Houston Superlatives II: 2024 Defensive Skill Positions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we inch closer to the 2022 football season, their are some premier players that looking to have a phenomenal season this year! In this article, we will be recognizing some of the best defensive skill position players in the city of Houston. These guys have what it takes to play at the next level, and impact their team in a positive way. They have the strength, size , and skill set to compete with the best around the state and the nation! Also, these young prospects have been working hard on and off the field to be great at what they do. Without further due, let's analyze some of the best defensive backs and linebackers in the city of Houston, and let's see why they deserve to be on this list!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Tackler:</strong> <strong>Braydon Esquivel- 5'6 140Ibs/SS,FS/ Cypress Lakes High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Analysis: Despite Braydon being undersized, he has stuck out to me as a great tackler, and an athlete who has a lot of dog fight in him! He does an excellent job at wrapping up, and maintaining proper form and leverage to bring ball carriers down. Esquival has decent speed, clocking in at a 4.68 40 yard dash, but possessing excellent lateral quickness posting a blazing 4.13 shuttle time. This young prospects does a superb job at taking great angles sideline-to-sideline as well. Next, Braydon Esquival does his gob every time, because as soon as he sees where the ball is going, he fills in the gaps immediately! I will not be surprised when this young man becomes an impact player the more he trains and develops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>http://www.hudl.com/v/2GL4Ke</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/braydon-esquivel/pUbAuATLEeyAz5TgcHt2rg/videos.htm?videoid=f63a49ac-b5ba-40c5-9774-84d9c88b41ce">https://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/braydon-esquivel/pUbAuATLEeyAz5TgcHt2rg/videos.htm?videoid=f63a49ac-b5ba-40c5-9774-84d9c88b41ce</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Man Coverage</strong>: <strong>Gideon Strickland- 6'2 175Ibs/CB/ Cypress Woods High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Analysis: Gideon Strickland is a prospect that has shown the skillset needed, to be able to guard wide receivers in man coverage very well. His hips are extremely flexible, and he makes sure to stay in position to make a play on the ball or receiver! Strickland does a tremendous job at keeping his eyes on the wide receivers hips in man coverage, which allows him to play at a high level. Next, he has good speed, clocking in at a 4.59 40 yard dash, and possessing good quickness posting a 4.3 shuttle time as well! Finally, Strickland has a very smooth back peddle, and one of the best I have seen so far in the offseason! Look out for him to improve and shine in the future!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/GStrickland2024/status/1458566718117269507?s=20u0026t=zX6poA8w6mLHuOysupUlKw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/GStrickland2024/status/1458566718117269507?s=20&amp;t=zX6poA8w6mLHuOysupUlKw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best At Taking On Blocks: Dakyus Brinkley- 6'4 219Ibs/LB/ Katy Seven Lakes High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Analysis: Dakyus Brinkley is a young freak of nature that is looking to only improve in years to come! Just a sophomore last season, Brinkley has shown why he deserves to be recognized as a force to be reckoned with! With a very solid frame, standing at 6'4 and weighing 219 pounds, many ball carriers have a difficult time getting through this brick wall! He also has very good speed for a linebacker his size, clocking a 4.60 40 yard dash. He plays with a high motor, and when he takes on blocks, he moves defenders with ease with his brute strength, while making a play! Next, This young man does a very good job at maintaining gap discipline, and staying home! Watch out for Dakyus Brinkley in 2022!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/DakyusB/status/1538626765144350722?s=20u0026t=gR8u8Kk4pavni075t3Ub6w","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DakyusB/status/1538626765144350722?s=20&amp;t=gR8u8Kk4pavni075t3Ub6w </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Make Up Speed: [player_tooltip player_id='279440' first='Taytum' last='Johnson']- 5'8 145Ibs/CB/ Cinco Ranch High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Analysis: [player_tooltip player_id='279440' first='Taytum' last='Johnson'] is a player you can count on when it comes to hustling until the whistle stops. Anytime a wide receiver, or ball carrier gets behind him, he kicks in an extra gear to make a tackle just to keep the other team out of the end zone. Johnson does superb job in maintaining recovery speed if he gets beat, or if a ball carrier is all the way across the field! Despite being undersized, he does a good job at being physical at the point of attack, and taking on blocks. Look out for him in the future!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/TaytumJohnson/status/1541594907533516800?s=20u0026t=v6FurYWytiJam0xYoRB9hQ","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TaytumJohnson/status/1541594907533516800?s=20&amp;t=v6FurYWytiJam0xYoRB9hQ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Best Box Safety: Chris Gant Jr.- 5'11 185Ibs/SS/ Klein Collins High School</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Analysis: Chris Gant Jr is a prospect that seems to have a nose for finding the ball carrier. Gant can play the linebacker position as well, and does a superb job at filling in gaps while playing physical, making tackles in the trenches! He is a very versatile safety as well, locking down receivers in man and zone coverage too! Next, he has great speed for a safety of his stature clocking an official 4.48 40 yard dash time! This young man is a good tackler in the open field, as well as in the box at the linebacker position. With more weight room training, and speed development, Chris Gant Jr has the potential to become a star! Look out for him for the upcoming 2022 football season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/ChrisGantJr06/status/1540187942697799680?s=20u0026t=mAx7147xk6tx9AD9DwoXIw","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/ChrisGantJr06/status/1540187942697799680?s=20&amp;t=mAx7147xk6tx9AD9DwoXIw </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->