Oregon 6A Defensive POY Candidates (Ranked #1-15)
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As most know Player of the Year Awards have a lot to do with team success. You can be a highly recruited standout athlete, but if your team doesn’t do well, you most likely won’t be receiving many accolades. Have…
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Continue ReadingAs most know Player of the Year Awards have a lot to do with team success. You can be a highly recruited standout athlete, but if your team doesn’t do well, you most likely won’t be receiving many accolades. Have a look at Oregon’s Defensive POY candidates as we head into the playoffs…
DEFENSE
1. Teitum Tuioti Teitum Tuioti 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Sheldon | 2023 State OR Sr. DE Sheldon- Tuioti is your Oregon 6A POY without question. He has been absolutely dominant, leading the state in numerous statistical categories. His 65 total tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, and 11.5 sacks are jaw dropping numbers.
2. Drew Rodriguez Drew Rodriguez 6'2" | 200 lbs | DB Sprague | 2023 State OR Sr. DB Sprague – To say Rodriguez will be missed at Sprague would be a severe understatement. As referenced offensively, he will go down as one of the most versatile athletes to ever come out of the state, literally scoring TDs every way possible for 4 straight years at the Varsity level.
3. Josh Merriman Josh Merriman 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Sheldon | 2023 State OR -Sr. DT Sheldon- This kid has been unreal all year. If it wasn’t for Tuioti’s dominance he could be your POY. The big man has accounted for 46 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks, in what is an unquestioned 1st team all-state season.
4. Richie Anderson Richie Anderson 6'4" | 225 lbs | DL Tualatin | 2023 State OR Sr. DE Tualatin- Anderson has been borderline unblockable for two straight seasons. The Colorado St commit requires a consistent double team if you want to contain him. The accolades he receives will most likely be determined by his performance during the playoffs.
5. Earl Ingle Earl Ingle 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB West Linn | 2023 State OR Sr. LB West Linn- The reigning TRL defensive POY did his thing again this season. He has gone somewhat under the radar from a recruiting standpoint, as some university is going to get a steal.
6. Campbell Sager Campbell Sager 6'5" | 245 lbs | DL Westview | 2023 State OR Sr. DE Westview- Sager has had a 1st team all-state season, breaking multiple school records statistically, with 11 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. Give Westview credit for playing a tough schedule as they are deserving of being in the championship bracket.
7. Ben Winjum Ben Winjum 5'11" | 200 lbs | LB West Linn | 2023 State OR Sr. LB West Linn- One of the most productive players to come out of West Linn in some time. Winjum has more than backed up his 1st team all-conference accolades from last season.
8. Zach Wusstig Zach Wusstig 6'1" | 180 lbs | ATH Jefferson Highschool | 2023 OR Sr. DB South Salem- There isn’t much Wusstig didn’t do this season. His unique combination of size, speed, and unteachable instincts have him listed as one of the top overall athletes in Oregon. Look for multiple Big Sky’s to offer the 3* in the coming weeks.
9. Luke Leighton Luke Leighton 6'5" | 195 lbs | ATH Sheldon | 2023 State OR Sr. LB Sheldon- It’s rare to see a 6-5 athlete be so mobile. Leighton has backed it up on both sides of the ball, earning 1st team all-conference honors on O & D as a Junior, while accounting for 106 total tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 4 INTs, over the last two seasons.
10. Noah Staley Noah Staley 6'0" | 220 lbs | RB Jesuit | 2023 State OR Sr. LB Jesuit- Staley returns as a conference POY favorite after his 1st team all-Metro season one year ago. One of the hardest hitters in the state has been dominant.
11. Jake Holmes Jake Holmes 6'3" | 225 lbs | DL West Linn | 2023 State OR Sr. DE West Linn- Coming off a 1st team all-conference season as a junior, Holmes should be considered a lock to earn 1st team all-state accolades, and be playing for the 6A title.
12. Lonnie Burt Lonnie Burt 6'1" | 200 lbs | ATH Jesuit | 2024 State OR Jr. LB Jesuit- It’s hard to select just a few Crusaders for POY honors with the likes of Liam Cassidy Liam Cassidy 6'5" | 300 lbs | DL Jesuit | 2024 State OR and Garrett Speer Garrett Speer 6'1" | 185 lbs | LB Jesuit | 2023 State OR also in the mix. That said as I expect Burt Jr. to blow up over the off season, and also be one of Oregon’s best RBs in 2023.
13. Hatimu Letisi Hatimu Letisi 6'0" | 255 lbs | DL South Salem | 2024 State OR Jr. DL South Salem- Letisi has been an absolute nightmare for O lineman. His strength and overall ability to maneuver with his size, makes him one of the toughest defenders to account for in the entire NW.
14. AJ Noland AJ Noland 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Tualatin | 2024 State OR Jr. DB Tualatin- As of right now I would consider Noland the top DB in the state for the 2024 class. He is all of 6-2 and was equally impressive on offense.
15. Gabe Staszak Gabe Staszak 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL South Medford | 2024 State OR Jr. DE South Medford – The 6-6 220-pound DE is one of the fastest rising recruits for the 2024 class. South has fallen off over the last few weeks, but Staszak has continued to impress, currently listed among the state leaders in sacks.
15.
Austin Goetz
Austin
Goetz
6'2" | 215 lbs | LB
Tigard | 2023
State
OR
Sr. LB Tigard- The 6-2 215-pound LB’s overall athleticism is what’s most impressive. Goetz and teammate
Vaughn Croxton
Vaughn
Croxton
6'1" | 220 lbs | LB
Tigard | 2023
State
OR
have both had 1st team all-state type seasons, with Goetz currently tied for the state lead in INTs (5).