Indiana 2025 Defensive Recruits To Watch

We’re looking at some really exciting freshman defensive recruits and the things they bring to the field and what their futures could entail. Lennox Williams - Westfield - LB/DB - 5’6" 140 lbs Lennox is a young, but dynamic recruit who is learning on the fly and making plays. Westfield starts him in the LB core and then moves him around on the backend when they move him out of the second level. I will also say he looks bigger and stronger than his listed weight. He plays very instinctive and trusts his eyes and what he’s seeing developing right in front of him. When he sees it, he’s going to attack and come up to try making the play. In terms of making the tackle, there are times where it’s clear he’s raw in some areas. Sometimes he flies around a bit too fast and doesn’t come to balance which can cause him to be shaken off. Outside of those few moments, Williams is as sure-handed as they come. He’s strong and is able to wrap up and bring down his guy once he gets his hands on them. He has a relentless motor and is able to cover a ton of ground. He’s able to cover sideline to sideline and his acceleration is just as good as his top speed. I do think he could continue to bulk up and work on just understanding the position better but his potential is very clear. I anticipate by the time he graduates, he’s going to be much thicker and stronger and teams are going to be all over him as a LB. His potential and upside is too good so a decent amount of schools are probably going to come knocking and shoot him an offer. It’ll likely be up to him and what scheme he goes with to best fit his skillset. [player_tooltip player_id="320275" first="Caden" last="Thompson"] - South Dearborn - DL/OLB - 6’0" 176 lbs Thompson lines up on the ball and off the ball for South Dearborn depending on the game plan and what they need. I think he’s best when he’s off the ball and is able to pick his spots. He’s very raw at LB, but the natural size and athletic ability is there. You can see the flash when he’s on the field. He’s as physical as they come and likes to hit. There are times he struggles to bring down bigger ball carriers, but as he gets stronger I anticipate that being an issue of the past. Once he gets his hands on the ball carrier, he isn’t letting go and will at the very least, hold on until the reinforcements arrive. He’s learning the position and is making plays on the fly at the varsity level which is exactly what you want to see. He doesn’t quit on any play and will chase down the ball carrier 20-yards downfield if he has to. He doesn’t drop back into coverage very often and when he does, he could use some cleaning up. To be fair, he’s a freshman and they like him around the ball. If he isn’t blitzing, he’s keying his guy and is still in the play. His upside is as high as he wants it to be. If he puts the work in and develops like I think he can, he’ll be picking the best spot for him to play LB in the college ranks. <span style="font-size: 1rem;">[player_tooltip player_id="196650" first="Aden" last="Chase"] - Cathedral - CB - 5’6" 112 lbs</span> Chase is fun to watch. I will say, he also looks thicker than 112. He has a decent top speed and can get there in just a few strides. He has long strides, especially for his size, and is able to cover a ton of ground. He’s got decent ball skills and is very aggressive with the ball in the air. If he sees the ball, he’s going to turn his head to take his shot at the ball. More often than not, when he takes those shots at the ball he’s going to come down with it. I believe I counted 5 interceptions alone just from his freshman year. Mechanically, there’s some stuff to clean up. The typical footwork and techniques when in press coverage are the main things right now. It’s a good sign that as a freshman they are willing to send him out on an island with the other team’s best receiver and see what he can do. He really trusts his eyes and is always on his guy when the ball is near him. It would be great if over the next few years he grows a few inches and then is able to hit the weight room to bulk up. If he’s able to do those things and continue working on his craft, Chase is going to have a decent amount of interest at the next level. He’s fun to watch and has a decent amount of potential. I think over the next few years Chase could develop into one of the better Corners in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="321387" first="Micah" last="Lillard"] - Lafayette Jefferson - DB - 6’1’ 170 lbs Right now, Lillard doesn’t have a single designated position. He plays DB. He’ll line up at both Safties, Corner, or even in the box. He’s a fantastic athlete and can run with pretty much everyone he comes across. He has long strides and gets to his full speed within 3 strides. He keeps everything in front of him and then closes in a flash. His closing speed is great and he’s going to lay a nice hit when he arrives. He dislodges more balls than you would anticipate. He isn’t the most aggressive with the ball in the air and isn’t going to jump the route unless he knows he can come down with the ball. In terms of footwork and tackling mechanics, Lillard could use some cleaning up. That’ll likely come with time over the next few years. His body is actually already fairly well built and if he’s able to add some more muscle, he’ll be much stronger than WRs expect. He has no issue coming down into the box and blitzing either. When he does, there are times he’s able to hit home with his speed. There’s a lot to like with Lillard and where he can be by the time he graduates. If he develops like I think, Lillard will be sifting through offers his senior year to find the best fit for what he can do.