2023 Prospect Spotlight: Monterey County Defenders

<em><strong>ATH Jkai Thomas, Monterey HS</strong></em> Tomas is one of the most versatile and explosive returners across Northern California’s Central Coast. He is extremely explosive with the ball in his hands and has open field speed and a natural feel for the game when playing defense. He is a very smooth athlete with natural ball skills and flashes strong instincts and eye discipline in the backend. He is a very active and high motor physical player that will be one of the top returners across the whole region in 2022. He is no doubt a college caliber player that should gather D-III+ interest as he progresses through his final high school season. &nbsp; <em><strong>CB/RB/WR Daniel Raso, Soledad HS</strong></em> Raso is a smooth in transition corner with natural instincts and outstanding ball skills. He can play both off-zone and press man comfortably while physical at the LOS and is not afraid to come up in the box and make a hit. He is very twitchy and shows quick feet when peddling and can quickly flip his hips and break to the ball naturally. A true playmaker on both sides of the ball he is also a explosive running back that sees the field well and shows impressive short area quickness with the ability to bounce it outside and make big place in the open field with third level speed. &nbsp; <em><strong>LB Ashton Ballesteros, Salinas HS</strong></em> The rising senior is one of the top linebackers across the Monterey area and had a solid 2021 season. He tackles well in-between the tackles it is a physical presence in the middle of the defense while also showing he can blitz from multiple levels and disrupt the run game consistently. A true downhill thumper, he shows he can consistently make plays in the box and plays with heavy hands when shocking and shedding against bigger offensive lineman. The multi-sport athlete is in line for a big 2022 season. &nbsp; <em><strong>DB/WR Jeter Olivares, Seaside HS </strong></em> Olivares is one of the fastest and most dynamic players across the central coast and can do tons of damage with the ball in his hands on both sides of the ball. He is a high IQ kid that can play single high safety and baits quarterbacks into bad throws while showing natural ball skills when playing centerfield. Explosive out of his breaks, he has a quick trigger against the run and is not afraid to come up and make perimeter tackles against bigger backs. Although a big undersized, he more than makes up for it with his physical and instinctual traits.