Prep Redzone Illinois 1A 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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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 1A, we’re diving into the 1A All-State Defensive Edition. Without further ado, let’s dive into it.
1st Team
DL Kaleb Post Kaleb Post 6'7" | 270 lbs | DL Camp Point Central | 2022 State IL 6’7 270 22′ Central Twitter
Mr. Post works gap to gap and disengages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. He can slip blocks and shoot gaps to distrups plays in the backfield off the penetration he generates which also puts him in position to meet the ball carrier to at the line of scrimmage. In his pass rush, he uses his hands at the point of attack where he knocks hands down and turns the corner generating pressure on the quarterback as well as showcasing some power by driving the offensive lineman back into the QB pocket before disengaging to come away with the sack.
DL Andrew Edwards Andrew Edwards 6'2" | 200 lbs | DL Athens | 2022 State IL 6’2 200 22′ Athens Twitter
Mr. Edwards works gap to gap where he can meet the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage and can make tackles outside his frame. He uses his lateral quickness to close on the quarterback as he escapes the pocket not allowing him to turn the corner. In his pass rush, he showcases his power by driving he offensive lineman back into the quarterback pocket to flush him out forcing him to work out of platform. He also is able to bat hands down at the point of attack as he closes space between him and the offensive tackle before turning the corner generating pressure off the edge.
DL Samuel Peterson 6’4 210 22′ Momence Twitter
Mr. Peterson works gap to gap and disnegages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. He uses his lateral quickness to limit the quarterback to turn the corner when he escpaes the pocket as he holds quarterback contain. In his pass rush, he closes space between him and the offensive tackle as he bats hands down before he turns the corner on the offensive tackle generating quarterback pressure.
LB Brody Mahon Brody Mahon 6'4" | 200 lbs | LB Lina Winslow | 2022 State IL 6’4 200 22′ Lena-Winslow Twitter
Mr. Mahon triggers downhill quickly in close space where he can meet the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage. He can shoot gaps and slip blocks disturpting plays in the backfield off the penetration he generates. This young man works gap to gap and disengages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/littel gain on the play. His lateral quickness is used to limit the ball carrier’s chances of turning the corner. When in zone coverage, he delivers heavy hits forcing pass breakups in the hook/curl and can peel off his coverage to secure the open field tackle in the flat.
LB Braylen Kean 5’10 185 22′ Gibson City Twitter
Mr. Kean is walked up on the line of scrimmage and holds outside contains as he triggers quickly as the quarterback escapes the pocket limiting the chances of him turning the corner. He takes backside pursuit where he’s able to make the chasedown tackle as well as be in a position to make the tackle if the ball carrier tries to hit the cutback lane. In his pass rush, he has a quick first step which he uses to close space between him and the offensive tackle before he bats hands down at the point of attack as he turns the corner generating pressure on the quarterback off the edge. When coming off a blitz, he comes away with the quarterback blitz.
DB Jeremiah Jackson 5’9 140 23′ Pittsfield
Mr. Jackson has smooth and fluid transitions which he uses to stay on the receiver’s hip pocket when in man coverage. In man coverage, he can undercut routes and attack the ball at the highest point to come away with interceptions as well as jump routes forcing pass breakups. In zone coverage, he undercuts routes getting his hand in the receiver’s basket for pass breakups in his deep half and jumps routes in the flat for pass breakups as well.
DB Anthony Martinez Anthony Martinez 6'1" | 195 lbs | DB Momence | 2022 State IL 6’1 195 22′ Momence
Mr. Martinez gets hands on when pressing and can clean up plays in run support by making the open field tackle where he can also deliver heavy hits forcing fumbles. In zone coverage, he tracks the ball well to come away with interceptions in the deep third and attacks the ball at the highest point to force pass breakup in the deep third. When he undercuts routes in the deep third, he’s able to get a hand in the receiver’s basket forcing pass breakups.
DB Cameron Colquitt Cameron Colquitt 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Aurora Christian | 2022 State IL 5’11 185 22′ Aurora Christian Twitter
Mr. Colquitt triggers downhill in run support where plays the alley cleaning up plays by making open field tackles and triggers covering ground quickly as the quarterback escapes the pocket where he doesn’t allow him to turn the corner. When he’s in the box, he can come away with the quarterback sack as he comes off a blitz. In zone coverage, he undercuts the route in the hook/curl to come away with interceptions.
2nd Team
DL John Ryan 6’1 205 22′ Cumberland
Mr. Ryan works gap to gap and disengages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. He can shoot gaps and slip blocks to disrupt plays in the backfield off the penetration he generates. This young man has good eyes to diagnose plays which is seen when he undercuts the halfback swing route in the flat coming away with the interception and returning it for a touchdown. In his pass rush, he uses his hands at the point of attack to shed the blocks quickly generating pressure on the quarterback.
DL Jaylen Smith 6’1 246 22′ Chicago Hope Academy Twitter
Mr. Smith works gap to gap and disengages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. He has a quick first step which he uses to shoot gaps and slip blocks disturpting plays in the backfield off the penetration he generates. In his pass rush, he uses his hands at the point of attack to shed the block quickly getting pressure on the quarterback and flushing him out of the pocket forcing him to work out of platform.
LB Zac Liard 6’2 170 24′ Athens
Mr. Liard is walked up on the line of scrimmage and he uses his lateral quickness to limit the ball carrier’s chance of turning the corner. He can make the tackle on the perimeter after he extends the play horizontally. In his pass rush, he’s able to generate quarterback pressure off the edge by closing space between him and the offensive tackle before batting hands down to turn the corner.
LB Ethan Sramek 6’0 205 22′ St. Bede Twitter
Mr. Sramek works gap to gap and 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. He can shoot gaps and slip blocks disrupting plays in the backfield as well as coming away with quarterback sacks. When in zone coverage, he undercuts the route in the hook/curl to come away with interceptions.
DB Brock Masonz Brock Masonz 6'0" | 185 lbs | WR Fulton | 2022 IL 6’0 190 22′ Fulton Twitter
Mr. Mason disengages blocks to make the tackle on the perimeter and triggers downhill in run support to clean up the play by making open field tackles. When in man coverage, he uses his smooth and fluid transitions to stay on the receiver’s hip pocket putting him in a good position to make a play on the ball. When in zone coverage, he delivers heavy hits forcing pass breakups in the hook/curl.
DB Judah Mallette 23′ Chicago Hope Academy Twitter
Mr. Mallette uses his smooth and fluid transitions to stay on the receiver’s hip pocket putting him in a position to make a play on the ball when in man coverage. This is exactly what he does as he attacks the ball at the highest point and undercuts routes to come away with the interceptions when in man coverage. Furthermore, he can jump routes in man coverage where he gets a hand in the receiver’s basket forcing pass breakups.
Honorable Mention
DL John Behmer 6’2 175 25′ Lutheran Twitter
DL Mason Fox 22′ Forreston
LB Connor Sullivan 6’2 205 24′ Casey-Westfield Twitter
LB Jake Johnson 6’2 220 22′ Nokomis
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