PRZ TN Showcase Defensive Standouts Powered by Gamechanger
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Today’s piece is brought to you by the GameChanger mobile team communication app. We analyzed the top defensive performers from Saturday’s showcase at Oakland High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The group as a whole was quite impressive and featured a ton of under-the-radar talent. With that being said, here’s who stood out!
DL
Luke Scott Luke Scott 6'4" | 230 lbs | DL Daniel Boone | 2023 State TN , 6’4″, 220, Daniel Boone, 2023
A freaky athlete that jumped out of the gym with a 10’1″ broad jump and showed great change of direction with a 4.38 shuttle time. Scott has long arms, shows a quick get-off, and outstanding bend off the edge. He plays with active hands and has explosive hips off the snap.
Zacchaeus Dixon, 6’2″, 230, Mars Hill Bible (AL), 2023
A sudden pass rusher with loose hips. Dixon knows how to get linemen to open up their hips before sticking his foot in the dirt and accelerating to an inside gap. He’s steady against the run and will get lockout before ripping off on a defender.
Eriq George Eriq George 6'2" | 245 lbs | DL MBA | 2023 State TN , 6’2″, 240, Montgomery Bell, 2023 (DL MVP)
George is a ball of muscle and quite explosive. He’s put together at 6’2″, 240, and uses leverage & pure strength to defeat opposing offensive linemen. He’s agile for a big man and has the frame to easily add another thirty pounds in the near future.
LB
Devin Geer, 6’3″, 205, Bowling Green, 2023 (LB MVP)
Another kid who is just put together and in-person showed phenomenal instincts. Greer is patient in man coverage, won’t lunge and can run with just about any back out of the backfield. He displayed excellent balance and body control during the competition period, easily coming up and tagging off on backs in space.
Sammy Taylor Sammy Taylor 6'3" | 195 lbs | LB Ensworth | 2023 State TN , 6’3″, 185, Ensworth, 2023
A crazy athletic prospect who could have a future at safety or outside linebacker. Taylor was cooking on Saturday clocking a 4.40 and a 4.47 in the forty yard dash. He’s extremely disruptive, has outstanding burst and has a ton of recovery speed if beat downfield.
Isaiah Thomison Isaiah Thomison 6'3" | 230 lbs | LB Fayetteville | 2023 State TN , 6’3″, 230, Fayetteville, 2023
Thomison was a playmaking machine during 1 on 1’s and gave backs fits during the competition period. He plays with a wide base and moves exceptionally well for a man his size. He takes great angles to the football and will use the sideline as a weapon.
DB
D.J. Thomas, 5’10″, 160, Isidore Newman (LA), 2024 (DB MVP)
A quick-footed corner with exceptional change of direction. Thomas is patient in press coverage and will allow his opponent to declare his release before giving him a tight off-hand jam to the breastplate. He’s extremely competitive and will fight with everything in his power to win the 50/50 ball.
Javon Drake Javon Drake 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB LaVergne | 2023 State TN , 6’1″, 180, LaVergne, 2023
Drake has plenty of speed behind him, clocking a 4.50 and a 4.42 in the forty-yard dash. He showed superb vertical leaping ability and refined ball skills. He consistently leaned the receiver on a vertical route to widen his release and proved that he could drop his hips & decelerate on intermediate concepts.
Alan Young Alan Young 6'1" | 190 lbs | DB MBA | 2023 State TN , 6’1″, 185, Montgomery Bell, 2023
A sure-handed cornerback that will shoot his hand at the last possible second to knock away a pass. Alan has good size for a corner and uses his long arms to help widen a receiver’s release. He sees through the quarterback in zone coverage and eats up any quick game concepts.
Other Names That Stood Out
DL: Malik Aljack Malik Aljack 6'2" | 255 lbs | DL Signal Mountain | 2023 State TN , 6’2″, 245, Signal Mountain, 2023
DL: Trace Wegmann, 6’4″, 265, Kossuth (MS), 2023
LB: Browning Trainer Browning Trainer 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Montgomery Bell Academy | 2023 TN , 6’, 205, Montgomery Bell, 2023
DB: Hunter Burton Hunter Burton 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Independence | 2024 TN , 5’10″, 175, Independence, 2024
DB: Jordan Batts Jordan Batts 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Arlington | 2023 TN , 6’1″, 175, Arlington, 2023
DB: Breon White Breon White 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Northeast | 2024 TN , 6’, 160, Northeast, 2024