Best I watched: All-Star Defense

Out of all the football I watched in 2021, this is my All-Star team for defense. These are the best of the best that I watched in person, and my picks for the best I saw at each position. Now, here’s my All-Star defense! <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Defensive Line</span></strong> RE - [player_tooltip player_id="206954" first="Timothy" last="Allen"] DT - Keith Whitfield DT - <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12533324">[player_tooltip player_id="30181" first="Terence" last="Maize"]</a> LE - [player_tooltip player_id="226712" first="Mason" last="Muragin"] Whitfield and Maize are pure run-stoppers, while Muragin and Allen specialize in getting to the QB. I watched Whitfield in Haslett’s playoff game against Pinckney, and he dominated and led his team to the win. Maize is a known interior defender, and for a good reason. He’s dominant and crazy good. Now for the ends. [player_tooltip player_id="206954" first="Timothy" last="Allen"] was right there with Muragin in best defensive linemen, but Allen did not get nearly as much press. Luckily for him, he’s headed to Ferris State to play his collegiate ball. As for Muragin, he’s got a ton of upside, and the 2023 prospect already has offers coming his way. I watched him manhandle a great TC Central O line during the state championship in a performance that impressed many people. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Linebackers</span></strong> OLB - [player_tooltip player_id="30137" first="Nolan" last="Ziegler"] MLB - [player_tooltip player_id="30131" first="Joshua" last="Burnham"] OLB - <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10753498">[player_tooltip player_id="30305" first="Cross" last="Dobbs"]</a> Geeeeeeesh, what a group here. We’ve got 2 Notre Dame commits in Burnham and Ziegler, while Dobbs is headed to Grand Valley State, one of the premier DII programs in the Nation. Burnham is a true middle linebacker and reminded me of Luke Kuechly. Dobbs is also an MLB, but he’s very agile and can rush the passer quite well. Now Ziegler is more of a unicorn as he can stop the run and rush the passer but is elite in pass defense. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Secondary</span></strong> DB - <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13141836">[player_tooltip player_id="241259" first="Bryce" last="Kurncz"]</a> DB - <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Christian Schomer</span> DB - <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/15709486">[player_tooltip player_id="251945" first="Ty" last="Hudkins"]</a> S - <a class="uni-link--implied" href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11392903">Carson Bourdo</a> This secondary group is fascinating as we don’t have any "elite" names here. Starting with our Safety, Bourdo is headed to Saginaw Valley, and he faced some amazing competition last season and performed very well. [player_tooltip player_id="251945" first="Ty" last="Hudkins"] is a rising star at Forest Hills Central, as he showed up and showed out during a few offseason camps this year. Those performances at camps and his play against Grand Blanc give him a spot on this list. Christian Schomer had the performance of a lifetime against Grand Blanc in the state semifinals. He had many pass deflections and a few interceptions against great talent. He also performed strikingly well on offense. Schomer is very experienced in man coverage, and he would be an asset to any team. Finally, [player_tooltip player_id="241259" first="Bryce" last="Kurncz"] was terrific, facing off against Detroit MLK in the state championship. He had a forced fumble, sack, and pass breakup against one of the best offenses in the state.