Prep Redzone Illinois 2A 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 2A, we're diving into the 2A All-State Defensive Edition. Without further ado, let's dive into it. <hr /> 1st Team DL [player_tooltip player_id="263888" first="Drew" last="Hackler"] 6'4 210 22' Pana <a href="https://twitter.com/hackler_drew">Twitter</a> Mr. Hackler 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 gap to disrupt plays in the backfield as well as to meet the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage for no gain on the play. In his pass rush, he has a quick first step which he uses to close space between him and the offensive tackle before batting hands down to turn the corner resulting in QB pressure/sacks. This leads to him beating offensive lineman that don't get their hands up in attack position quickly out of his stance as he uses his swim move well. DL [player_tooltip player_id="149645" first="Payton" last="Allen"] 6'1 230 23' Fairfield <a href="https://twitter.com/allen_payton60">Twitter </a> Mr. Allen works gap to gap and disengages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. This young man fires off the ball and uses his hands at the point of attack. This comes in handy when he shoots gaps and slips blocks to disrupt plays in the backfield as well as meeting the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage. DL [player_tooltip player_id="155422" first="Justice" last="Chapman"] 5'11 215 22' St. Teresa <a href="https://twitter.com/JusticeChap59">Twitter</a> Mr. Chapman takes backside pursuit down the line of scrimmage to make the tackle and is in a good position when the ball carrier tries to hit the cutback lanes. He works gap to gap and disengages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/litte gain on the play. In his pass rush, he uses his bull rush to drive the offensive lineman back into the quarterback pocket flushing the quarterback out and can mix in a speed rush to turn the corner on the offensive tackle for QB pressure. LB [player_tooltip player_id="155418" first="Allan" last="Richards"] 6'3 210 22' Wilmington <a href="https://twitter.com/allanri53154517">Twitter</a> Mr. Richards triggers downhill quickly in close space where he can meet the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage. He works gap to gap and 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. This young man can shoot gaps and slip blocks to distrupt plays in the backfield off the penetration he generates. In zone coverage, he can undercut routes in the hook/curl to come away with interceptions. LB Boston Peyton 23' Johnston City <a href="https://twitter.com/BostonPeyton">Twitter </a> Mr. Peyton 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 disrupt plays in the backfield off the penetration he generates as well as using his lateral quickness to limit the ball carrier's chance to turn the corner. This young man triggers downhill quickly in close space where he can meet the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage and comes away with the quarterback sack when coming off a blitz. LB [player_tooltip player_id="158009" first="Aiden" last="Riser"] 6'0 190 23' Maroa-Forsyth <a href="https://twitter.com/AidenRiser">Twitter </a> Mr. Riser can shoot gaps and slip blocks to disrupt plays in the backfield off the penetration he generates as he flows to the ball. He works gap to gap and disengages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. This young man triggers downhill quickly in close space where he can meet the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage and in zone coverage he can undercut routes in hook/curl to come away with interceptions. DB [player_tooltip player_id="57168" first="Austin" last="Brown"] 6'1 195 22' Johnston City <a href="https://twitter.com/austintyler_25">Twitter </a> Mr. Brown triggers downhill quickly in run support as he plays the alley well and cleans up plays by making open field tackles. When he's in the box, he can shoot gaps and slip blocks to disrupt plays in the backfield as well as disengage blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. When in zone coverage, he can undercut routes to come away with interceptions in his deep half responsibility as well as get his hand in the receiver's basket to force pass breakups. This all happens with his ability to cover sideline to sideline quickly utilizing his closing speed and good eyes to diagnose plays quickly. In the return game, he gets vertical quickly to get into the endzone for touchdowns. DB [player_tooltip player_id="155536" first="Trey" last="Gerdes"] 6'0 170 22' Mater Dei <a href="https://twitter.com/gerdes_trey">Twitter</a> Mr. Gerdes plants his foot and goes to cover ground quickly, this is seen when he triggers downhill quickly to deliver a heavy hit forcing a pass breakup in the flat. In man coverage, he stays on the receiver's hip pocket using his fluid and smooth transitions limiting the chance of him being broken off at the top of the route. This keeps him in a good position to make a play on the ball which his exactly what he does by jumping routes for interceptions, undercutting routes for interceptions and getting his hand in the receiver's basket forcing pass breakups. DB [player_tooltip player_id="155538" first="Camden" last="Robbins"] 6'3 185 22' Fairfield <a href="https://twitter.com/camdenw03">Twitter </a> Mr. Robbins attacks the ball at the highest point to come away with interceptions when in zone coverage covering deep half as well as deep third on deep shots downfield. He can also undercut routes to come away with interceptions when in zone coverage covering the deep third. This all happens with him using his eyes to diagnose plays quickly as well as using his smooth and fluid transitions to take good breaks on the ball. DB Brycen Hendrix 5'9 170 23' St. Teresa <a href="https://twitter.com/BrycenHendrix">Twitter</a> Mr. Hendrix triggers downhill quickly in run support where he cleans up plays by securing the open field tackle both in the box and on the perimeter. In zone coverage, he can jump routes in the flat (one returned for a touchdown) and can undercut routes to come away with interceptions when covering his deep half. When he diagnoses the play going to the underneath route, he can peel off his coverage to deliver a heavy hit in the flat forcing a pass breakup. This all happens with him utilizing his smooth and fluid transitions as well as covering ground quickly. In the return game, he weaves in and out of defenders to get into the endzone for a touchdown. 2nd Team DL [player_tooltip player_id="155337" first="Nick" last="Hogan"] 6'3 210 22' North Mac <a href="https://twitter.com/NickHog9">Twitter </a> Mr. Hogan 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 generated. In his pass rush, he has a quick first step which he uses to close space between him and the offensive tackle before batting hands down and turning the corner on the offensive tackle to get pressure on the quarterback as well as flush him out of the pocket. DL Dalton Markus 6'4 190 23' Mater Dei <a href="https://twitter.com/markus_dalton">Twitter </a> Mr. Markus can slip blocks and shoot gaps to disrupt plays in the backfield off the penetration generated as he utilizes his quick 1st step. He works gap to gap and disengages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. DL Brock Baker 6'1 220 23' Johnston City <a href="https://twitter.com/BrockBaker42">Twitter </a> Mr. Baker 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 works both standing up and with his hand in the ground, both of which he flows to the ball. This young man showcased good eyes where he diagnosed halfback screens quickly and is able to cover forcing an incomplete pass. LB Kevin Shultz 5'11 175 22' Farmington <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinShultz8">Twitter</a> Mr. Shultz works walked up on the line of scrimmage where he 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 has a quick first step which he uses to close space between him and the offensive lineman quickly before batting hands down to generate pressure on the quarterback. If he can't get to the quarterback he'll get his hands up coming away with deflected passes. LB Brayden Oberreiter 5'10 165 24' Riverton Mr. Oberreiter triggers downhill quickly in close space where he can meet the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage as he flows to the ball. He can slip blocks and shoot gaps resulting in him disrupting plays in the backfield off the penetration generated. 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. DB [player_tooltip player_id="263860" first="Tyriq" last="Cole"] 5'10 178 22' St. Teresa <a href="https://twitter.com/cole_tyriq">Twitter</a> Mr. Cole triggers downhill quickly in run support to clean up plays by making open field tackles on the perimeter. When in zone coverage, he attacks the ball at the highest point and jumps routes to come away with the interception in his deep third responsibility. When in man coverage, he stays on the receiver's hip pocket putting him in a good position to make a play on the ball. This is seen with him jumping routes to come away with interceptions and in one instance jumped a route in the flat where he returned the interception for a touchdown showcasing his ability to change gears quickly. DB Alex Willis 5'10 175 22' Bishop McNamara <a href="https://twitter.com/thenxtw">Twitter </a> Mr. Willis attacks the ball at the highest point to come away with the interception in zone coverage as he peels off the flat to cover the deep corner and jumps routes for pass breakups in the middle of the field. This young man triggers downhill quickly in run support as he plays the alley well and cleans up plays by making open field tackles. When lined up on the line of scrimmage, he comes on a blitz to get pressure on the quarterback off the edge. DB [player_tooltip player_id="155146" first="Kellen" last="McClay"] 5'7 160 22' Knoxville <a href="https://twitter.com/kellenmcclay">Twitter </a> Mr. McClay stays on the receiver's hip pocket when in man coverage allowing him to stay with his man in coverage. In zone coverage, he attacks the ball at the highest point to come away with interceptions and can get his hand in the receiver's basket to force pass breakups in the deep third. In the return game, he gets vertical showcasing his ability to change gears quickly setting up his team in good starting field position. Honorable Mention DL Hunter Hayes 5'10 180 23' Wilmington DL Richards Walls 5'9 260 22' Bishop McNamara LB Mel Hay 5'11 205 22' Bishop McNamara <a href="https://twitter.com/Mel_hay00">Twitter </a> LB Ethan Van Landuit 6'0 200 22' Newman Central Catholic <a href="https://twitter.com/LanduitVan">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>. Want to be ranked? Fill out our FREE <a href="https://prepredzone.com/prospect-index/">Prospect Player Index</a>, another tool to help you in your recruiting journey.