Preseason: Oregon’s 6A POY Candidates (Ranked #1-15) DEFENSE

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What I like about the 6A state player of the year break down, is that it has nothing to do with recruiting. It's referencing the best players on the field and what they mean to their individual teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That being said, if you play on an average team, it's always much harder to be nominated for all league or all-state honors. Have a look at the preseason O &amp; D. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1.[player_tooltip player_id='147240' first='Richie' last='Anderson'] Sr. DE Tualatin- Expect to see Anderson starting for Colorado St from a young age and listed among the top players in the Mountain West Conference collegiately. Oregon HS lineman have NOT been able to contain him, even with a double team. Someone should almost be fined for his 2nd team all TRL honors from a year ago.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2.[player_tooltip player_id='110180' first='Mark' last='Hamper'] Sr. ATH West Linn- What doesn't this kid do. He seems to always be in the right place at the right time, looking like an athlete who runs a 4.4 laser 40-yard dash, but doesn't. His 42 total tackles and 5 INTs, with 5 PBUs from a year ago are just a glimpse of his potential. The Lions are in a unique spot due to team depth, as they can actually give Hamper time to breath and come off the field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3.[player_tooltip player_id='226949' first='Teitum' last='Tuioti'] Sr. DE Sheldon- Watch the film. The Oregon commit torched everyone in the state of Nebraska and is going to be a big problem for Oregon HS lineman, or anyone trying to block him. His size and speed are pretty rare as Tuioti puts the Irish in the 6A hunt, with a deep senior group.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4.[player_tooltip player_id='206771' first='Will' last='Wilson'] Sr. LB Tualatin- Personally one of my favorite players to watch in the state. If they don't already, Northern Arizona will realize what they landed, once Will gets on the field collegiately. In limited time as a junior due to injury, Wilson was borderline unstoppable, coming hard at 6-3 220. Give him a full season and he could break records.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5.[player_tooltip player_id='147247' first='Earl' last='Ingle'] Sr. LB West Linn- The reigning TRL defensive POY. Ingle will be able to focus exclusively on D after playing some QB as a junior. His accolades as an underclassman, in the state's toughest conference by far, speak to the respect that coaches within the league have for him. Look for the 6-1 220-pound standout to be highly recruited by high end academic and military D1 institutions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6.[player_tooltip player_id='110179' first='Drew' last='Rodriguez'] Sr. Safety Sprague- Rodriguez earned all-conference honors as a freshman to put his talent into perspective. As a junior he was one of the only underclassmen in the state to earn 1st team all-league accolades on both sides of the football, while returning multiple kicks and INTs for TDs. A lot will be determined by how the Oly's fare this season as it relates to individual awards.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>7.[player_tooltip player_id='205818' first='Noah' last='Staley'] Sr. DE/OLB Jesuit- Staley is freakishly strong, playing out of position, and earning 1st team all-Metro honors as a Junior. He projects as the top defensive player in the conference with the Crusaders ranking as a 6A title contender, helping to highlight some of the athletes on the roster.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8.[player_tooltip player_id='152337' first='Wiley' last='Donnerberg'] Jr. Safety West Linn- Look for Donnerberg to receive a host of attention because of his offensive ability, while projecting on D in my opinion. His ability to run and make plays, having an ideal frame to add size, puts him in a special category of athlete. His 20 total tackles, 7 PBU's, and 3 INTs as a sophomore are a sneak peak of what's to come.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>9.[player_tooltip player_id='205815' first='Tiger' last='Black'] Sr. DT Roseburg- The 2X 1st team all SWC DT, and reigning conference defensive POY, was typically the best player on the field in every game. Look for him to be even better collegiately as he should dominate 6A Oregon football as a senior.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>10.[player_tooltip player_id='152332' first='Ethan' last='Biondine'] Jr. LB Lakeridge- Biondine started as a freshman and had an unreal sophomore season, putting up one of the most impressive stat lines state wide (80 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks). Much like [player_tooltip player_id='205818' first='Noah' last='Staley'] he played out of position against the state's best in the TRL and was still dominant. Look for him to be a leader at LB for a Pacers program who will rank in the top 5.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>11.[player_tooltip player_id='152355' first='AJ' last='Noland'] Jr. DB Tualatin- Noland has one of the fastest rising stocks of any player in the state. He is all of 6-2 and impresses with his overall athleticism (basketball). He returns after earning 2nd team all-conference honors as a sophomore, as he should be a conference and state POY favorite the next few seasons.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>12.[player_tooltip player_id='119072' first='Ty' last='Pugliano'] Sr. Safety North Medford- Pugliano projects more on the defensive side of the ball, while being a guy who should touch the ball 20+ times per game. He earned 2nd team all SWC honors on D as a junior, as accolades and other awards will come depending where North uses him. He will rarely leave the field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>13.[player_tooltip player_id='270070' first='Calvin' last='Macy'] Sr. LB Lake Oswego- There is a big opportunity for Macy, who holds multiple D1 offers, with this very youthful Lakers program. It will take him having a POY type season if LO is going to succeed on a state wide level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>14.<strong>Timmy Mitchell Jr.</strong> CB Central Catholic- Most are now familiar with the name as he has a state title and Les Schwab Bowl MVP award under his belt. CC will continue to be in the mix and competing for a championship, which will only highlight what he does in the secondary. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>15.[player_tooltip player_id='110183' first='Jayden' last='Moses'] Sr. LB Grant- By far and away the best player in the PIL. Moses and [player_tooltip player_id='110179' first='Drew' last='Rodriguez'] were the only freshman at the 6A level to earn all-league honors four years ago. It's tough for anyone to earn all state accolades out of the PIL due to the consistent struggle within the conference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OTHERS: </strong>[player_tooltip player_id='168252' first='Oliver' last='Fisher'] Sr. DE Sherwood, [player_tooltip player_id='152335' first='Liam' last='Cassidy'] Jr. DT Jesuit, [player_tooltip player_id='342013' first='Zach' last='Wusstig'] Sr. DB South Salem, [player_tooltip player_id='263787' first='Austin' last='Goetz'] Sr. LB Tigard </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->