Twitter Mania: Defensive Stars Through 3 Weeks

Since we're at the 1/3 mark in the season I decided to look through all of the highlights that went sent via Twitter to highlight some of these young student-athletes that have showcased their skillset so far this season. This isn't an all-inclusive list, it's based solely on the highlights that were sent my way to highlight a few of the student-athletes. Without further ado, let's dive into the young men picked for Defensive Stars Through 3 Weeks. <hr /> DL Nathan Gibbons Sandburg 6’3 235 22’ DL <a href="https://twitter.com/NathanMGibbons">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11840144/613cd86823473c02701a6b25">Film</a> Week 3 Stats: 2 hits on QB, 3 sacks, 4 tackles Trystan Anderson Buffalo Grove 6’4 220 22’ DL <a href="https://twitter.com/ttandersonn">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11573521/613e5c7696777308c0aba192">Film</a> 36 tackles, 4 sacks, 8 TFL Dante Patton Morton West 6’4 247 22’ DL <a href="https://twitter.com/DantePatton9">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15692096/613e37a54ba92f0e207cff2f">Film</a> Week 3 Stats: 4 TFL, 1 sack, 1 TD [player_tooltip player_id="120386" first="Eli" last="Shereshovech"] Buffalo Grove 6’4 240 22’ DL <a href="https://twitter.com/ShereshovechEli">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11525595/6138e26919b05e07cc814409">Film</a> 3 QB pressures, 7 tackles, 2 TFL, 1 sack [player_tooltip player_id="145473" first="Andrew" last="Zook"] Yorkville 6’4 230 23’ DL <a href="https://twitter.com/AndrewZook34">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/9766013/613c969f23473c02701a10f4">Film</a> Mr. Zook does a good job of using his hands at the point of attack, as he does so he's able to hold his gap responsibility and get off of the block to make the tackle at the line of scrimmage. This young man fills gaps in run support and takes pursuit angles straight down the line of scrimmage to make the tackle. He's quick off the ball where he's able to beat the offensive lineman by batting the hands down and mixing in a bull rush as well as a swim move to get pressure on the quarterback. LB [player_tooltip player_id="155362" first="Sean" last="Allison"] Hinsdale Central 6’0 200 22’ LB <a href="https://twitter.com/Sean_Allison18">Twitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Sean_Allison18/status/1437439103923101704?s=20">Film</a> 21 tackles, 1 sack, 6 TFLs (only played 6 quarters) [player_tooltip player_id="155400" first="Jacob" last="Bottarini"] Marmion Academy 5’11 212 22’ LB <a href="https://twitter.com/Jacob_Bottarini">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2b9LvBnPVA&feature=youtu.be">Film</a> 23 tackles, 6 TFLs, 1 FF [player_tooltip player_id="155324" first="Sam" last="Scullion"] Glenbard South 22’ LB <a href="https://twitter.com/SamScullion4">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11271990/613dead096777308c0aa9471">Film</a> 29 tackles (19 solos, 10 assisted), 4 TFLs, 1 fum rec, 1 INT Mr. Scullion fills holes in run support where he meets the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage and shuffle steps before committing to a gap (as the ball carrier is hesitant on the gap to hit). He has the closing speed to cover sideline to sideline where he doesn't allow to let the ball carrier turn the corner in his highlights. When this young man is in pass coverage he attacks downhill to make the open field tackle and doesn't give up on plays by taking pursuit angles to make the tackle downfield. Devon Neal Wheaton North 6’0 195 22’ LB <a href="https://twitter.com/Devon_Neal2">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11230698/6140b0eb5eec2c0b94bf9e4d">Film</a> Mr. Neal is quick off the ball where he uses his hands at the point of attack knocking the offensive lineman's hands down. This results in getting pressure on the quarterback off the edge by sinking his hips as he gains a step on the offensive lineman and gets skinny. He fills holes in run support, gets off the block to make the tackle, and squares up to make the one-on-one tackle in open space. This young man also has the closing speed to cover sideline to sideline with his 4.6 40 yard dash speed. [player_tooltip player_id="118827" first="George" last="Litgen"] St Charles North 6’2 200 LB <a href="https://twitter.com/G_Litgen4">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11161624/613e75645b3d3d022c6bcc97">Film</a> 24 tackles, 7 TFLs, 2 sacks, 3 PBUs [player_tooltip player_id="135831" first="David" last="Loch"] York 6’1 205 23’ LB <a href="https://twitter.com/davidloch55">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12827612/613d06d59a9c4b03d8e2188d">Film</a> 23 tackles, 1.5 TFL (only 7 quarters played) [player_tooltip player_id="132228" first="Domenic" last="Beres"] St Francis 5’9 190 24’ LB <a href="https://twitter.com/DomenicBeres55">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14727714/6140d8755eec2c0b94bfca1c">Film</a> 20 solos, 12 assists, 2 TFL DB [player_tooltip player_id="199424" first="Mason" last="Pawelko"] Geneva 6’3 185 22’ DB <a href="https://twitter.com/MasonPawelko">Twitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MasonPawelko/status/1438155333315317770?s=20">Film</a> 20 tackles, 2 INT, 2 PBUs, 81-yard punt return TD, 50 receiving yards for 1 TD [player_tooltip player_id="182446" first="Adonai" last="Bumba"] St Thomas More 5’11 185 22’ ATH <a href="https://twitter.com/adonai_bumba">Twitter</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/adonai_bumba/status/1437237981354549249?s=20">Film</a> 53 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 30 carries for 236 yards (3 TDs), 9 receptions for 246 yards (5 TDs) Isaiah Johnson Marian Catholic 5’11 160 22’ DB <a href="https://twitter.com/NoflyzoneZay">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13125942/613c28209a9b750a3827dd9e">Film</a> Mr. Johnson stays with his man in coverage by staying on the receiver's hip pocket which gives him the opportunity to get his hand in the receiver's basket to deflect the pass. He flips his hips in coverage to turn and run as well as high points the ball to come down with the interception. This young man isn't afraid to lower his shoulder either, which is seen when he attacks downhill with his closing speed to make the open field tackles. Jyaire Hill Kankakee 23’ ATH <a href="https://twitter.com/JyaireSuga">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15621833/6138f4f34210940284f18e15">Film</a> 4 INT, 3 TDs Mr. Hill has had one heck of a season so far. He uses his closing speed to cover sideline to sideline and undercuts routes to come down with the interception. When he's in pass coverage, he does a good job of flipping his hips to run and tracks the ball well which results in coming away with the interception when the opposing team tacks deep shots downfield. This young man attacks downhill filling holes in run support where he isn't afraid to deliver the hard-hit and gets off of blocks to make the tackle in open space. Mr. Hill is a defensive playmaker that attacks and flies to the ball with his aggressive playstyle, D1 talent in the making for Kankakee. Ryan Whitwell Batavia 23’ DB <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanWhitwell3">Twitter</a> <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13063546/613cefda9a9b750a38293697">Film</a> Mr. Whitwell stays with his man in coverage where he's able to get his hands in there to deflect the pass and takes a solid break on the route. He does so by planting his foot and attacking downhill with his closing speed and covers sideline to sideline. This young man has fluid flip of the hips to turn and run in pass coverage as well as reacting quickly to come away with the interception. He fills holes in run support where he isn't afraid to lower his shoulder to deliver the hit and gets pressure on the quarterback off the edge blitz. Keion Devine Morton 5’8 160 23’ DB <a href="https://twitter.com/keion_devine">Twitter</a> Week 3 Stats: 6 tackles, 1 fum rec <hr /> For the whole season, we’re going to continue this trend of Twitter Mania to highlight as many of you young men as possible each week. Be sure to follow @jamaskane regarding news & information for Illinois High School Football, @PrepRedzoneIL, and @PrepRedzone.