Gameday Recruits 1% Showcase: Defensive Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maryland is starting off the offseason at a promising pace. The few showcases that have taken place over the past 3 weeks have been competitive and action packed. Gameday Recruits, 1%, and All State Preps has put together a showcase circuit attracting athletes and scouts from Maryland, New Jersey, Virgnia, and Pennsylvania; providing a wide variety of players from the Mid-Atlantic region. We watched some familiar faces dominate and some new names rise above the competition, let's take a look at who stood out.</p> <p><strong>DB MVP:</strong></p> <p><strong><img class="size-medium wp-image-146213 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/05/dante-lovett-crop-842x553-1621592573-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />[player_tooltip player_id="146209" first="Dante" last="Lovett"] | 2023 DB | DeMatha</strong></p> <p>Lovett had a target on his back and lived up to the hype. Dante definitely raised his stock after this showcase with a handful of INT's, pass breaks ups and had the play of the day. Lovette gets better every time I evaluate him in person, this time around his all-around athleticism and ball skills shined bright. He proved to be the top dog in the Db group by competing against some of the most talented receivers in attendance. He covered short crossing routes with ease, whether he sat on it or played in chase for the deflection he played hem very well. In redzone one on ones he was undefeated, that is when his athleticism really took over, jumping out of the gym to make plays on the ball. Check out his 1 hand interception below..</p> <p>[embed]https://twitter.com/BappNAinEZBino/status/1472682981177401349?s=20[/embed]</p> <p>[embed]https://twitter.com/dante_lovett/status/1459893122272579592?s=20[/embed]</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>DL MVP:</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="180894" first="Colin" last="Coates"] | 2023 DL | St. Francis</strong></p> <p>Colin utilized every technique to get by blockers. He used power in his bull rush, speed with his swim, chop, and club, and agility with his spin move. He also demonstrated his strength when using good hand placement to keep blockers away from his body. </p> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13563897/6140ee36b5351506e89db261" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Coates’s HUDL Highlights</a></em></strong></p> <p><strong>LB MVP:</strong></p> [caption id="attachment_258444" align="alignleft" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-258444" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/Dehron-Johnson-300x154.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="154" /> Photo: Ed Obrien, <a href="https://247sports.com/high-school/pennsylvania/Article/The-Top-Performers-from-the-1-Percent-Showcase-dante-lovett-tyler-stewart-noah-brannock-kendrell-anderson-kyle-williams-ryan-manning-179087243/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@EdObrien247 </a>[/caption] <p><strong>Dehron Johnson | 2023 | </strong></p> <p>Dehron did well in both cat-mouse and 1v1's gaining him the edge above the other talented linebackers in attendance. In both drills his feet made the difference. He does a great job of staying square and ready to explode in either direction to make a play on the ball.  His eyes are focused on the hips which allows him to get into the RB's hip as he gets into his break, putting him in the perfect position as long as he gets his eyes around to the ball.  </p> <p>[embed]https://twitter.com/Ron7kk_/status/1471584724606988288?s=20[/embed]</p> <p><strong>#25 Reginald Jones | 2023 LB | DeMatha</strong></p> <p>Jones immediately stands out from the crowd, with his level of intensity. He's very physical and at 100mph every rep whether he wins or loses. In the cat-mouse drill with the running backs he ran through his targets when positioning allowed, lifting a couple off of their feet. He brings his hips on contact allowing him to maximize his power output. The effort and uplifting he brings to the group is very positive, cheering on and celebrating fellow LB's every chance he gets. He ran to meet and celebrate with other LB's after good plays, that's the type of player you want on your team. 100% effort at 100mph and 100% all in for his teammates. </p> <p><em><strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/15270576/Reggie-Jones" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jones's HUDL Highlights</a></strong></em></p> <p>[embed]https://twitter.com/Reginaldffjones/status/1472705687608303619?s=20[/embed]</p> <p><strong>Colin Richardson | 2023 LB | Bishop O’Connell</strong></p> <p>Colin has a great frame for a LB, taller and leaner than most but is more athletic than most too. He's another backer who literally made some noise during the cat-mouse drill putting a defender on his back and winning all of his reps. Really liked his 1v1 reps as he showed some range and good technique. One of his 1v1 reps really stood out, where he flipped his hips without panicking then undercut the RB for a diving swat. <em><strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15401488/619703a63df5960860230798" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Richardson’s HUDL Highlights</a></strong></em></p> <p><strong>Notable Mentions:</strong></p> <p><strong>Quilik Wooten | 2023 DB | Riverdale Baptist</strong></p> <p>[embed]https://twitter.com/wooten_quilik/status/1464476099933614086?s=20[/embed]</p> <p><strong>Tariq Hayer | 2025 DB |St. Mary’s Ryken</strong></p> <p>[embed]https://twitter.com/Tariqhayer/status/1464382789030141954?s=20[/embed]</p> <p><strong>Vincent Nicholson | 2023 DB | DeMatha</strong></p> <p>[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMCXZdnvFr0[/embed]</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->