All-Montgomery County Preseason Team (Defense)
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The season will be here before you know it. These are the top defensive players in the county entering the season. Defensive Line Jaylen Harvey MD #6 LB #2 HEIGHT 6'2" WEIGHT 225 POS LB CLASS 2024 View Profile Jaylen…
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Continue ReadingThe season will be here before you know it. These are the top defensive players in the county entering the season.
Defensive Line
Harvey has sky-high expectations entering the season. He is an elite edge defender. He is an all-purpose edge. He does a great job setting the edge and being the edge defender in the run game. As a pass rusher, he is quick and explosive off the ball. He also has multiple pass rush moves to win his pass rush reps. He also has excellent speed which allows him to chase down ballcarriers and quarterbacks. Harvey will have another impressive season.
Highlights
Ferguson is a technically strong edge defender. He does a great job of using his hands to fight blockers off of him. He has good body control as he is able to dip under blocks and get skinny and split double teams. He does a good job of attacking the tackle’s outside shoulder. He is able to keep contain and be an excellent outside-run defender. He has a quick get-off which makes him a good pass rusher. Ferguson is a key player for Damascus.
Highlights
Rivers is a player that is expected to take a big jump this season. He is an edge that knows how to use his size. He does a great job of using his length. He is able to get his hands on blockers before they can engage their blocks. He also does a good job of getting inside position when he does get his hands on blockers. He is great at shedding blocks and getting himself free. He plays with great hustle and never gives up on the play. Rivers has a chance to have a big jump in production.
Highlights
Andrews is a traditional old-school defensive end. He is very powerful. He has a very good bull rush. He uses brute strength and power to shed guys off of him. He is athletic enough to finish off plays in the backfield. He is able to protect the edge and not let anything get outside of him. He is also able to play as an interior lineman. Andrews is a stout defender on a very good Paint Branch defense.
Kamara is a player that will surprise a lot of people. He is a fantastic pass rusher. He is athletic. He has multiple pass rush moves to beat blockers off the edge. He is also quick and strong enough to attack the outside shoulder and overwhelm the tackle. He is also a very good run defender. He does a good job of getting rid of blockers. He also is able to beat ball carriers to the outside and to the sideline. He makes a lot of stops in the run game. Kamara will look to put on a show this season.
Linebackers
Longa is one of the top linebackers in the state. He is a superb athlete. He has legit sideline-to-sideline range. He is a dynamic playmaker. He is very explosive. When he is used as a blitzer he creates chaos in the backfield. He does a good job of shooting gaps and making run stops in the backfield. He is also great in coverage because of his athleticism. Longa is a fun player to watch.
Highlights
Dunathan is one of the top players in the entire state. He is a backer that can play off the ball and that can line up as an edge. As an edge defender, he has good hands and moves to be able to set the edge and play contain. As an off-ball backer, he has good range and is able to make stops all over the field. He likes to come downfield and punish ball carriers. He is really good in pursuit. He is also a great tackler. Dunathan is a player that can bail out defenses at times.
Highlights
Johnson is a Duke commit and it is easy to see why he is a power 5 prospect. He is a fantastic swiss army knife defender. Often times he is lined up as an edge. He is very quick and fast so he is often times just too fast for offensive lineman. He can also line up as an off-ball backer that has coverage ability. He can also line up as a box/run-stopping safety. Johnson is athletic and has the ability to do it all. Expect Johnson to stuff the stat sheet in many ways.
Hottel is one of the top middle linebackers in the state. He is a traditional inside run-stopping linebacker. He has a nose for the football. He does a good job of creating turnovers. When he is tackling ball carriers he does a good job of ripping the ball loose. He also lays down big hits that cause fumbles. He is not only a run-stopper but he is also very good in coverage. He has the ability to get in his pass drops jump into the passing lane and intercept passes. Hottel will stuff the stat sheet this season.
Highlights
Defensive Backs
Gengarella is the only rising sophomore on the all-county team. He seems to always be at the right place at the right time. He plays on instincts and it pays off for him. In the passing game, he does a good job of breaking up plays. He does a good job of closing the distance between himself and the receiver while the ball is in the air. He also is a good tackler which allows him to be a big asset in run support. Gengarella will continue to impress.
Highlights
Seiken is a ball-playing defensive back. He uses his receiver skills on the defensive side of the ball. He does a good job of attacking the ball at its highest point and coming down with it. He is very good in 50/50 ball situations. He also does a good job of preventing big gains. He does a good job of coming down and making tackles on ball carriers before they break away for a big play. He also is strong in run support. Seiken is a top player and will be a big of Blair’s playoff push.
Highlights
West is the only transfer to make the all-county team. He has the physical tools to be a major college prospect. He has great speed and a very good vertical leap. He is very good at playing the ball while it is in the air. He is able to win battles in the air in contested ball situations. He also is able to be a physical player. He plays at a very high speed which allows him to come downfield and deliver big hits. West will look to carry over his success at Good Counsel to Quince Orchard.
Spikes is a ball-hawking deep safety. He has tremendous range as he can cover a lot of ground. When teams try to challenge him deeply he is able to track the ball path and put himself exactly where he needs to be. He has enough speed to close down on receivers. He has good hands as he comes down with plenty of interceptions. Spikes is going to have another productive season.
Hess is a safety that likes to get in on the action. He is quick to come downfield in run support. He is violent and likes to deliver powerful blows. He is a very good tackler and stops ball carriers in their tracks. In pursuit, he does a great job of taking the right angle to make a play. He brings this same mindset to coverage. He likes to jump and undercut routes. He is always looking to cause a turnover. Hess has the opportunity to shine in a Damascus defense that fits his abilities perfectly.