8 Preseason Names To Watch: 22' DBs

As we get closer to the start of the Fall 2021 season these young men are practicing with their respective teams getting ready for their Week 1 matchup. With that being said let’s take a look at 8 preseason names to watch as the days are getting closer and closer to gameday. <hr /> [player_tooltip player_id="155500" first="J.T." last="Harris"] Mt Carmel <a href="https://twitter.com/JtHarris21">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11679023/6084e7bf9a9c3f1b80623989">Highlights</a> Mr. Harris is from Mt Carmel, he currently holds no offers and was on our 7A 1st Team All-State team for his performance this past spring season. What I like most about this young man are the technical skills that he utilizes in pass coverage. This happens on more than one occasion in his highlight film, when he does so he’s with his man in coverage. As an underneath crossing route comes into his zone he passes off his defender to his teammate and bolts to the crossing route with his closing speed and makes a play on the ball. He’s an under-the-radar type of player and is awaiting his first offer. If your school is looking for a technically sound DB, go take a look at this young man’s film to see if he’s a fit for your program. [player_tooltip player_id="155513" first="Brayden" last="Hall"] St Rita <a href="https://twitter.com/Upnextbjay">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12852571/6086db791763531c301dbe2f">Highlights</a> Mr. Hall is from St Rita, he currently holds two offers from Culver-Stockton College and Notre Dame College. He was on our 5A 2nd Team All-State team for his past spring season performance and was a sight to see. What I like most about this young man is his ability to go up with the reciever on the 50/50 balls and forcing an incomplete pass/getting an interception. He gets hands-on when pressing forcing the defender to take the outside release and upon doing so is able to undercut the route resulting in an interception. This young man is also a deadly return man as he returned a kickoff for a 94-yard touchdown this past spring season further demonstrating his ability to change gears quickly and the speed that he possesses. If your team is looking for a pass coverage DB that can win the 50/50 balls, go take a look at this young man’s highlights above. [player_tooltip player_id="157626" first="RaSand" last="Hall"] Shepard <a href="https://twitter.com/Rasand4">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13674328/6085c747ab9296036c0774d5">Highlights</a> Mr. Hall is from Shepard, he currently holds one offer from Roosevelt University and was on our 6A 1st Team All-State for his performance this past spring season. What I like most about this young man is the versatility that he brings to the defensive side of the ball as he’s able to line up at corner (pressing the defender or playing off), line up at safety to overlook the whole play, and lines up inside the box bringing his physical play closer to the line of scrimmage. All of which goes hand in hand with the closing speed that he utilizes to attack the ball carrier. There’s a play at the beginning of his highlight tape where he lines up at safety, once the ball is hiked the offense runs a "screen & go" type of play. The receiver that runs the "go" route thinks he’s wide open as he’s about to catch the ball but here comes Mr. Hall with his closing speed laying a hard hit on the defender forcing an incomplete pass. It’s plays like these that stand out to me about this young man as he awaits his first offer. If your program is looking for a versatile DB that is aggressive and attacks, go take a look at this young man’s film above. [player_tooltip player_id="135690" first="Ryan" last="Calcagno"] St Francis <a href="https://twitter.com/ryancalcagno1">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/6317158/6057c8a364df8b0660184352">Highlights</a> Mr. Calcagno is from St Francis, he currently holds a few offers with his most recent coming from Minnesota State University. What I like most about this young man is how he’s a bigger defensive back standing at 6’3 185 which goes hand in hand with him going up to win those 50/50 balls. Another aspect of his game that I enjoy watching is his run-stopping ability, once he diagnoses the play he plants his foot in the ground and attacks. His closing speed comes to light when this happens as he covers ground quickly to make the tackle at the line of scrimmage as well as in the backfield. This young man’s stock is about to explode once the fall season is concluded, he got a few offers from his spring season performance but I believe the best is yet to come. If your school is looking for a bigger balanced defensive back, go take a look at this young man’s highlights above to see if he’s a fit for your program. [player_tooltip player_id="155493" first="Jordan" last="Jones"] South Elgin <a href="https://twitter.com/jordanjones0545">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11830454/60873e0d0dc0001224eedab0">Highlights</a> Mr. Jones is from South Elgin, he currently holds one offer from Roosevelt University and was on our 8A 2nd Team All-State team for his spring season performance. What I like the most about this young man is his ability to go up for those 50/50 balls and come out with the interception. He does so by reading the quarterback’s eyes and taking a break on the ball, as he does so he showcased he can outjump the reciever and undercut the route to win those 50/50 balls. His ability to change gears quickly is something to see as it goes hand in hand with covering sideline to sideline not making it easy for the opposing offense to make deep shot completions down the field. Get eyes on this young man now before his stock rises after this fall season. If your school is looking for a pass coverage defensive back, go take a look at his highlight above. [player_tooltip player_id="155506" first="Travis" last="Garmon"] Richards <a href="https://twitter.com/travis_garmon">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12811166/608a53e72348d71058f15c78">Highlights</a> Mr. Garmon is from Richards, he currently holds one offer from Northern Michigan University and I expect more to come his way after this fall season is concluded. What I like most about this young man is how he’s a bigger defensive back standing at 6’3 175 and the way he’s able to flip his hips to make plays on the ball. When he’s in pass coverage and dropping back, he’s diagnosing the play. Once he does, he flips his hips to attack the reciever downfield which is where his closing speed comes to light as he covers sideline to sideline. To me, he has a lot of untapped potential yet to come to light at the defensive back position and once it does he’s going to turn heads. If your school is looking for a pass coverage defensive back, go take a look at this young man’s highlight above to see if he’s a fit for your program. [player_tooltip player_id="155491" first="Dameon" last="Hall"] Brother Rice <a href="https://twitter.com/HallDameon">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11242781/60859f139a9c3f1b80629593">Highlights</a> Mr. Hall is from Brother Rice, he currently holds one offer from Carthage College and has interest from a few other programs as well. What I like most about this young man are the technical skills that he possesses when in pass coverage. He stays with his man in coverage by staying in the receiver’s hip pocket limiting the chance of him being broken off at the top of the route. At the beginning of his highlight tape, there are a few plays where this happens. One play in particular that caught my eye was where the receiver comes off the line of scrimmage and tries to break this young man off at the top of the route but instead of separation being created Mr. Hall stay in the hip pocket of the reciever and is all over him to make the play on the ball forcing an incomplete pass. Get eyes on this young man as his stock is going to rise once this fall season is concluded. If your school is looking for a pass coverage defensive back, go take a look at this young man’s highlights above. [player_tooltip player_id="155536" first="Trey" last="Gerdes"] Mater Dei <a href="https://twitter.com/gerdes_trey">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11053511/60889cb7420771195470c3b0">Highlights</a> Mr. Gerdes is from Mater Dei, he currently holds no offers and is a sight to see. In pass coverage, he stays with his man in coverage where he reads the quarterback’s eyes allowing him to undercut the receiver’s route resulting in an interception for a huge return. This young man also gets it done in the return game where he showcased his ability to change gears quickly as well as weaving in and out of defenders for a big gain. He doesn’t have his name out there that much but whoever ends up giving this young man a chance is getting a playmaker on defense and in the return game. Go check out his highlights above to see if he’s a fit for your program. Notables [player_tooltip player_id="155522" first="Chase" last="Thomas"] Benton <a href="https://twitter.com/ThomasChase06">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11963071/60941cec15f63209f4fde3d4">Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="155521" first="Cameron" last="Colquitt"] Aurora Christian <a href="https://twitter.com/CameronColquit3">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12937257/608d85c7f31c510bf8948f27">Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="155523" first="Javon" last="Criswell"] Bradley Bourbonnais <a href="https://twitter.com/criswell_vito">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10693317/60884deb42077119547087bd">Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="155494" first="Sean" last="Kinard"] Brother Rice <a href="https://twitter.com/seankinard5">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14460776/6088a4a0dfe34411f83a19e2">Highlights</a> <hr /> These are some of the Preseason Names to Watch at the DB position for the class of 2022. Keep an eye on these young men as they get ready to put the pads on. Be sure to follow @jamaskane regarding news & information for Illinois High School Football, @PrepRedzoneIL, and @PrepRedzone.