Border Battle Dakotas All-Star Game Selections 2023 (SD Defense)

The final story rounding off this series comes back to the defensive side for South Dakota. I feel like this group was pretty cut-and-dry to pull straight from the rankings, with a few minor changes. This group could fit a few different schemes and can switch defensive fronts without changing personnel. I again looked to fill a 4-3 roster, but the athletes on the roster could also fit a 3-4 or 5-2 look, and for run support defenses a 4-4 or 5-3 even. My thoughts as a defensive coach likes that kind of versatility, knowing that a group can roll with anything that presents itself at any given moment. Check it out below! DL- [player_tooltip player_id="287016" first="Ty" last="Naaktgeboren"], Sioux Falls Roosevelt: I like his explosion off the edge when the ball is snapped, he doesn't fly far up the field and lays a nice hit when he finds the ballcarrier. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/14915155/617dc4e3bd746c0bb45a8a42">Junior Season</a> DL- [player_tooltip player_id="223087" first="Reis" last="Kirschenman"], Tea Area: I like his aggression coming off the snap with both the blocker and the ballcarrier. His motor runs high enough to finish every play through the whistle. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GDtbR">Junior Season</a> DL- [player_tooltip player_id="235736" first="Patrick" last="Kastning"], Elk Point-Jefferson: I like how he takes the Center back on each play. He disrupts the opponents run game each play by doing so, also helps open gaps for blitzing LB's as well to put more pressure on the offense. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GBf0T">Junior Season</a> DL- [player_tooltip player_id="223094" first="Damon" last="Wilkinson"], DeSmet: He uses his size to his advantage and knows where to position himself to make a play. He breaks down really well and makes a good form tackle when the time comes. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GUnTy">Junior Season</a> LB- [player_tooltip player_id="56548" first="Richard" last="Benenge"], Harrisburg: I like his motor, instincts, and technique. He gets his reads and flies around to where he needs to be to make a play. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/13239519/617ec9e6041e480cacf371ad">Junior Season</a> LB- [player_tooltip player_id="56578" first="Gabe" last="Gutierrez"], Sioux Falls Lincoln: He also has the same attributes at LB as Benenge. Also add a pretty impressive form to his tackling as well. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GaWvp">Junior Season</a> LB- [player_tooltip player_id="89287" first="Jaxton" last="Eck"], Brookings: He fills his position well, guards the perimeter on both pass and run plays. He can also walk-up and play at the DE spot as well. He has a lot of speed and is a very good open-field tackler. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/12921658/61808f283df4d30ba81ad93d">Junior Season</a> DB- [player_tooltip player_id="273643" first="London" last="Kolb"], Sioux Falls Jefferson: Kolb is the run support Safety, a good tackler and reads his keys to fill the gap. He can also do very well in pass coverage as well with good speed to run with the WR. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GZnEp">Junior Season</a> DB- [player_tooltip player_id="89291" first="Beau" last="Giblin"], Sioux Falls Jefferson: He is your pass-first Safety, sits back and reads the QB and flows to where he reads and makes the play. He plays the last-line-of-defense perfectly, is the deepest guy on the field at all times, and makes a sure-handed tackle when a play breaks loose. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13314650/61b65a6f3864150d7024a9f3">Junior Season</a> DB- [player_tooltip player_id="276834" first="Jayden" last="Wiebe"], Pierre: He is your Man-to-Man CB, runs with the best of them and attacks the football and breaks up many passes. He is also a sure-handed tackler in the open field on the perimeter plays. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GV2iM">Junior Season</a> DB- [player_tooltip player_id="161255" first="Hayden" last="Gebhart"], Rapid City Stevens: Gebhart is another Nickel type Safety that can roll up and defend the flats. He loves to bring a hit on run support as well, he also can run pretty well with receivers in coverage as well. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GifLB">Junior Season</a>