Top Defensive Playmakers to Watch for at the PRZ Prospect Tour
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Time to switch gears to the other side of the ball! There are plenty of incredible athletes chomping at the bit to prove their worth at the South Suburban Parks and Recreation Sports Dome on Saturday. From ferocious defensive lineman…
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Continue ReadingTime to switch gears to the other side of the ball! There are plenty of incredible athletes chomping at the bit to prove their worth at the South Suburban Parks and Recreation Sports Dome on Saturday. From ferocious defensive lineman in the trenches, to roaming linebackers in the middle, and finally to the backend with the cornerbacks and safeties, the talent in Colorado is abundant. Even today, defense still wins championships. Which playmakers will stand out from the crowd at the Prep Redzone Colorado Prospect Tour in a few short hours from now?
LB Isaac Engle Isaac Engle 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Highlands Ranch | 2023 State CO 6’1″ 200 Highlands Ranch
Class of 2023
2021 Stats: 140 Tackles, 14.0 TPG, 14.0 TFL, 2.5 Sacks
Best Attribute:
The anchor of the Highlands Ranch defense, Engle is a linebacker that is as tough as they come. As the Falcons leading tackler by a wide margin, Engle possesses a raw talent that cannot be coached. The senior run-stuffer is light on his feet, and is able to drop back in pass coverage when called upon. Engle does a tremendous job in reading the quarterbacks eyes, with his play recognition and tackling ability being top notch.
DL Ethan Bird Ethan Bird 6'3" | 190 lbs | DL Littleton | 2023 State CO 6’3″ 190 Littleton
Class of 2023
2021 Stats: 43 Tackles, 4.3 TPG, 5.0 TFL, 10.0 Sacks
Best Attributes:
Acting as a human black hole in the middle of the line of scrimmage, the agile Ethan Bird Ethan Bird 6'3" | 190 lbs | DL Littleton | 2023 State CO is a force on the defensive side of the ball. After posting double-digit sacks in 2021, Bird will be on a mission to top that mark in less than six months from now. Bird is not afraid to blitz at a frantic pace that involves stunts in multiple gaps on the line. At a slim 190 pounds, the Littleton product is often quicker than his matchup, giving him an extra step in sacking the quarterback and stuffing the run game.
Ethan Bird
C/O 23
40-4.68
Squat 405 deadlift 435
All League 1st DE
Ethan Bird
PO-DE/TE/LS
Junior stats
43TKLs 30Solo 10Sacks 1INTTD 5TFLs
5 Rec 117yd 1 RecTD 19.8YPC
TE Highlights https://t.co/pMXjaz5IpcDE highlights https://t.co/5SvgZcWvBm
— Ethan Bird (@_Ethan_Bird13) March 6, 2022
https://twitter.com/_Ethan_Bird13/status/1462260414079660032
LB Payton Wainwright 5’11″ 180 Columbine
Class of 2023
2021 Stats: 82 Tackles, 6.3 TPG, 4.0 TFL, 7.0 Sacks
Best Attributes:
One of the main leaders on a skilled Columbine Rebels defense, Wainwright has showed the rest of the Centennial State what he is all about in 2021. Showcasing his sideline-to-sideline speed, the brisk linebacker’s pursuit in making plays is quite evident. Although making tackles at the right angle is always something that can be worked on, Wainwright is the real deal when it comes to slipping off tackles and slowing down ball carriers with his high motor.
DB Bryson Dirks Bryson Dirks 5'11" | 160 lbs | ATH Holyoke | 2024 State CO 5’11″ 150 Holyoke
Class of 2024
2021 Stats: 38 Tackles, 4.2 TPG, 1 INT, 14 PD’s
Best Attributes:
The first defensive back on this list and included as a watch list nominee among corners in the 2024 class, Dirks possesses the natural instinct to play the position at a high level. His 14 pass breakups exemplifies his willingness to blanket a pass catcher so closely that the wideout can feel him breathing down his neck. Dirks’ is a patient operator who isn’t fooled easily by pump fakes, as his closing speed in coverage is second to none.
DB/ATH Christopher Rice 6’3″ 195 Palmer Ridge
Class of 2023
2021 Stats: 11 Tackles, 2.2 TPG, 1 INT
Best Attributes:
Another athletic playmaking defensive back to keep an eye on is the tall and lanky Christopher Rice from Palmer Ridge High School. While the numbers don’t pop out at you on first glance, Rice’s grip on a game is much more than what lousy statistics have to offer. In fact, Rice is capable in shutting down one entire side of a field, as his long arms and knack to read the quarterback’s eyes is something that is God given. With the ability to stick in man and zone coverage, Rice also keeps his hips square when jamming and guarding receivers off the line of scrimmage.
2021 Junior HL Link: https://t.co/asgF5UGtNf
#7 Chris Rice / Safety-DB-WR-ATH
Class: 2023
Ht: 6’ 3” / Wt: 195lbs / 40: 4.65
Palmer Ridge High School (CO)
GPA: 3.4
Accolades: PrepRedZone CO #2 Ranked 2023 Football ATH / #15 Overall
Other Sports: Track & Field (100, 200, Long Jump)— Chris Rice (@Chris_Rice_Ath) December 19, 2021
Thank you @k_dorrell & @CUFBRecruit for a great @CUBuffsFootball Junior Day visit! Really appreciate @CoachMaxie spending time with me & my family. So good to see you again @emilygiusti & @_CoachBoyd! Thank you @cdorrell18 @AndyWangCU @Coach_Chance @coach_wilson10. @GroundupSP pic.twitter.com/KHwQR06LPs
— Chris Rice (@Chris_Rice_Ath) January 18, 2022
LB Michael Madrid Jr Michael Madrid Jr 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Fountain-Fort Carson | 2023 State CO . 6’0″ 200 Fountain-Fort Carson
Class of 2023
2021 Stats: 67 Tackles, 6.1 TPG, 3.0 Sacks
Best Attributes:
The Fountain-Fort Carson standout linebacker was one of the leading tacklers a season ago, as Madrid Jr. always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Madrid Jr. is physical, instinctual, athletic, and has a disruptive burst to be an every down linebacker. Additionally, Madrid Jr. mixes up his looks constantly by lining up in different gaps to confuse the offense’s blocking schemes.
https://twitter.com/madrid_m27/status/1486558093022576640
LB Jake Stonebraker Jake Stonebraker 6'1" | 200 lbs | ATH Douglas County | 2024 State CO 6’1″ 190 Douglas County
Class of 2024
2021 Stats: 37 Tackles, 3.7 TPG, 2 INT, 1 Fum Rec
Best Attributes:
As a sophomore in 2021, reeling in two interceptions and also recovering a fumble, one of the best parts about Stonebraker’s game is his ability to change the tide of a game with his artistry in forcing turnovers. Whether it’s blitzing, covering tight ends off the line of scrimmage, or wrapping up tackles at the middle linebacker position, the best is surely yet to come for the future junior baller. Have I mentioned that Stonebraker might have one of the quickest bursts in the entire state?
#DungeonFamily RAW OLB @jakestonebrake1 as he continues to learn & develop is gonna be a MONSTER! Cant teach burst like this! To be JR is all upside! @bangulo @CoachMikeOSU @coach_wilson10 @CoachABohl @CoachDanLanning @CoachDiribe96 @Coach_Walters @CoachZFitch @dlinevids1 pic.twitter.com/KisjKkayLi
— Coach Matt McChesney (@SixZeroAcademy) March 5, 2022
DL Giovani Cardona 6’1″ 240 Northglenn
Class of 2023
2021 Stats: 54 Tackles, 6.0 TPG, 6.0 TFL
Best Attributes:
One of the more underrated attendees in the entire camp, Cardona deserves more praise than he is given. Weighing in at 240 pounds, Cardona often outworks his opposition at the point of attack due to his sheer size and strength. Heading into his final season at Northglenn, the talented defensive lineman should draw more looks from around the country if he can continue to perfect his game. A master at shedding blocks and avoiding missing tackles, Cardona is a three-technique lineman that boasts the twitch, effort, size, and first-step explosion to be a major impact player in 2022.
Huge thanks to @k_dorrell and the rest of the @CUBuffsFootball staff! I had fun today and I’m super glad that I was able to attend! @NorthglennFB @coachdean7 pic.twitter.com/TdDsJboECV
— Giovani Cardona (@GioCardona55) January 17, 2022