Stock Up: Defenders Week 3
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Defenses win championships and multiple defenders from week three made plays to help their teams get critical wins. Smith Snowden Smith Snowden 5'9" | 170 lbs | DB Skyridge | 2023 State UT || DB || 5’10 || 175 ||…
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Continue ReadingDefenses win championships and multiple defenders from week three made plays to help their teams get critical wins.
Smith Snowden Smith Snowden 5'9" | 170 lbs | DB Skyridge | 2023 State UT || DB || 5’10 || 175 || Skyridge High School | 2024
Skyridge has given up just seven points through three weeks, and one of the biggest reasons for that is the impressive play of Snowden. The top-ranked corner in the 2023 class continues to shut down opposing teams’ top receivers. Snowden has fantastic technique that allows him to stick to receivers like glue. He plays the ball in the air as well as any defensive back in the state and had an impressive pick in cover four vs. Herriman, where he came from out of nowhere for the pick six. Snowden is the ultimate eraser and a true game changer for the Falcons.
Hunter Clegg Hunter Clegg 6'4" | 235 lbs | DL American Fork | 2023 State UT || DL || 6’4 || 235 || American Fork High School || 2023
American Fork won their first few games handily, but on Friday, they were able to gut out a tough win over West, in large part thanks to Clegg. The 6’4 defensive linemen is the Cavemen’s best defender and disrupted the Panther’s offensive game plan all night. Clegg finished with six tackles and one sack, but the stats don’t tell the whole story. West has one of the state’s best offensive lines and rushing attacks, but Clegg ensured the Panthers could never establish the run. Clegg is also one of the state’s best pass rushers and uses his strength to overwhelm offensive tackles before getting to quarterbacks.
Bo Tate Bo Tate 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB Corner Canyon | 2024 State UT || LB || 6’1 || 200 || Skyline High School || 2024
Going into Skylines game vs. Post-Falls, Idaho, Tate had 23 tackles on the season; he reached that mark in just Friday’s game. Tate was outstanding for the Eagles on both sides of the ball, accumulating 23 tackles, three tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles on defense. Tate is fantastic in coverage and has the speed to make plays on balls thrown all over the field. He also excels at filling holes and uses his sideline to sideline quickness to contain runs. The 6’1 linebacker is also a potent weapon for the Eagles on offense, where he had 92 all-purpose yards and a touchdown on Friday.
Tausili Akana Tausili Akana 6'4" | 225 lbs | LB Skyridge | 2023 State UT || DL || 6’4 || Skyridge High School || 2023
Going into week three, Akana had yet to register a sack on the season, but that quickly changed on Friday night. The 6’4 defensive linemen and linebacker had two in the first half. Akana is an elite athlete who Skyridge likes to line up all over the field to allow him to make plays, and that’s precisely what he did vs. the Mustangs. He possesses elite bend that makes him highly challenging to block on third and longs. Aknas biggest play of the night was a safety in which he engulfed Herriman’s quarterback deep in the Herriman end zone for two points. Our top-ranked player in the 2023 class looks to be hitting his stride at the right time.