PRZ IL IHSA 8A All State Team: Defensive Edition
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Kicking off the new year, we’re releasing our All State teams which have been compiled after hours upon hours of film eval on each player. This is an extensive process that looks at the top 40 teams in each classification…
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Continue ReadingKicking off the new year, we’re releasing our All State teams which have been compiled after hours upon hours of film eval on each player. This is an extensive process that looks at the top 40 teams in each classification and doing a deep dive into each player on each team – yes I do mean each player which is why it takes a long time to complete. After going through this process of breaking down film and analyzing it, I have decided where each player is listed as either 1st Team, 2nd Team, and Honorable Mention. With 8A football, there are a lot of young men that you can make an argument for being on this list as the talent runs deep on this level. These are my picks after the film eval where you can see hidden gems being picked over those that may have D1 offers etc. based upon their skill set. Without further ado, let’s dive into PRZ IL IHSA 8A All State Team: Defensive Edition.
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1st Team
DL
Highlights
- Holds C gap control – long reach making tackles outside frame
- Active hands at point of attack – slips blocks well
- Good mix of bull rush & speed rush off edge – does a good job countering inside too
- Crashes flat down line of scrimmage to secure chasedown tackle – results in no gain or tackle for loss
Highlights
- Relentless pursuit – works through wistle & doesn’t give up on plays
- Good speed rush off edge – beats OT to turn point for QB pressure consistently
- Active hands at point of attack – sheds run block quickly to meet RB in hole for no gain
- Holds QB contain & closes quickly securing tackle for loss
Highlights
- Crashes flat down line of scrimmage for chasedown tackle – results in no gain or tackle for loss
- Dominant 2 gap defender
- Makes tackles outside his frame
- Good bull rush collapsing pocket generating pressure on QB
Caden O’Rourke
Caden O’Rourke
- Dominant run stuffer – shoots gaps & slips blocks well to disrupt plays in backfield
- QB contain closes on QB quickly generating pressure & securing sacks at times
- Holds B & C gaps down well – good job making tackles outside his frame
- Can close quickly on outside tackle runs limiting changes of RB turning corner
LB
Highlights
- Triggers downhill quickly in close space
- Works gap to gap well
- Can get to hook/curl zone drop quickly to pick up crossing route – breaks on route forcing incomplete pass with heavy hit on contact
- Rangy covering sideline to sideline – can close quickly making open field tackles
- Times blitz well through A gap – closes quickly on QB for sack
- Works gap to gap – triggers downhill quickly in close space to meet RB in hole
- Takes run block head on – jolts run blocker upright & disengages to make tackle in hole
- Can cover sideline to sideline making open field tackles – good job flowing to ball
- Can shoot C or B gaps – slips blocks to disrupt plays in backfield for tackle for loss
- Closes quickly to make open field tackle in flat for no gain/loss
- Flies to the ball – plants foot & closes quickly making open field tackles
- Can be used as “rover” type of player – skill set to move around multiple positions
DB
Highlights
- Good break on routes – can jump/undercut for PBU or INTs
- Can trigger downhill quickly playing alley – makes open field tackles in flat well
- Heavy hitter – plants foot & closes along sideline forcing PBU off hit
- Gets hands on when pressing rubbing WR off route – at times can put WR into dirt
- Flies to the ball covering sideline to sideline
Highlights
- Can close quickly from single high look – delivery heavy hit in flat forcing PBU
- Triggers downhill quickly when playing alley – closes in an instant making open field tackles for min gain
- Fluid flip of hips – transitions quickly & goes up for 50/50 ball securing INTs on deep shots downfield
- Used on blitz – can either jolt run blockers upright or get QB pressure blowing up plays
- Covers sideline to sideline well
Highlights
- Plays alley well closing quickly to make open field tackles in flat
- Hands on when pressing re-routing WR off line
- Covers ground quickly with closing speed – flies to the ball & has good break on routes
- Good job getting involved in run support
2nd Team
DL
Highlights
- Active hands to disengage blocks to secure tackle in hole for no gain
- Can slip blocks to disrupt plays in backfield
- Can work across DL – DE & DT with big frame
- 2 gap defender
Jaylen Williams
Jaylen Williams
- Active hands at point of attack – can shed blocks quickly to disrupt plays in backfield
- Quick 1st step out of stance – uses to his advantage on edge rush & when shooting B gap in run support
- High motor type of player – gets after it
- Can make tackles outside his frame
Highlights
- Quick 1st step off edge – beats OT to turn point consistently
- Good edge rusher – sinks well for QB pressure/sack
- Can check C gap & close quickly on outside tackle runs for no gain/loss on play
- Can shoot into B gap to disrupt play in backfield
- Quick 1st step out of stance & has active hands at point of attack
- Can make tackles outside frame -both at DT & DE
- High motor – gets after it
LB
Cole Ostendorf
Cole Ostendorf
- Times blitz well to shoot gaps & deliver heavy hit on RB blowing up plays in backfield
- Triggers downhill quickly in close space – meets RB in hole for no gain at times
- Good change of direction – rangy covering sideline to sideline
Ethan Hogg
Ethan Hogg
- Backside chasedown off edge for QB sack & tackle for loss – relentless effort through whistle
- Can jolt run blocker upright & disengage to make tackle in hole for no gain
- Force player once QB escapes pocket closing quickly for pressure
Highlights
- Quick reaction to get ahead around for INT when getting to hook/curl zone drop
- Times blitz well through B gap for QB pressure & to disrupt plays in backfield in run support
- Closes quickly on WR screen in flat to make open field tackle
- Works gap to gap well
DB
- Not afraid to lower shoulder for heavy hit on ball carrier
- Good job using sideline as extra defender rubbing WR off route forcing out of bounds
- Man coverage stays on WR hip & can undercut routes for PBUs
- Can play in box – gets involved in run support driving legs through tackles
- Deadly punt return man too
- Plays alley well – triggers downhill quickly to make open field tackle for min gain
- Tracks ball well on deep shots downfield – good transition & break on ball going up for 50/50 balls coming away with PBUs
- Man coverage – can stay on WR hip & contest 50/50 ball punching through WR basket
Highlights
- Comes on blitz closing quickly off edge – delivers heavy hit leveling QB
- Man coverage can undercut route for INT – uses foot quicks returning for TD
- Nickel corner blitz to blow up QB
- Plants foot & closes quickly to make open field tackle
Honorable Mention
DL
Ethan Aghakhan Ethan Aghakhan 6'2" | 250 lbs | DL Stevenson | 2024 State IL 24′ Stevensen Twitter
David Wuske David Wuske 6'2" | 235 lbs | DL Lincoln Way East | 2024 IL 24′ Lincoln-Way East Twitter
LB
Justin Kretz Justin Kretz 6'1" | 205 lbs | LB Warren Township | 2023 IL 23′ Warren Township Twitter
Jayden Howard Jayden Howard 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Bellivelle East | 2023 State IL 23′ Belleville East
DB
Will Meyer 24′ Glenbard West
Keegan Latulippe Keegan Latulippe 5'10" | 165 lbs | ATH Stevenson | 2023 State IL 23′ Stevenson Twitter
Nicolas Lendino Nicolas Lendino 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Neuqua Valley | 2023 State IL 23′ Neuqua Valley Twitter
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Use Code JordanAmaskane30 for 30% OFF your subscription today!
Be sure to follow @hddngemscouting & @PrepRedzoneIL regarding news & information for IHSA Football