Senior Sleepers: Five 2023 Defenders

Ryan Wesley

June 9, 2022 @ 02:30 PM

Now that the end of the school year is here, players are starting to turn their focus to summer workouts and doing everything necessary to prepare for the fall. The top players in the state tend to be the more talked about recruits, which can inadvertently cast a shadow over some of the other prospects in the area. There is a significant amount of hidden talent scattered across the state, many of whom are still flying a little below the radar. This article will highlight five defensive players from the class of 2023 who are talented sleepers with plenty to offer college programs.   [player_tooltip player_id="150173" first="Jaxon" last="Thompson"] | Smoky Hill | 6’2”, 185lbs | LB/ATH Thompson is a disruptive defender with phenomenal athleticism. His relentless motor and elite physicality help him fly around the field with bad intentions, making his presence felt by his opponents. His ability to quickly close the distance between himself and the ball carrier to deliver devastating hits is outstanding. Thompson also possesses the versatility needed to cover against the pass in various schemes, making him a viable option for the hybrid linebacker-strong safety role. [embed]https://twitter.com/jaxonmt_/status/1457930158321532930?s=20&t=Niq3E34S_b95heO4LX0JTA[/embed]   Cort Sanger | Eaton | 5’10”, 165lbs | CB Sanger is a true cornerback with serious upside as a recruiting prospect. He shows great patience in his technique, using foot-first concepts followed by jams within the first three to four yards of the receiver’s release. He diagnoses plays quickly and reacts with precise skill, especially against the run. Sanger is a physical corner who eagerly initiates contact with great strength and impressive finishing abilities. [embed]https://twitter.com/Cortsanger3/status/1465886702761873421?s=20&t=Niq3E34S_b95heO4LX0JTA[/embed]   [player_tooltip player_id="247225" first="Jason" last="Thome"] | Ralston Valley | 6’1”, 175lbs | FS Thome is an underrated safety who can cover the whole field and create ways to make plays for the defense. His footwork is built on solid fundamentals and sharpened techniques, which perfectly matches his disciplined eyes and finely tuned instincts. Thome is a highly talented playmaker with a knack for forcing takeaways by ball-hawking the whole field. [embed]https://twitter.com/JasonThome12/status/1519521629868486656?s=20&t=Niq3E34S_b95heO4LX0JTA[/embed]   Makur Abram | Thomas Jefferson | 6’5”, 200lbs | DE Abram is an athletic radar pop-up with an immense amount of raw talent. His explosiveness and length make him a problematic rusher to stop, enabling him to be extremely disruptive in the backfield. His overall speed is impressive, especially for a player with his size. Abram is an instant standout because of his size, but his raw talent helps to make him a legitimate sleeper as an edge player. [embed]https://twitter.com/abram_makur/status/1479277744148025345?s=20&t=Niq3E34S_b95heO4LX0JTA[/embed]   Max Stout | Standley Lake | 6’0”, 160lbs | DB Stout is a talented small-school sleeper who has significant upside as a potential recruit. His outstanding athletic abilities and keen instincts allow him to fly around the field and make plays. He is a downhill player, especially when defending against the run. His ability to track and pursue ball carriers is built upon a solid foundation of fundamentals. He shows great acceleration when breaking on passes and good awareness of when to play the ball or the receiver. Stout is a player who can move around the field and play from different spots within the secondary, making him a player to watch. [embed]https://twitter.com/MaxStout10/status/1464719594912763909?s=20&t=Niq3E34S_b95heO4LX0JTA[/embed]