derby

For the better part of the last decade, the Panthers of Derby High School have been phenomenal.  They have won 6 state championships in the last 8 years and have produced extremely talented players year after year.  Here are five seniors who will help Derby in their quest to bring home their 7th state championship since 2013 in 2021. <strong>OL, [player_tooltip player_id="35547" first="Alex" last="Key"], 6’3", 260</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="35547" first="Alex" last="Key"] is the 2nd ranked OL and the 9th ranked player overall in the class of 2022.  He plays as a LT.  When he is run blocking, he uses his excellent quickness to win the outside shoulder of the 5T or the OLB if he is reaching to the 2nd level as he gets his hat across, rolls his hips on contact and delivers a powerful strike with good hand placement as he drives his man off the ball creating a big lane for the RB.  He shows very good competitive toughness as he plays until the whistle   In pass pro, he plays with a good base as he bends at the knee while setting up at 45 degrees keeping his feet moving constantly.  He then uses his long arms and very good play strength to anchor against large 5T while keeping a good distance between himself and the quarterback. <strong>DB, [player_tooltip player_id="35594" first="Corey" last="Akins"], 6’1", 170</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="35594" first="Corey" last="Akins"] is the 2nd ranked DB and the 18th ranked player overall in the class of 2022.  In 2020, he made 35 tackles.  He plays as a LCB as well as the slot CB.  In off coverage, he displays fluid hips and uses his quickness to backpedal while displaying very good play speed to keep his man in front of him.  In press coverage while in the slot, he matches the feet of the WR, shows patience with his hands and uses his play speed and athletic ability to stay in phase with his man at all times.  He is a solid tackler who uses his good range to play sideline to sideline, his good instincts to take the correct angle in pursuit and displays good play strength in his upper body, lower body and core as he brings down WR and RB with ease. <strong>OL, [player_tooltip player_id="35565" first="Jonas" last="Vickers"], 6’2", 285</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="35565" first="Jonas" last="Vickers"] is the 4th ranked OL and the 27th ranked player overall in the class of 2022.  He plays as a RG.  Uses his very good play speed and quickness to pull on power plays while showing excellent explosiveness and play strength as he plays as a good pad level, squares up against the OLB and delivers a powerful hand punch with good placement as he washes his man out of the play leading to a big gain for the RB.  Shows great tenacity and physical toughness as he finishes the block against the OLB to the ground with ease. In pass pro, he bends at the knee, keeps his feet moving constantly while looking for work if he is uncovered, he uses his very good play strength to and use of hands to deliver a powerful strike to the DL knocking him to the ground. <strong>DL, [player_tooltip player_id="35557" first="Quentin" last="Dorsey"], 6’1", 240</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="35557" first="Quentin" last="Dorsey"] is the 9th ranked DL and the 56th ranked player overall.  In 2020, he made 26 tackles with 7 TFL and 2 sacks.  He plays predominantly as a 3T.  Against the run, he uses his very quickness, play strength and use of hands to defeat the reach block by the OG, his good instincts to take the correct angle in pursuit and is able to bring down the RB with force.  He is also an effective pass rusher who displays good burst off the ball as he puts tremendous pressure on the G in his first three steps before penetrating through the B gap and into the backfield.  he then uses his good motor to pressure the QB and is athletic enough to hurry or catch the QB for the sack. <strong>OL, [player_tooltip player_id="35575" first="Dylan" last="Conn"], 6’1", 285</strong> [player_tooltip player_id="35575" first="Dylan" last="Conn"] is the 8th ranked OL and the 68th ranked player overall.  He plays as a C.  He fires out low, shoots his hands quickly delivering a powerful hand punch to the NT, uses his play strength to drive his man off the ball and his physical toughness to finish blocks to the ground.  When reaching for blocks at the 2nd level, he quickly gets out in space, uses his size and power to overwhelm the LB and clears large running lanes for the RB.  In pass pro, he bends at the knee, keeps his feet moving and sinks his hips to stand his ground and not get driven back while keeping the LB or NT from making progress.