Rolesville vs. Wake Forest – Defensive Standouts
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I was on the sidelines for the Week 9 game between Rolesville and Wake Forest. A rivalry matchup between two ranked teams and both teams were undefeated in conference play. The outcome of the game was decided on the last…
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Continue ReadingI was on the sidelines for the Week 9 game between Rolesville and Wake Forest. A rivalry matchup between two ranked teams and both teams were undefeated in conference play. The outcome of the game was decided on the last offensive series. The players listed performances caught my attention throughout the game.
Rolesville
Tamarcus Cooley Tamarcus Cooley 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Rolesville | 2023 State NC – SS, 6’1″ 185 (No. 1 DB, No. 4 Overall). Tamarcus displayed defined change of direction and speed to blanket receivers in man-coverage. He plays with physicality while making it difficult to complete a pass against him. The NC State commit knocked down the majority of the passes that were thrown to the receiver that he was covering. An impressive defensive performance throughout the game.
Reggie Love II Reggie Love II 5'10" | 160 lbs | DB Rolesville | 2023 State NC – FS, 5’10” 160 (No. 42 DB, No. 351 Overall). Reggie displayed good technique and change of direction to cover receivers in man-coverage. He displayed good speed to cover a lot of ground quickly to close in on the ball carrier. Reggie is a technique-sound defensive back who makes it difficult to complete a pass against him. He finished the game with 4 total tackles.
Cameron Richardson – SS, 5’11” 200. Cameron displayed good technique and change of direction to cover receivers in man-coverage. He displayed good speed to cover a lot of ground quickly to close in on the ball carrier. Cameron finished the game with 5 total tackles.
Jonathan Hinnant – OLB, 6’3″ 200 (No. 38 DL, No. 5 Overall). Jonathan displayed good lateral movement and speed to close quickly on the ball carrier for stops. He reads the play and reacts quickly to make stops. He plays with physicality and good technique on tackles made in the open field. Jonathan finished the game with 7 total tackles.
Aidan Pounds Aidan Pounds 5'10" | 205 lbs | LB Rolesville | 2024 State NC – MLB, 5’10” 205 (No. 13 LB, No. 104 Overall). Aiden displayed good lateral movement and speed to close quickly on the ball carrier for stops. He displayed patience to let the play develop before reacting to make the stop. He displayed good technique on tackles made in the open field. Aiden finished the game with 4 total tackles.
Jeremiah Bethel Jeremiah Bethel 5'9" | 220 lbs | LB Wake Forest | 2023 State NC – LB, 5’9″ 220. Jeremiah displayed good lateral movement and speed to close quickly on the ball carrier for stops. He reads the play and reacts quickly to make stops. He displayed good technique on tackles made in the open field. Jeremiah finished the game with 7 total tackles, 1 of the tackles was for a loss.
Carsten Casady Carsten Casady 6'6" | 275 lbs | DL Rolesville | 2023 State NC – DE, 6’6″ 280 (No. 40 DL, No. 327 Overall). Carsten was quick out of his stance to make contact with blockers while moving past them for stops. He displayed good use of hands and technique to control blockers. The Connecticut commit did a good job of pressuring the quarterback throughout the game.
Wake Forest
Nigel Lucas Nigel Lucas 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Wake Forest | 2023 State NC – CB, 6’1″ 175 (No. 9 DB, No. 112 Overall). Nigel displayed good technique and change of direction to cover receivers in man-coverage. He displayed good speed and played with toughness while covering Noah Rogers Noah Rogers 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Rolesville | 2023 State NC in man-coverage. Nigel played Noah as tough as any defensive back could play against the talented receiver. Man-coverage against Noah Rogers Noah Rogers 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Rolesville | 2023 State NC is an extremely difficult assignment.
Vance Day Vance Day 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Wake Forest | 2023 State NC – CB, 5’10” 170 (No. 30 DB, No. 276 Overall). Vance displayed good technique and change of direction to cover receivers in man-coverage. He displayed good speed to cover a lot of ground quickly to close in on the ball carrier for stops. Vance is a technique-sound defensive back who makes it difficult to complete a pass against him.
Martez Smith Martez Smith 6'0" | 260 lbs | ATH Middle Creek | 2023 State NC – DT, 6’0″ 270. Martez displayed good footwork and use of hands to control blockers while moving past them to make stops. He moved well in tight spaces while using a low center of gravity to gain leverage on blockers to stop inside running plays.
Elijah Branham – DT, 6’4″ 295. Elijah displayed good footwork and use of hands to control blockers while moving past them to make stops. He displayed quickness and upper body strength to shut down inside running plays. Elijah is one of the leaders on the defensive line.
Rashad Ellison – DT, 6’1″ 285. Rashad displayed good footwork and use of hands to control blockers while moving past them to make stops. He moved well in tight spaces using upper body strength and quickness to shut down inside running plays.
Wake Forest defensive line is stiff against the run, making it difficult to gain positive inside running yards.