Under-The-Radar: Five 2023 Hybrid Defenders
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Many defensive players find themselves filling multiple roles for their team, especially when the scheme calls for player adjustments on the fly. Some outside linebackers are versatile enough to play as a strong safety, while some nickel corners can play…
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Continue ReadingMany defensive players find themselves filling multiple roles for their team, especially when the scheme calls for player adjustments on the fly.
Some outside linebackers are versatile enough to play as a strong safety, while some nickel corners can play in the box or as a safety, and some safeties are interchangeable throughout the secondary.
Hybrid defensive players expand their potential as college prospects, especially when they are able to make plays from all over the field. Each of the five players on this list is an under-the-radar type of athlete who can play in different positions on the defensive side of the ball.
Jaxon Thompson Jaxon Thompson 6'2" | 180 lbs | LB Smoky Hill | 2023 State CO | Smoky Hill | 6’2”, 185lbs | OLB/SS
Thompson is more of an outside linebacker in high school than he is a defensive back, but he possesses the ideal makeup of a hybrid strong safety who instantly passes the eye test with his size. His ability to fill the box and play against the run as a traditional OLB is just as dominant as his ability to play against the pass in coverage. He is a downhill player who does a fantastic job at tracking the ball carrier and closing the distance with lightning speed and bad intentions.
Thompson is also a hard-hitting player who rallies to the ball to initiate devastating contact and finish tackles on every play. He has received some attention from colleges but is still a major sleeper who is waiting on his first offer.
Junior Year Film!! https://t.co/A4jlfMrVZn
— Jaxon Thompson ¹⁷🃏 (@jaxonmt_) November 9, 2021
Braylen Warren Braylen Warren 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Cherry Creek | 2023 State CO | Cherry Creek | 6’2”, 175lbs | CB/S
Warren is a true secondary player with great height and length who plays as a corner and a safety. His movements are fluid when he plays in coverage thanks to his footwork and disciplined eyes. One of the many things that stands out about him is his eagerness to fly downhill and make tackles from anywhere in the secondary. Warren is a technically sound DB with a physical playing style who will be entering his senior year as a reigning 5A state champ who should expect a launch in his recruiting process.
Jr Year Regular Szn Highlights!
https://t.co/ocknksha4j #hudl— Braylen Warren (@braylen_warren_) November 5, 2021
Gibson Leafgreen Gibson Leafgreen DB Grandview | 2023 State CO | Grandview | 6’0, 170lbs | S
Leafgreen is an explosive safety with a ball-hawking mentality. He can line up as a strong safety and play within the box or fill the role of free safety and keep everything underneath him. He is quick and decisive when reading the QB, flying downhill with explosive speed and great pursuit techniques. His ability to disrupt plays comes from his physical playing style and “dawg” mentality. Leafgreen is a viable member of a dominant secondary whose name should be circled as a legitimate recruit.
Junior Year Highlights – https://t.co/69dpOtqPuR
— Gibby Leafgreen (@Gibson23340397) December 8, 2021
Nasir Simmons Nasir Simmons 5'7" | 145 lbs | DB Rangeview Highschool | 2023 State CO | Rangeview | 5’7, 145lbs | CB/S
Simmons is a prime example of why it is so vital for programs to focus more on recruiting talent rather than worrying more about size. He is a nickel who can easily fill the role of deep safety. His coverage abilities are founded upon a strong set of technical skills that consist of solid footwork, disciplined eyes, and exceptional speed. He can also provide support in the box by using excellent pursuit and angle tackling skills against outside runs and when pressuring the quarterback. Simmons displays relentless physicality and a strong understanding of leverage every time he steps onto the field, making him a prime sleeper as a recruit.
https://t.co/xDnvpTYHgZ Nickel back/corner. 5’7 145
43 total tackles (20 solo)
5 pass break ups 1 forced fumble @CoachM_Justin @CoachKochevar @NMHUCoachKirk @coachjatwell @CoachGallasUNK @Zach_Watkins @CoachPotash— Nasir Simmons (@Nasir_Simmons3) November 10, 2021
Ethan Kunkel Ethan Kunkel 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Boulder | 2023 State CO | Boulder | 5’9”, 175lbs | CB
Kunkel is another high-motor defensive player who can fill multiple roles in the secondary, as well as line up as an outside backer who brings pressure off of the edge. He is a scrappy player who has a nose for the ball and plays to the whistle on each snap. His sure tackling abilities mixed with his explosive speed enable him to disrupt offensive plays from anywhere on the field, especially when he blitzes off of the edge. He does a great job in coverage when playing flats, hook to curl, deep zone, and man. Kunkel is starting to garner attention from a few schools, making him another play to circle this fall.
Check Out My Full Junior Season Highlight Tape!
52 solo tackles(8th in the 5A Metro 1)
5 Sacks(4th in the Metro 1)
2 Forced Fumbles
2 Fumbles Recovered
Multiple Passes Deflected
269-921-1226 ejkunkel04@gmail.com@PrepRedzoneCO @CoachJHickey @ADbishopbhs https://t.co/5tBrTPpmiK— Ethan Kunkel (@ethank_13) November 5, 2021