Grand Rapids Preseason Dream Team - Defense

Well, well, well. Now's the time for a ton of preseason previews! As you already know, this article will list my Preseason Grand Rapids Dream Team. This list highlights 11 Defenders who have already shown flashes of greatness, or just straight-up consistent excellence, and will near-undoubtedly have a fantastic season. DB - [player_tooltip player_id='251945' first='Ty' last='Hudkins'] DB - [player_tooltip player_id='407302' first='Matthew' last='Gauck'] DB - [player_tooltip player_id='407300' first='Jimmie' last='Floyd'] DB - [player_tooltip player_id='241258' first='Austin' last='Harvey'] DB - [player_tooltip player_id='243093' first='KeWaun' last='Farnum'] LB - [player_tooltip player_id='394475' first='Rick' last='Beison'] LB - [player_tooltip player_id='253311' first='Robert' last='Dedrick'] LB - [player_tooltip player_id='300307' first='Jack' last='Cook'] DL - [player_tooltip player_id='407299' first='Austin' last='Fenech'] DL - [player_tooltip player_id='286465' first='Breckin' last='Portoluri'] DL - [player_tooltip player_id='253235' first='Zachary' last='Kelly']   <h2>Analysis</h2>   DB - [player_tooltip player_id='251945' first='Ty' last='Hudkins'] - Forest Hills Central - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/15709486/Ty-Hudkins/about" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/profile/15709486/Ty-Hudkins/about">Hudl</a> Everywhere Hudkins has gone, he's balled out. With some of the best reaction time, footwork, and overall fundamentals I've seen, Ty is outstanding in coverage and is extremely deserving of being on this list. I'm interested to see how he performs against elite passing offenses- if FHC ends up playing them. DB - [player_tooltip player_id='407302' first='Matthew' last='Gauck'] - Jenison - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13410231/Matthew-Gauck" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13410231/Matthew-Gauck">Hudl</a> Gauck's film has pleasantly surprised me. With sound fundamentals and a bit of aggressiveness playing the ball, Gauck was a PBU machine last season and could keep up with anyone he was facing, sometimes on an island. He'll be one of the leaders of the Jenison defense and will need to live up to my expectation if his team wants to go far. DB - [player_tooltip player_id='407300' first='Jimmie' last='Floyd'] - Caledonia - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13688467/Jimmie-Floyd/about" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13688467/Jimmie-Floyd/about">Hudl</a> The more I study Caledonia, the more I love them. [player_tooltip player_id='407300' first='Jimmie' last='Floyd'] is a massive asset for the Scots and one of the best DBs in the West. He's intelligent, able to play zone and man seamlessly, and he plays with confidence and aggressiveness when he knows his job. Having played great games against Mona Shores and Rockford, I'm confident [player_tooltip player_id='407300' first='Jimmie' last='Floyd'] will perform at an all-region level this season. DB - [player_tooltip player_id='241258' first='Austin' last='Harvey'] - Rockford - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13320210/Austin-Harvey/about" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13320210/Austin-Harvey/about">Hudl</a> Rockford always has good DBs, and Harvey is no different. The Agile Ram had 30 tackles and 7 PBUs last season, and most importantly, his tape shows massive confidence, fundamental prowess, and overall IQ. Rockford has quite the offseason program, and with some of the best coaching in the state, I expect Harvey to level up this season. DB - [player_tooltip player_id='243093' first='KeWaun' last='Farnum'] - Mona Shores - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13244458/KeWaun-Farnum/about" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13244458/KeWaun-Farnum/about">Hudl</a> Farnum stands out with his athleticism. There is nobody on this list as athletic as Farnum, as he's insanely twitchy, fast, and can make things happen all over the football field. Specifically, at DB, he's trusted in man coverage and has performed well against outstanding teams like Detroit King, Muskegon, and others. He has true college talent, and I'll be shocked If he doesn't earn All-region at the very least. LB - [player_tooltip player_id='394475' first='Rick' last='Beison'] - Rockford - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13320108/Rick-Beison/about" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13320108/Rick-Beison/about">Hudl</a> A hard-hitting linebacker who can shed blocks and react quickly, [player_tooltip player_id='394475' first='Rick' last='Beison'] is the blueprint MHSAA D1 Linebacker. Every snap shows immense effort, and as I said, he hits like a truck. I'm excited to see what Beison can accomplish this season, and I expect him to be one of the best linebackers in the state. LB - [player_tooltip player_id='253311' first='Robert' last='Dedrick'] - Grand Rapids Union - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14860562/Robert-Dedrick/about" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14860562/Robert-Dedrick/about">Hudl</a> Robby Dedrick is a crucial piece of this Union rebuild. Leading the charge, Dedrick had a great 2021 season and has only continued to get in shape and improve his game during the offseason. He's a great kid, played well at Legacy, and isn't afraid of a challenge. I expect to see a ton of improvement in Robby's game. LB - [player_tooltip player_id='300307' first='Jack' last='Cook'] - Grand Rapids Catholic Central - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12868692/Jack-Cook/about" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12868692/Jack-Cook/about">Hudl</a> Like [player_tooltip player_id='407084' first='Joe' last='Mullett'], I expect Nolan Ziegler's departure to offer [player_tooltip player_id='300307' first='Jack' last='Cook'] a more prominent role. Already a great state-championship winning LB in 2021, [player_tooltip player_id='300307' first='Jack' last='Cook'] has good reaction and solid hitting, doing his job and doing it well. As long as Cook progresses as I've seen many athletes at GRCC progress, he can be an all-region talent. DL - [player_tooltip player_id='407299' first='Austin' last='Fenech'] - Forest Hills Eastern - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13581181/Austin-C-Fenech/about" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13581181/Austin-C-Fenech/about">Hudl</a> With high praise from many, [player_tooltip player_id='407299' first='Austin' last='Fenech'] is a powerful lineman on both sides of the ball. His film displays near-elite power and good IQ. He's a college talent who will impress many people this coming season. DL - [player_tooltip player_id='286465' first='Breckin' last='Portoluri'] - Rockford - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13320088/Breckin-Portoluri/about" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13320088/Breckin-Portoluri/about">Hudl</a> Standing at a fantastic 6'0 250, [player_tooltip player_id='286465' first='Breckin' last='Portoluri'] reloads the Ram's Defensive Line exceptionally well. He's a Powerstrength guy who's put in plenty of offseason work, and I expect him to put his new power to great use against some of the best programs in the state. DL - [player_tooltip player_id='253235' first='Zachary' last='Kelly'] - Forest Hills Northern - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16104926/Zachary-Kelly/about" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16104926/Zachary-Kelly/about">Hudl</a> On this dream team, Kelly is my run-stuffer, as his 4-point stance at the NG position and his 6'1 255lb body are extremely difficult to move. He showed many flashes last season, and I've always been high on [player_tooltip player_id='253235' first='Zachary' last='Kelly']'s potential. I hope he puts it all together and turns it into an all-region year.