Prep Redzone Illinois: 5A All State Defensive Edition

The season is over and we're back at it with the All-State Awards for 8A-1A to highlight these student-athletes accomplishments this season. It was a grueling 9 Week Regular Season and one heck of a road to IHSA State for those that made the playoffs. After reviewing the film of the Top 40 teams in the class of 5A, we're diving into the 5A All-State Defensive Edition. Without further ado, let's dive into it. <hr /> 1st Team DL Mateo Casillas 5'10 195 23' Mahomet Seymour <a href="https://twitter.com/MateoCasillas4">Twitter</a> Mr. Casillas is quick off the ball and does a good job shooting gaps as well as slipping blocks to disrupt plays in the backfield. He does so by using his hands at the point of attack as well as having that quick first step giving him an advantage against an offensive lineman that doesn't get hands up into attacking position quickly. This young man can disengage blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage resulting in no/little gain on the play and crashes down the line of scrimmage to plug up gaps. During his speed rush, he slaps hands down as he closes space between him and the offensive lineman before turning the corner resulting in getting pressure on the quarterback on passing downs. DL [player_tooltip player_id="151181" first="Suleiman" last="Abuaqel"] 6'2 215 22' Fenwick <a href="https://twitter.com/King_SuleimanA">Twitter</a> Mr. Abuaqel disengages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play and does a good job of using his hands at the point of attack. This translates into his ability to slip blocks and shoot gaps resulting in him disrupting plays in the backfield off his penetration generated on the play. He also doesn't give up on plays by taking backside pursuit to make the tackle once the ball carrier tries to hit the cutback lane. On passing downs, he gets after it with both a speed rush and bull rush. Both of which he uses his quick first step to close space between him and the offensive tackle before either using his power to drive the offensive tackle into the quarterback pocket or turn the corner. Both of which result in either quarterback pressures or quarterback sacks as he plays through the whistle to finish plays. DL [player_tooltip player_id="20912" first="Connor" last="Murphy"] 6'3 235 22' Glenbard South <a href="https://twitter.com/ConnorM42407009">Twitter </a> Mr. Murphy uses his hands at the point of attack which he uses to slip blocks and shoot gaps disrupting plays in the backfield off the penetration he generates. He's quick off the ball and uses his quick first step to close space between the offensive lineman before making a play on the ball. This is seen in both the ground and air attack as he can disengage blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. In his pass rush, he utilizes both a speed rush and power move in his toolbox. Upon firing off the ball, he slaps the offensive lineman's hands down at the point of attack and turns the corner to get pressure on the quarterback as well as flushing him out of the pocket. LB [player_tooltip player_id="155324" first="Sam" last="Scullion"] 6'1 190 22' Glenbard South <a href="https://twitter.com/SamScullion4">Twitter </a> Mr. Scullion triggers downhill quickly in close space where he works gap to gap and can meet the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage. He uses his lateral quickness to limit the ball carrier to turn the corner as well as limiting the opposing quarterback to turn the corner once escaping the pocket. This young man is quick off the ball and has a quick first step which is seen in his pass rush as he's walked up on the line of scrimmage. Here, he closes space quickly between him and the offensive tackle before batting hands down and turning the corner to get pressure on the quarterback. When in zone coverage, he can undercut routes in the hook/curl for interceptions and can wrap up to secure open field tackles. LB [player_tooltip player_id="65810" first="Hunter" last="DeVena"] 6'2 205 22' Galesburg <a href="https://twitter.com/HunterDevena">Twitter </a> Mr. DeVena uses his lateral quickness to extend plays horizontally as well as limit the ball carrier to turn the corner. He triggers downhill quickly in close space and has a quick first step upon diagnosing plays. This young man works gap to gap and disengages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. In his pass rush, he closes space between him and the offensive tackle before turning the corner to get pressure on the quarterback. When he's in zone coverage, he gets a hand in the receiver's basket in the hook/curl forcing pass breakups. LB [player_tooltip player_id="119394" first="Jorge" last="Loza"] 22' Morris <a href="https://twitter.com/jorge4oza">Twitter </a> Mr. Loza triggers downhill quickly in close space as he works gap to gap and disengages blocks to make the tackle where he can meet the ball carrier at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. He uses his lateral quickness to flow to the ball on the perimeter limiting the ball carrier to turn the corner as well as triggering to get pressure on the quarterback once escaping the pocket making the open field tackle. This young man has good eye discipline to diagnose halfback screens where he triggers quickly after peeling off his hook/curl zone responsibility to disturpt the play. LB [player_tooltip player_id="20921" first="Carson" last="Eggebraten"] 6'0 210 22' Saint Viator <a href="https://twitter.com/CEggebraten">Twitter</a> Mr. Eggebraten uses his lateral quickness to limit ball carrier to turn the corner and when dropped back in coverage he triggers quickly as he covers ground when the quarterback escapes the pocket limiting the chances of him turning the corner. When in zone coverage, he can undercut routes in the hook/curl for interceptions. In run support, he triggers downhill quickly in close spade and works gap to gap. He disengages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play as he flows to the ball. When he's sent on a blitz he can slip blocks to get pressure on the quarterback. DB Jyaire Hill 6'2 180 23' Kankakee <a href="https://twitter.com/JyaireSuga">Twitter</a> Mr. Hill attacks the ball at the highest point on 50/50 balls to come away with interceptions. When in zone coverage, he can undercut routes to come away with interceptions and has smooth/fluid transitions to cover sideline to sideline as he closes quickly. He also isn't afraid to lower his shoulder to deliver heavy hits forcing pass breakups. In run support, he does a good job of playing the alley where he triggers downhill quickly to make open field tackles. This young man also doesn't give up on plays as he takes pursuit angles to make the tackle downfield. In the return game, he weaves in and out of defenders showcasing his next level gear to blow by defenders on his way into the endzone as well as setting his team up in good starting field position. DB [player_tooltip player_id="155516" first="Denium" last="Juette"] 6'3 175 22' Fenwick <a href="https://twitter.com/DenJuette4">Twitter </a> Mr. Juette gets hands on when pressing disrupting the timing of the route with the opposing quarterback. When in zone coverage, he can undercut the route resulting in an interception by peeling off his deep third responsibility into flat quickly. When in man coverage, he stays on the receiver's hip pocket limiting the chances of him being broken off at the top of the route using his smooth and fluid transition to put him in a position to make a play on the ball. This results in him attacking the ball at the highest point resulting in pass breakups and reacting quickly off tipped passes to come away with an interception DB Brayden Garrigan 5'9 170 22' Providence Catholic <a href="https://twitter.com/BraydenGarrigan">Twitter </a> Mr. Garrigan triggers downhill quickly in run support as he does a good job of playing the alley. He covers ground quickly as he can meet the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage for no gain along the perimeter when working laterally to secure the open field tackle. When he's in the box, he triggers downhill quickly in close space and disengages blocks to make the tackle on the play. When in zone coverage, he isn't afraid to lower his shoulder delivering a hard hit forcing pass breakups and attacks the ball at the highest point on 50/50 balls coming away with interceptions. DB [player_tooltip player_id="20932" first="Peter" last="Roll"] 6'0 188 22' Nazareth Academy <a href="https://twitter.com/peterroll8">Twitter</a> Mr. Roll triggers downhill quickly in run support as he does a good job playing the alley and finishes the play by making the open field tackle. When he's dropped back in coverage and sees the quarterback escaping the pocket this young man can cover ground quickly to limit the chances of the quarterback to turn the corner as he either gets pressure or secures the tackle on the perimeter. When in zone coverage, this young man can undercut routes in his deep third responsibility to come away with interceptions. Upon doing so, he changes gears quickly as he weaves in and out of defenders to give his team good starting field position as well as returning a few for touchdowns. 2nd Team DL Marques Covington 6'0 215 22' Kankakee <a href="https://twitter.com/marquescovingt1">Twitter</a> Mr. Covington works gap to gap and uses his hands at the point of attack to shoot gaps as well as slip blocks resulting in him disrupting plays in the backfield. He can disengage blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play as he flows to the ball. In his pass rush, he fires off the ball using his quick first step to close space between him and the offensive tackle before slapping hands down to turn the corner. This results in this young man getting pressure on the opposing quarterback and flushing him out of the pocket forcing him to work out of platform. DL [player_tooltip player_id="153515" first="Nick" last="Golden"] 6'3 205 23' Mahomet Seymour <a href="https://twitter.com/NickGGolden">Twitter</a> Mr. Golden holds gap responsibility and remains gap sound by fighting off the downblock by the offensive lineman which is trying to wash him down. He does a good job working gap to gap as well as disengaging blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. This young man also shoots gaps and slips blocks to disrupt plays in the backfield off the penetration he generates. In his pass rush, he uses his hands at the point of attack to slap hands downs as he's closing space between him and the offensive tackle right before he turns the corner resulting in him getting pressure on the quarterback. DL [player_tooltip player_id="155323" first="Jason" last="Farnham"] 6'1 260 22' Sterling <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonFarnham3">Twitter </a> Mr. Farnham crashes down the line of scrimmage during his backside pursuit where he's in position to make the tackle if the ball carrier tries to hit the cutback lane. He does a good job working gap to gap as he holds gap control by fighting against the downblock from the offensive lineman as well as disengaging blocks to make the tackle on the play. In his pass rush, he fires off the ball and has a quick first step which he uses to close space quickly between him and the offensive tackle. Once within arms length, this young man uses his hands at the point of attack utilizing a swim move before sinking to turn the corner on the offensive tackle thus getting pressure on the opposing quarterback. DL [player_tooltip player_id="65911" first="Jeh'Chys" last="Brown"] 6'2 266 23' Centralia <a href="https://twitter.com/ChysBrown">Twitter </a> Mr. Brown works gap to gap and disengages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage resulting in no/little gain on the play. This young man can shoot gaps and slip blocks to disrupt plays in the backfield off the penetration he generates. This all happens with his quick first step off the ball paired with his use of hands at the point of attack where he bats the offensive lineman's hands down resulting in this young man either meeting the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage or in the backfield for a tackle for loss. He does a good job of remaining gap sound plugging up running lanes as he fights against being washes down by the offensive lineman and forces the ball carrier to bounce plays outside. LB [player_tooltip player_id="155400" first="Jacob" last="Bottarini"] 6'0 214 22' Marmion Academy <a href="https://twitter.com/Jacob_Bottarini">Twitter</a> Mr. Bottarini triggers downhill quickly in close space where he can meet the ball carrier at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play as he works gap to gap. This young man takes backside pursuit putting him in position to make the tackle on the play if the ball carrier tries to hit cutback lanes and uses his lateral quickness to limit the ball carrier's chance of turning the corner. This is also seen when he's in zone coverage and sees the quarterback is escaping the pocket where he triggers quickly covering ground to limit the quarterback to turn the corner. When in zone coverage, he can undercut routes in the hook/curl to come away with interceptions as well as reacting quickly off tipped passes to secure interceptions as well. LB [player_tooltip player_id="213605" first="Jovan" last="Clark"] 5'10 198 25' Morgan Park <a href="https://twitter.com/__JC23">Twitter </a> Mr. Clark uses his lateral quickness to limit the ball carrier's chance of turning the corner as he finishes the play by making open field tackles. This young man triggers downhill quickly in close space as he works gap to gap and can meet the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage for no gain on the play. He can shoot gaps and slips blocks to disrupt plays in the backfield off the penetration he generates. When walked up on the line of scrimmage, he uses his quick first step to close space quickly between him and the offensive tackle before bating hands down and sinking to turn the corner resulting in him getting pressure on the quarterback as well as coming away with sacks. LB Jon Maxwell 6'1 190 22' Geneseo Mr. Maxwell triggers downhill quickly in close space where he can meet the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage for no gain on the play. This young man can work gap to gap and disengage blocks to make the tackle on the play. He uses his lateral quickness to limit the chance of the ball carrier to turn the corner. This is also seen when he's in zone coverage and he sees the quarterback escaping the pocket where he covers ground quickly as he either gets pressure on the quarterback or can finish the play by making the open field tackle on the perimeter. DB Roger Wolf 5'11 180 22' Triad <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerWolf16">Twitter </a> Mr. Wolf triggers downhill quickly in run support where he isn't afraid to lower his shoulder when making the open field tackle. Translate this to when he's in zone coverage and you see him delivering hard hits for pass breakups in the flat upon contact with the reciever. When covering deep shots downfield in his deep third responsibility, he tracks the ball well to come away with interceptions This young man is also used in the return game where he weaves in and out of defenders while changing his gears quickly to get into the endzone as well as setting his team up in good starting field position. DB Kiwaun Davis 6'3 170 23' Morgan Park <a href="https://twitter.com/davis_kiwaun">Twitter</a> Mr. Davis gets hands on when pressing disrupting the timing of the route with the opposing quarterback. When in man coverage, this young man stays on the receiver's hip pocket limiting the chances of him being broken off at the top of the route and putting him in a good position to make a play on the ball - which is exactly what he does as he can get his hand in the receiver's basket forcing pass breakups. When in zone coverage, he can jump routes in the flat to come away with interceptions. In both coverages, he showcases solid transitions and fluid flip of the hips to stay with his man downfield. DB [player_tooltip player_id="229014" first="Isaiah" last="Johnson"] 5'11 155 22' Marian Catholic <a href="https://twitter.com/NoflyzoneZay">Twitter </a> Mr. Johnson has smooth and fluid transitions to stay with his man in coverage downfield. This is seen when he's covering deep shots downfield while in his deep third zone coverage as he stays on the receiver's hip pocket limiting the chances of him being broken off at the top of the route thus putting him in a good position to make a play on the ball. This is exactly what he does as he's able to get a hand in the receiver's basket forcing pass breakups as well as attacking the ball at the highest point to come away with interceptions. Upon diagnosing the play, he can trigger to the flat after peeling off his deep third responsibility to either deliver a hit upon contact forcing pass breakups or finish the play by making the open field tackle. Honorable Mention DL Ryan Wolenczuk 6'1 230 23' Morris <a href="https://twitter.com/WolenczukRyan">Twitter </a> DL [player_tooltip player_id="248219" first="Owen" last="DiFranco"] 6'3 170 23' Glenbard South <a href="https://twitter.com/owendifranco">Twitter</a> DL [player_tooltip player_id="20895" first="Aaron" last="Carl"] 6'5 245 22' Galesburg <a href="https://twitter.com/The_Aaron_Carl">Twitter </a> LB Conor Paris 6'0 210 22' Fenwick <a href="https://twitter.com/ConorParis32">Twitter</a> LB Ethan Bode 5'9 180 23' Sycamore <a href="https://twitter.com/bode_ethan">Twitter </a> LB Mason Santiago 6'1 195 23' Providence Catholic <a href="https://twitter.com/MasonSantiago55">Twitter</a> LB Mitchell Gallier 5'11 198 22' Mahomet Seymour <a href="https://twitter.com/MitchellGallier">Twitter </a> DB Mac Anderson 5'10 150 22' Morton DB Jacob Wright 6'1 175 22' Peoria DB [player_tooltip player_id="20877" first="Jacque" last="Walls"] 5'11 180 22' Fenwick <a href="https://twitter.com/WindycityWalls">Twitter </a> DB Martin Paris 6'0 180 22' Fenwick <a href="https://twitter.com/Martin_Paris15">Twitter</a> <hr /> Be sure to follow <a href="https://twitter.com/PRZJordan">@PRZJordan</a> regarding news & information for Illinois High School Football as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/prepredzoneIL">@PrepRedzoneIL</a>. 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