Five Defensive Standouts From North Central Iowa
Everybody likes to talk about the offense, but teams do have standouts on the defensive side of the ball as well. For the most part, most players are two-way athletes, excelling on both sides. But for now, let us take…
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Continue ReadingEverybody likes to talk about the offense, but teams do have standouts on the defensive side of the ball as well.
For the most part, most players are two-way athletes, excelling on both sides. But for now, let us take a look at what five players from north-central Iowa are doing to perform well at stopping the opposition.
Jacob Leerar – Bishop Garrigan – T/DT – 6-4 225
A big, strong member of the Bishop Garrigan line, Jacob Leerar has led the defense this season for legendary head coach Marty Wadle. With six sacks, Leerar ranks among the state leaders.
Leerar, a multi-sport athlete, stands out at 6-foot-4 and over 220 pounds. He has great strength at the point of attack, but is also quick enough to move around bigger offensive tackles. And with his current frame, he has room to get even bigger and stronger.
Will Pitstick – Newell-Fonda – T/DE – 5-10 – 182
The transition from eight-player football to college can be difficult, but as we have seen, it is possible. Newell-Fonda, a consistent contender for state titles, has pushed players on. Will Pitstick is an interesting prospect.
Just 5-foot-10 and 182 pounds, Pitstick makes the most of all he has, recording six sacks on the year. He’s also picked up 18 solo tackles and 31.5 overall.
Quickness at the eight-player level makes all the difference, and Pitstick has it. He is a disruptive force and can easily shed blockers with good strength and technique.
Ben Egli – Fort Dodge – 5-9 – 155
Fort Dodge’s Ben Egli might not stand out in a lineup, but he does on the field. Egli has made 40.5 tackles, including 31 solo stops. While those are solid numbers, it is his 13 tackles for loss that show what he could do at the college level.
Egli is a gifted athlete with quickness and excellent reflexes for being in the right place to make the tackle. He is almost always the first one tracking down a running back and is also great at putting pressure on the quarterback.
In a recent win over Storm Lake, Egli made 4.5 tackles with two coming behind the line of scrimmage. He also caused problems vs. Waterloo West with three tackles for loss.
Blake Janssen – Iowa Falls-Alden – QB/S – 6-0 – 166
The kind of Swiss army knife every team needs, Blake Janssen has taken on that role this fall. Janssen, a quarterback and member of the defensive secondary, has 35 tackles with five interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
As the Iowa Hawkeyes have shown, being in the right position at the right time is an art form, and Janssen is doing that. He also showed off his athleticism with an interception return for a score.
Janssen has excellent hands and does a nice job of following the ball while in coverage. He’s also made 16 receptions on offense for Iowa Falls-Alden and even completed a handful of passes.
Tyler Schmitt – East Sac County – QB/CB – 6-3 – 210
East Sac County’s Tyler Schmitt has incredible size and shown an array of skills that have allowed him to play a number of different positions for the Raiders. He is listed as a quarterback and cornerback, but Schmitt has lined up mostly at running back on offense.
It is the defensive side, though, where he could make a big impact, having committed to Sioux Falls. At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Schmitt has great size and currently has made 76 tackles.
Schmitt ranks fifth in the state regardless of class in tackles. And of those, 66 have been solo stops, showing his ability to wrap up and stay in pursuit.