Division 2 Defensive X-Factors For The State Semi-Finals
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Believe it or not, we are already into the State-Semi finals for the Michigan high school playoffs. Birmingham Groves will play Waren De La Salle Collegiate at Troy Athens high school Saturday, November 19th at 1 pm. Grand Rapids Forest…
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Continue ReadingBelieve it or not, we are already into the State-Semi finals for the Michigan high school playoffs. Birmingham Groves will play Waren De La Salle Collegiate at Troy Athens high school Saturday, November 19th at 1 pm. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central will play Dexter at Portage Northern high school Saturday, November 19th at 1 pm.
#99 Devon Emrick | DL | Dexter | Plays Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central | Hudl
Emrick has played outstanding football this year for Dexter. He is a true run-stuffing defensive tackle who is very difficult to block. Emirck does a great job of getting off blocks and making tackles for loss. He gets off the snap quickly and has the athleticism to shoot gaps and disrupt run plays. Dexter’s defense has been so good against the run this season and Devon Emrick has played a big role in that. If Emrick can disrupt Forest Hills’ run game you have to like Dexter’s chances to win this game.
#9 | Brandon Valerio | LB | Dexter | Plays Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central | Hudl
Valerio is relentless in his pursuit of opposing ball carriers. Like his teammate Devon Emrick, Valerio has been a key part of Dexter’s success in stopping the run. Valerio does a great job of meeting ball carriers in the hole using his size and strength to drive them back and prevent them from falling forward. Dexter will blitz Valerio up the middle and he has the ability to fly past blockers and get after the quarterback.
#11 Griffin Phillips Griffin Phillips 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB De La Salle | 2023 State MI | DB | Warren De La Salle | Plays Birmingham Groves | Hudl
Phillips does a great job of reading where a quarterback is going to throw and then breaking on the ball and coming down with an interception. Phillips can change direction with ease and this ability helps to put him in a position to make a play on the football. Griffin Phillips Griffin Phillips 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB De La Salle | 2023 State MI will come downhill and make tackles in the open field. Birmingham Groves needs to have Phillips on their radar. Phillips has the ability to make game-changing plays and a state semi-final game would be a great time to make another one.
#7 Jamari Allen Jamari Allen 6'1" | 160 lbs | ATH De La Salle | 2023 State MI | DB | Warren De La Salle | Plays Birmingham Groves | Hudl
Allen is very physical on the outside at the cornerback position. Receivers have a very hard time getting separation from him especially when he plays press man-to-man with them. Thomas does a good job of mirroring the receiver’s movements and playing under control. He is good in zone coverage and always stays in an athletic position to either make a play on the football or come up and make a tackle. I like his game a lot and even though I did not get the chance to watch De La Salle play in person, having both Jamari Allen Jamari Allen 6'1" | 160 lbs | ATH De La Salle | 2023 State MI and Griffin Phillips Griffin Phillips 5'10" | 180 lbs | DB De La Salle | 2023 State MI in the secondary gives opposing teams a lot of problems. Birmingham Groves may have a difficult time throwing to the receivers that Allen covers in this game.