Top Gridiron Defensive Juniors to be: the Class of 2023

Arizona’s junior defensive class for 2023 is outstanding. The top five players include three defensive backs and two linebackers/defensive ends. Two of the five  - [player_tooltip player_id="42952" first="<strong>Cole</strong>" last="<strong>Shivers</strong>"] and [player_tooltip player_id="42919" first="<strong>Carlos</strong>" last="<strong>Griffin</strong>"<span style="font-size: 1rem;">] - both play for the same high school - Saguaro in Scottsdale. Here are profiles of the fabulous five:</span> [player_tooltip player_id="42934" first="<strong>Cole</strong>" last="<strong>Martin</strong>"]: is a 5-11, 175-pound cornerback for Hamilton High School who is ranked the #1 defensive back in the state as a sophomore for the class of 2023. He received two Division ! scholarship offers before he was a high school freshman. Cole now has more than 20 offers including full rides to Arizona, Arizona State, Nebraska, Texas, Texas A &amp; M, and Notre Dame. As a freshman at Hamilton High School, Cole was credited with 38 tackles, five pass break-ups, and an interception which he returned 78 yards for a touchdown. He has a tremendous upside physically with long arms and is very comfortable as a defensive back on the perimeter. He is also considered a high-level competitor who contributes to run support. Cole also has a tremendous change of direction and breaks on the ball very well. He can run with the best of receivers and is outstanding as a return playmaker. He also has solid top-end speed and is a threat every time he touches the ball. His father, Demetric, is a veteran coach and currently the cornerback’s coach at Colorado. By the time he is a senior, Cole could be the #1 recruit in Arizona and a potential multi-year starter at a Power Five program. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="42952" first="<strong>Cole"</strong> last="<strong>Shivers</strong>"]: is a 5-10-165 pound defensive back for Saguaro High School in Scottsdale. He is the #2 ranked cornerback in the state and is a transfer from Mesa Red Mountain High School He started as a freshman, playing in eight games. As a freshman, Cole received All East Valley 6A Honorable Mention. He is fast, good in pass coverage, and a solid tackler. To date, both Arizona and Florida State have offered Cole full scholarships. While getting ready for his junior year, Cole competed in February’s Redzone Elite 7 v 7 Super Bowl Classic that included teams from Arizona, California, Washington, Idaho, and Nevada. Shivers led the secondary for his team - Redrum - and held the opposition to a completion percentage of only 18%. He also had an interception. Redrum beat Rhareback Congo, a team from southern California, in the championship game. More offers will continue to come in during his junior year and he has the potential to be an outstanding college player. &nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id="42946" first<strong>="Porter</strong>" last="<strong>Reynolds</strong>"]: is a 6-0, 225-pound defensive end/linebacker for Queen Creek High School. He is the #1 linebacker in the state for 2023 and the brother of Queen Creek Senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id="42587" first="Trey" last="Reynolds"]. Trey has committed to the University of Utah while Porter, a junior to be, has had a few two Division 1 offers from Colorado and Washington State. Head Coach Joe Germaine, the former Ohio State and Rose Bowl quarterback, moved Porter to defensive end to increase Queen Creek’s pass rush. Trey and Porter compete in the weight room with Porter having power cleaned 315 pounds. He also bench-pressed 225 pounds a total of 28 times. Additionally, he did a single-leg squat of 315 pounds. Porter is also on the wrestling team and an honor student. He has impressive speed and is very agile with a compact, muscular frame. As a freshman, Porter had 53 tackles, 5 sacks, and an interception. Both Trey and Porter are the sons of former Arizona State linebacker Paul Reynolds who is the athletic director at Queen Creek. Porter wears jersey # 46, the same number Paul wore at ASU. He is considered one of the fastest and strongest football players in the country for the class of 2023. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="42919" first="Carlos" last="Griffin"]</strong>: is a 5-11, 170 pound defensive back who plays for Saguaro High School in Scottsdale and Head Coach Jason Mohns. He is the #3 ranked corner in the state for 2023 and with teammate [player_tooltip player_id="42952" first="<strong>Cole</strong>" last="<strong>Shivers</strong>"], heads the most formidable defensive backfield in the state. Carlos had four interceptions as a freshman and has already received two scholarship offers - from Syracuse and Arizona. The offer from Syracuse came on his 16th birthday. Carlos is also an outfielder for the Saguaro baseball team and is a member of the All-Academic football team with a weighted GPA of 4.25. He has outstanding speed, is very dependable in one-on-one coverage, and is a fierce competitor. He played in the nationally televised ESPN game (Saguaro vs. Hamilton High School) last fall and, as a sophomore, had three interceptions against Maricopa. Carlos returned two of them for touchdowns. He is the sixth-ranked player in the state for the class of 2023. In two years, Carlos will be an outstanding addition to a Major Five college program. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;