2023 AYF All-Star Practice Notes: West Defensive Standouts

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["634707"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Talk about pedigree and genetics—Berryhill has it. The younger brother of current Detroit Lions Wide Receiver Stanley Berryhill and current Class of 2024 prospect Savaughn Berryhill, the youngest of the group is certainly up next. While he doesn't have the thick, strong build of his older brothers—he has elite speed and quickness. I'd roll the dice on him running stride for stride with 95% of the class of 2027 Wide Receivers in the country. Plays light on his toes and can flip his hips with the best of them. Plays confidently and isn't afraid to throw jams at the line because he knows he has the speed to make up for a misstep, should one happen. He plays intelligently, as well and mixes up his style well. Berryhill is already extremely talented and isn't even close to reaching his ceiling yet, physically. Also took reps on the offensive side of the ball as a Slot Receiver. The Tucson, Arizona prospect looks like he'll be a no-brainer future P5 player.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["631962"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"From what I watched at practice Sales definitely looks to be the deep ball threat on offense as a Wide Receiver, but the 6-foot-2 prospect also flashed at Safety on the defensive side of the ball. His length and dependable hands make him a nice option on both sides of the ball, for obvious reasons. Watching some of his film, he has some dog in him and isn't afraid to come up and hit despite his leaner frame. On film showed disciplined eyes and didn't get caught peaking in the backfield and coming up too quickly. Just an intelligent player who understands his job as the last line of defense.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["403058"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":632428,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"As previously stated, Big Lex was the best prospect I saw during AYF All-Star practices by a large margin. While I now firmly believe his future is at the Offensive Guard position after watching him during practice, I wasn't sure previously. Ahead of this game I thought of him as more of a Defensive Tackle and he had a prime spot on the 2027 National Watchlist at the position. At 6-foot-3 and north of 300 pounds, he's big, thick, and extremely strong for just being in the eighth grade. As he does on offense as well, he uses his hands very well. He's got big mitts and when he grabs a hold of the opposing lineman, they have no choice but to go for a ride.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["557100"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":632441,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Chief is another lineman prospect that shined on both sides of the ball. Quick to react and violent with his hands, he moved very well in tight quarters for a kid that is 6-foot-1 and 265-pounds. Displayed a great knowledge and usage of leverage in the trenches. Really impressed me with how he worked different pass rush moves despite knowing he could be successful by simply using the same move every time. Also did a nice job of moving as if his shoulders and lower body were connected by an imaginary string. Meaning he kept his hips underneath him and didn't get over extended. As soon as he ripped or swatted the Offensive Lineman and got by him, his lower body immediately followed his shoulders, as if they were connected on that imaginary string.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["569908"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":634752,"_player_evaluations_4_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The Washington prospect did a really nice job playing Outside Linebacker at practice. Normally a Tight End on offense, he's split out as a Wide Receiver in the West's scheme and that doesn't really suit his skill set. After looking mundane playing out of position offense, he came to life on defense, playing like the kid I saw in December at AYF Nationals. He's a natural as an Outside linebacker with his 6-foot-2 and 185-pound frame and the physical play he brings to the table. I saw coaches getting him on a bit in a hunt and fit drill after starting off a little slow, but after that it's as if the switch got flipped and that mean streak came out. He attacked the near hip of ball carriers during tracking drills and wrapped up well. I think he's going to quietly become a really, really good player in the PNW.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["632310"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":632315,"_player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Like I said in the Offensive stand out article for the West, Tavizon is the walking definition of the Athlete position. While he was taking reps offensively as a Running Back, I think his future will be on the defensive side of the ball as an Outside Linebacker or Defensive End. With his 6-foot-2 frame and length, he looks like he could become a big-time prospect at either position. During the defensive portion of practice, he did a nice job as a Defensive End using his long arms and quickness to beat Offensive Linemen that were a little slower. I fully expect him to try to beat the East Offensive Tackles around the edge by attacking their outside shoulder and getting them to open up and get off balance. With that said, during practice he also showed some grit by not just relying on that speed rush and did flash some inside moves as well.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["283615"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_player_featured_image":634754,"_player_evaluations_6_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"For my money's worth, Su'a is the most active Linebacker I've seen in this 2027 class. The California prospect already holds verbal offers from Maryland and  and it's not hard to see why. He flies all over the field and is in on seemingly every tackle. Plays like a man possessed and is on a kamikaze mission to blow up the ball carrier. The younger brother of 2023 four-star, Arizona-commit Leviticus Su'a who was All-Everything at national powerhouse Mater Dei in California. There are different variations of the saying, but the sentiment is the same: The best ones don't tell you how great they are, they show you. That comes to mind often with Su'a. He's friendly with his teammates and often has a smile on his face but doesn't really say too much (at least to me, anyway). However, when that ball is snapped…he snaps. I've seen him play live on three different occasions, including twice in the last two months, and I've literally never seen him get yelled at for doing the wrong thing, making a bad read or taking a bad angle. He's an elite Linebacker at this stage of the game, no questions asked.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["528080"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_player_featured_image":634755,"_player_evaluations_7_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"The fact that Hill is just a seventh grader, has at least another year of youth football, and won't graduate high school until the year 2028 is mind-blowing. As elite as Ezekiel Su'a is in the class of 2027, Hill is the equivalent in the 2028 class right now. Football heads will talk about Linebackers having “sideline-to-sideline” ability, Hill legitimately has it. During practice when the offense was doing install work and getting the blocking scheme and quick game down, Hill was putting on a clinic on reading, reacting, and running. The angles he took and the speed with which he chased down outside runs and screens was truly impressive. Spent this year playing against 2027 and 2026 prospects in Detroit and was arguably the top ‘Backer in the city. At this point, I'd have zero hesitations putting him at any of the Linebacker positions with his combination of speed and size. Nor would I be afraid to let him spy another team's best player. The West squad has an embarrassment of riches at the Linebacker position.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["557052"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_player_featured_image":634780,"_player_evaluations_8_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Remember that embarrassment of riches I was talking about? Gaoteote is another prime example of the talent at the Linebacker position, the West has. Widely thought of as the top Linebacker in Nevada in the 2027 class, he's another kid who doesn't say a word but lets his pads do more than enough talking. Hard hat and lunch pail type of kid who is always in the right position to make a play. Saw him as a member of the Vegas Strong team in December at AYF Nationals where he was a standout on a loaded team. Attacks the line of scrimmage as if he was shot out of a cannon and does an excellent job of keep his numbers squad to the line of scrimmage. Gets downhill quickly and rarely takes a false step. While Hill is the tallest of the trio, Gaoteote and Su'a are built fairly similarly. Led by that trio, they could make it tough for the East to run the ball.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63deda58d25db"} /--> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>William Lane</strong> of northern California traditionally plays Running Back. However, with the West team having as many weapons as they do, Lane was flipped to the Outside Linebacker position and flashed. Did look a little timid at times and not as hungry to grab reps as others, but once he settled in, he looked right at home. If he keeps up on his current trajectory, he could be recruitable as a Linebacker too.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Michigan's <strong>Armani Hegmon</strong> proved again to be a 2027 prospect to take note of. Played Defensive End and looked like he could become a very good prospect if he continues to pack on weight. He's a very long kid that I took note of in December at AYF Nationals. As he gets stronger it should become easier for him attack with more physicality at the point of contact</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>A regular season teammate of <strong>William Lane </strong>in northern California <strong>Haangana Tau</strong> also looked impressive. He's somewhere between your traditional Defensive End and a stand up Outside Linebacker. Plays a mean, aggressive style of football and isn't afraid to get physical. Plays to, and through, the whistle on each rep.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->