South Bend Defensive Highlights: Week 6

Defenses are stout in South Bend are there were some players who made big impacts on defense on Friday. We’re highlighting some of those players and the plays they made. [player_tooltip player_id="189496" first="Ethan" last="Evers"] - Northwood - RB/LB - 5’11" 165 lbs Evers didn’t limit his damage to just the offensive side of the ball. He was making plays on defense regularly and proved to be a reliable piece. However, he made a fantastic interception right in the middle of a key drive where he raced down and got the ball to the 5-yard line. The very next play he got the carry and scored a TD. Friday felt like he was playing backyard football where he’s by far the best player on the field. Morgan Johnson - Warsaw - FB/OLB - 5’10" 150 lbs Johnson is the best kind of player to have on your team. He is the gritty hard-nosed player who is going to do everything by the book. On offense, they use him at FB to lead block and clear the way. On defense, he’s the leader and the heart and soul of that team. He was making plays left and right and had double-digit tackles. He also intercepted a pass where he read the quarterback’s eyes, stayed patient, and then jumped the route. He raced it down to the 15-yard line and put the offense in a great spot. Jayden Snell - Concord - CB - 5’11" 150 lbs I could make an argument that Snell was the best player on the field Friday for both teams but have no stats to back it up. Why? Outside of his 1 target that he swatted away he had his receiver on lockdown. He clamped onto them at the line and would be pushy the entire snap. He’s a very young CB as he only graduates in 2024 but he’s already getting some big attention. If he develops at the same trajectory he is on he could be a fantastic recruit. Snell has the length, natural ability, and most importantly the instincts to be a successful corner in college. Seth Jankowski - Penn - CB - 5’9" 140 lbs Jankowski is a very slender CB but he thrives by being very physical. He’s got fantastic instincts and is best at trusting what he sees and going with it. Friday when they needed it most Jankowski came through. He forced a fumble and the defense recovered to stall a drive that was going to tie the game back up. He’s a captain on that team for a reason and it’s because he’s a lightning bolt on the field.