Iowa’s C/O 2022 Ballhawks: DB Focus Part III
A successful defensive back is a very cerebral player; someone who is able to process immediately and react instantaneously. The mental toughness, alertness, and discipline of an athlete that can play the position at a high level needs to be…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingA successful defensive back is a very cerebral player; someone who is able to process immediately and react instantaneously. The mental toughness, alertness, and discipline of an athlete that can play the position at a high level needs to be off the charts. What that recipe calls for can create an absolute ballhawk who, through a big hit or interception, can change the course of a game.
Tyree Gardner, Waterloo West, hudl, Twitter
FS, 6’2, 180
Gardner is a fast, rangy Free Safety who does an excellent job patrolling the field in a two-high look. He sees the field incredibly well in coverage picking up opponents as they enter his zone and breaking on routes once the ball is in the air. Gardner plays well in reverse and effectively neutralizes the threat of vertical routes to his side of the field. He can run with anyone and uses his frame and reach to contest passes when someone takes a shot at him. Gardner is exemplary timing hits and plays on the ball when breaking underneath. He has exceptional closing speed and it leads to a lot of big plays. Gardner is just as productive in run support; he is a reliable, secure tackler who gets the job done in the alley and the box. He knows how to compress and leverage when the play goes off-tackle in order to limit gains. Gardner also has sideline to sideline speed to get to the ball from the backside of the play. Gardner evades blockers well coming down hill in the box. He can and will drop the hammer for a big hit.
Cade Harriman, Ridge View, hudl, Twitter
CB, 5’11, 166
Harriman is a big-hitting, play making zone corner who is disciplined and does an excellent job operating in reverse. Harriman is truly excellent in coverage, but what impresses most is his tackling and how willing he is to stick his nose in the play on run support. Harriman, even when giving up size, makes excellent form tackles in the open field or when flowing inside and has to square a ball carrier up. He does an outstanding job stepping up from the flat when a run stretches and putting his helmet in the ball carrier’s knees when they haven’t gotten north-south. In coverage Harriman is second to none at maintaining his zone, trading and picking up opponents, and always knowing where help is. For example, when his initial threat goes deep, he knows his Safety will be there over the top in Cover 2. Similarly, if his initial threat crosses inside he knows there will be a Linebacker there ready to exchange. Whatever happens, he identifies the next threat and is on them right away. Harriman is always in position to capitalize.
Mitchell Schares, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, hudl, Twitter
FS, 6’4, 185
Don’t try to throw that back shoulder Fade in the red zone against Schares; he is excellent in man coverage and that pass will not be completed. Regardless of where he’s at on the field, Schares has the speed and motor skills to lock onto a team’s number one target and shut them down. He has the speed to run with anyone vertically, he doesn’t bite on whatever a Wide Receiver is trying to sell in their route, and he reads eyes really well to know when the ball is in the air so he can make a play. Schares is superb in reverse at the snap and catches opponents as they get into their routes to make sure he is in position to take that threat away. On the rare occasion he does misstep Schares has the speed to recover and get back in position by the time the ball is delivered. Schares can leap and plant as well as anyone to put himself in position to intercept passes. When he can’t make the pick he is great at placing his hands between his opponent’s so they can’t catch the pass. Schares can shut it down playing on an island.
Dkhai Pope, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, hudl, Twitter
CB, 5’9, 170
Pope plays with excellent field awareness and works hard to make himself a factor on every snap. He is a disciplined, pass first corner who is equally effective in zone and man coverage and comes up big in run support. Pope has top-tier speed and footwork at the position and can run step for step with his opponents. He does an excellent job being patient in reverse to force opposing Receivers into their routes; he is never out of position. It doesn’t matter if he is giving up size to much taller opponents because he has great leaping ability and a knack for being in position to make a play on the ball. If an offense thinks they can exploit a height advantage, they are wrong. Pope is versatile in zones and it enables his defense to show and run different looks to his side of the field. Right when a Receiver threatens he is on them and his coverage often leads to extra Quarterback pressure. Pope is fearless against the run and flies downhill or into the box to hit. He secures the tackle well and even punches at the ball once he’s done so.
Reese Hammons, Newton, hudl, Twitter
FS, 5’11, 190
Hammons is all over the field; he is a monster against the run and does an outstanding job against the pass when patrolling a deep quarter or half. Off of his key step, or if a pre-snap read indicates run, Hammons flies downhill into the alley or box and blows up the play. He is a big hitter who tracks the ball and shows no hesitation in getting to or making a tackle. The physical presence that Hammons brings to the field stands out and having an extra hat that can be counted on every down against the run is such a big asset. Hammons gets to the ball playside and backside; he has the ability to evade blockers and navigate his way to the ball from anywhere on the field. Hammons is very intuitive in coverage and does an excellent job identifying routes and diagnosing plays when dropping deep. Regardless of his responsibility he keeps everything in front of him forcing Quarterbacks to look at second or third options. He excels from here when breaking on passes to make plays on the ball or line up a violent hit.
Kane Zuehl, West Hancock, hudl, Twitter
CB, 5’11, 170
The tackling Zuehl puts on display is lights out; he doesn’t miss in the open field, blows up the edge, and cleans up the box or anything that cuts back. He attacks ball carriers with violence and precision. This allows for a lot of versatility depending on the offensive scheme his team is facing when it comes to alignment and assignment. Zuehl can play anything from a traditional Corner position to lining up one by one off the line of scrimmage against a run heavy offense in tight formations. Zuehl is virtually unblockable at any level of the defense. When walked up that far and tight he sets a hard edge and uses quick hands to beat blocks. From traditional alignment Wide Receivers just can’t get hands on him; he is too quick and violent. Zuehl diagnoses and identifies keys in his read step at the snap and goes. He gets to his assignment and is very rangy within zones. He sticks to his man, often deterring the Quarterback from looking his way, and once the ball is in the air leaves to assist coverage elsewhere.