Senior DB’s Ready for the Spotlight

Indiana has plenty of offensive weapons, especially at wide receiver. Having a great defensive backfield will be required in order to combat this. Fortunately, the Hoosier state provides plenty of quality defensive backs who are more than capable of shutting down an opposing offense. These student-athletes have the ability to be big time players at the next level. We continue our run-down of the top defensive backs in the Class of 2022. These five players are set for breakout season this fall and they are poised for big things in college. [player_tooltip player_id="39062" first="Achilles" last="Johnson"], 6’2, 155 pounds, Evansville North [player_tooltip player_id="39062" first="Achilles" last="Johnson"] has great speed, and while he can get to his destination quickly, it is what he does when gets there that makes Johnson a top-tier prospect. Whether in the passing game or when chasing down a runner, Johnson always closes the play well. He makes great plays in space and he can comfortably make solo tackles. His highlight tape tells the story of a player who is very disciplined and constantly makes plays. His speed will also help him match any receiver step-for-step. [player_tooltip player_id="98060" first="Zion" last="Woods"], 6’0, 175 pounds, North Central Similar to Johnson, [player_tooltip player_id="98060" first="Zion" last="Woods"] has the asset of great quickness. Woods also possesses great ball skills and he can break up passes and come away with interceptions. Woods is a hard-hitting safety and he is a solid tackler. Woods demonstrates great instincts and he reads the game very well. Woods is also a great special teams contributor. On top of all of that, [player_tooltip player_id="98060" first="Zion" last="Woods"] shows a high football IQ that makes him extremely valuable for any defense. [player_tooltip player_id="98023" first="Bryce" last="Llewellyn"], 5’11, 200 pounds, Cathedral [player_tooltip player_id="98023" first="Bryce" last="Llewellyn"] is a disciplined safety for Cathedral. Llewellyn pursues the ball well and he takes great angles. He can be that hard-hitting safety that so many teams covet. Llewellyn makes great reads at the safety position. He is also somebody that, in certain packages, can line up inside the box. [player_tooltip player_id="98023" first="Bryce" last="Llewellyn"] is also a great contributor on special teams, further adding to what he can bring to any team. [player_tooltip player_id="98070" first="Rowan" last="Zolman"], 6’4, 200 pounds, East Noble [player_tooltip player_id="98070" first="Rowan" last="Zolman"] provides a fast and athletic presence in the East Noble secondary. His athleticism is demonstrated by the fact that he plays both defense and offense. On top of being a great pass defender, Zolman provides an extra layer to his game by being a terrific run defender. He pursues well and makes great plays on the ball. Zolman is a very dependable player. [player_tooltip player_id="98074" first="Mitchell" last="Evans"], 5’10, 180 pounds, Center Grove [player_tooltip player_id="98074" first="Mitchell" last="Evans"] is an all-around playmaker on an already strong Center Grove team. Evans can make the necessary plays on the ball. He has the perfect size to allow him to cover a lot of ground. Evans is also a dependable tackler as he had 43 total tackles a season ago. Evans can also be effective as a punt returner and he can set the offense up in great field position. Each of these five incredible student-athletes has a lot of potential. Colleges who have not yet gotten them on their radar need to do so. These five are tipped for big things in the fall. We will look at four more great defensive backs tomorrow. Offense are going to their hands full when they play against these elite prospects.