Iowa 7v7 Back to Ballin Day Two: Defensive Standouts

Taking a look at the defensive standouts from Sunday in windy Waterloo, Iowa at the Iowa 7v7 Back to Ballin event. Note: These players are on an "as seen basis" with input from the tournament coaches too! [player_tooltip player_id="81145" first="Tate" last="Deever"] | LB, Wabaunsee (KS)/785 Elite (KS) | (2024) Deever was one of the top linebackers for the 15U 785 Elite, who were tournament champions in the 15U Division this weekend. From the glimpses I got of Deever, he’s a kid that works his tail off wherever he is on the field. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11434204/Tate-Deever">Hudl Profile</a> [player_tooltip player_id="112184" first="Foster" last="Mulvehill"] | LB/DB, Irondale (MN)/Potenza Sports (MN) | (2023) I was a big fan of Mulvehill’s ball instincts this weekend. Every time the ball came his way, he reacted but didn’t overreact especially when he was man coverage; he didn’t flinch. When you roll his 2020 tape, you see a kid that saved the Knights from allowing a few touchdowns as a deep safety as he was on cleanup duty. Although many of the tackles made are shoestring tackles, you can see Mulvehil’s strong physical presence on the return team. Mulvehill will need more film as he has on 7on7 to bat an eye from college coaches and other Prep Redzone scouts. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FDZFa">So. Tape</a> [embed]https://twitter.com/FosterMulvehill/status/1376345141737189378[/embed] Kaden Ireland | DB, Topeka Seaman/785 Elite (KS) | (2022) Ireland showed off a sizeable frame when making some of the best plays of the weekend for the 785 Elite 18U team. he showed that he could wreak some havoc in the secondary. I watched his tape and saw a kid that is so multi-dimensional. Ireland has long arms to bring in the more challenging passes and can lay a smack with some momentum on the ball carrier. Ireland gets off his blocks super quick and makes all the excellent reads to be a scholarship-level defensive back. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/11584088/5fbc150cd45e9c09b447af2a">Jr. Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="116455" first="Micha" last="Hobin"] | DB, Park Center/Potenza Sports (MN) | (2022) Hobin put up some solid reps this weekend, like the clip below. Hobin has some bursty speed at tailback for the Pirates. He uses the outside lanes to his advantage very frequently. He has very shifty take-off speed in the return game. Hobin also shows a good shift in his footwork when he does take it to the inside lanes and can use that to squeeze a few extra yards inside. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EeFfD">Jr. Tape</a> [embed]https://twitter.com/MichaHobin7/status/1376384218129965056[/embed] [player_tooltip player_id="118812" first="Gaige" last="Avants"] | LB, Davenport North (IA) | (2022) Avants came in as one of my standouts from the Wildcats on the defensive side of the ball from Sunday. Avants might not be the biggest linebacker out there, but he makes up for it with his physicality. Avants has a solid vision to read between the tackles where the ball carrier is coming in from. He has good speed to slow down some of the speed tailbacks the Wildcats go up against. Avants is solid academically with a 3.9 GPA and is talking to football programs with high academics, such as Grinnell College. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EV8LM">Jr. Tape</a> Andres Vargas | DB, Irondale (MN)/Potenza Sports | (2024) Vargas shows a quick reaction time when wide receivers come his way with his big bat and physical play. Good jamming ability, too, when they’re in his window. Vargas does good work at running back on film and is a one-cut back that can get free with just that one cut. He’ll need to develop a bigger burst to get upfield faster, but I’m really impressed with this kid’s ability to bull forward for yards after contact as he’s only a 5’7 150 pounder this time. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2FF76u">Fr. Tape</a> [embed]https://twitter.com/_andresjvargas/status/1376300990996086792[/embed]   Amir Lomas | DB, Davenport North (IA) | (2022) Lomas was yet another Wildcat that I had on my list from Sunday as he performed at a high level. Lomas has a significantly quick get-off step off the edge and has no issue shedding off tacklers if he needs to. Lomas is a super-strong tackler; when he’s got his man one on one and nine times out of ten, he will take him down. I could not find any social media for Lomas, but with his skill, I believe he can play at the next level and is right now under the radar. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EitN5">Jr. Tape</a> Salah Eltoum | DB, Clear Creek/Amana/Fire Dragons (IA) | (2024) Eltoum was another defensive back that made my sheet on Sunday. He closed in on a slick interception and made a good read while doing it! No film available. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14968403/Salah-Eltoum">Hudl Profile</a> Dalton Motley | DB, Davenport North (IA) | (2022) Motley was the final Wildcat on my list from Sunday’s bracket play. He gave physical effort and keyed in on some nice plays for the Wildcats. Not much film available on Motley, but what was available is a WR that doesn’t need much separation to make a play on the defense as he brought in two passes within quite tight windows. He needs more film for sure. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2C9Uu1">Tape vs. Dubuque</a> Wanya Brookshire | DB, Cedar Rapids Washington/Fire Dragons (2024) Brookshire caught my eye with a few plays he made on defense, although he seems to be a young quarterback in the making. This kid’s film showed me a rapid release from his arm and seemed to make the intelligent throw more than the big throw with his excellent football IQ. If he’s going to play quarterback at the next level, he’ll need to work on his touch on the ball, especially when he goes on those deeper routes. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14919059/5f53befe19afbe0700a3c858">Tape vs. Kennedy</a> MN Hitmen Defense | Minnesota | This entire defensive unit was on fire in the last two games I watched on Sunday taking out an undefeated Level Up team and the Grinnell Tigers in the championship game. All seven of these young men will be studs at the next level as two have already signed but their are four players still available in 2022 and one left from 2021. [player_tooltip player_id="18560" first="Micha" last="Vayee"] | DB, Maple Grove (MN) | (2022) Vayee is one of my favorite cornerbacks from the NW metro as everything I have watched in 7on7 and on tape, he’s always right where he needs to be. Vayee is not just a heavy hitter; he also does a fantastic job in coverage as he’s glued to his WR; it seems to me every step of the way on film. Vayee is currently ranked inside the top 5 for DBs in MN, and I think he is closer to that #3 spot right behind his teammate [player_tooltip player_id="116195" first="Jordan" last="McClom"]. Indeed, at least an FCS-level talented cornerback is coming out of the Crimson program. Trenton Taylor | LB, Irondale (MN) | (2021) Taylor is another kid from the Hitmen that is just an athletic freak that when he is defending, someone in 7on7 isn’t aware of how strong he is (which is a darn good thing, might I add). Taylor’s crashing ability on film into the backfield can be dangerous when he has momentum as he has a quick burst off the snap. Taylor can use a little more development as far as his speed on his backpedal, but otherwise, this young man is going to be a stud at Ellsworth Community College as his monster motor will get him another college football opportunity once his JUCO career is over. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EYKqN">Sr. Tape</a> Jonathan Harvey, DB | Mahtomedi (MN) | (2023) Harvey was one of the unknowns to me on this defensive unit but played exceptionally well in the entire two games I watched at the end of the tournament. Harvey has a ton of speed and a burst that can only get better working with his speed trainers this offseason as he goes into his senior year. With more film available, Harvey has the skills to play college football in the coming years. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2ERihK">Tape vs. Hill-Murray</a> [player_tooltip player_id="116195" first="Jordan" last="McClom"] | DB, Robbinsdale Armstrong (MN) | (2022) There has not been a more significant stock riser in the past year in Minnesota’s 2022 class than [player_tooltip player_id="116195" first="Jordan" last="McClom"]. Last summer, I met this young man where you could tell he had some excellent skills, but he still was extremely raw and playing in a system that didn’t match his game. He transferred over to Robbinsdale Armstrong, which was the best move he could make for his future. McClom has a massive coverage area he can cover. If I’m game-planning against Jordan, I will advise staying out of his"no-fly zone," which is over the middle of the field as he has quick instincts and a quick trigger to make a play on the ball is second to none. McClom is also super long as a 6’1 195 pounder, a match-made frame at the Division I level. Not to mention he also does well in the classroom with a 3.8 GPA. Northern Iowa gave McClom his first Divison I offer here recently, and I’m banking he’ll get a few more before the fall season starts from the FBS level. Sky’s the limit for this young man. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2EcEBV">Jr. Tape</a> [caption id="attachment_120553" align="alignnone" width="160"]<img class="wp-image-120553" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/03/IMG_1816-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="160" height="213" /> Robbinsdale Armstrong/Hitmen 2022 DB [player_tooltip player_id="116195" first="Jordan" last="McClom"][/caption]  Najee Nelson | DB, Lakeville North (MN) | (2023) One of the hidden gems I got to watch on Sunday was Lakeville North’s Najee Nelson. Nelson was a very sound lockdown cornerback for the Minnesota Hitmen in both games I watched. Nelson missed most of his sophomore season due to injury, but from what I watched on Sunday, this kid is going to be something special and didn’t look like he missed a step from the 2020 season. Plus, he has an excellent football pedigree as the little brother of NDSU wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id="10967" first="Raja" last="Nelson"]. I can’t wait until this young man gets some film next season. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13071538/Najee-Nelson">Hudl Profile</a> Lawrence Boh | DB, Forest Lake (MN) | (2021) Boh was another key to this secondary for Minnesota Hitmen on Sunday. When you watch Boh’s film, you see another kid that was key from this weekend getting Forest Lake their first winning season in years. He has superglue in coverage and is one of those players that continuously play to the whistle and is a great team player paving the way for his teammates on his blocks. Boh also has a solid physicality level defensively. This kid is going to have a promising career at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Go Pointers! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2BS4uq">Jr. Tape</a> [player_tooltip player_id="18093" first="Charles" last="Rice"] | LB, Fridley (MN) | (2021) Rice is the only uncommitted senior from this list, and to me, it’s pretty surprising he still is. He has a fantastic collapsing ability when he gets into the backfield, and his burst is solid when he sees a play break down. Charles has loose hips that make his drive to the football just so much more physical. He certainly has a next-level frame as a 6’3 215 pounder and sheds off blocks real quickly. Rice is a player that lives off contact as he’s not afraid to bully blockers in his way out of his way at a fast rate of speed. This young man is just looking for one opportunity to play at the next level and will be an asset to any program he joins. Email us at Nate@Prepredzone.com or DM @PrepRedzoneMN if you have any opportunities. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2E9FSi">Jr. Tape</a> More Standouts Peter Phan | DB, Davenport North (IA) | (2022)