The best 6A defensive anchors across Wichita in 2023

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite being half of the game, defense does not get the same love as it has in the past. Over the years, offense has began to dominate highlight reels and hype videos across the country. These athletes are different. They thrive on a tackle for loss and pass breakups. Their touchdown celebrations are after sacks and interceptions. These five players are usually the best athletes on the field at any given time, and are set up to lead their defenses around the city in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["334743"],"_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":"It's not about the size of the dog in the fight. That's because sometimes the dog runs a 4.4 and will hit you so hard your feet will fly above your head. King is a playmaker on all levels of the defense. On the line, he is fast off the edge using his feet and speed to get around ends and tackles in order to get TFLs and pressures on the quarterback. In the secondary, very few make such a good safety net. No one is out running him, and zero wide receivers want to meet him over the middle. His motor runs high as he makes plays across the field and hawks down open-field runners. He does not break on many routes looking to get interceptions, but rather his goal is to knock the soul out of ball carriers.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["146116"],"_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":"Hopper is a player that may not fill out the stat sheet during the game, but will be a key contributor as to whether or not your team wins. Countless times it seems that Hopper was there to put pressure on the QB or cause a running back to break outside right into a linebacker. These are plays that helped Derby become one of the best teams in the state last fall. Hopper lines up all over the line, but has a play style most suited for the interior. He is strong. He will anchor himself to the line and use his arms to rip linemen out of the way. He is fast out of the stunts that the Panthers defense runs with him, and disrupts plays very well. Most of the time it seems that Hopper is fighting off double team blocks and winning. He has the speed and jump to split the blockers, and able to get into the backfield before anyone knows it.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Jeremiah Harris","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Wichita NW","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"With several studs running around that Grizzlies defense, Harris still has the ability to stand out among them. He is a corner with great speed and coverage skills that allow Northwest to put him on an island and allow him to cook. He can press at the line, and stay in the receivers pocket for the entirety of the play. He does not use his hands in press coverage, but that does not stop him from staying close and making windows impossible to throw in. He plays run contain very well and will run up to cover the run very quickly. He is shifty which makes him slippery to downfield blockers. His tackles may not make the Top 10, but they are safe and consistent which allows him to keep his stats and prevent him from being on the receiving end of a Top 10 play.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["372248"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Despite only being a sophomore last season, Maholmes made it clear that he ran the middle of the field. Already with good size and speed, he is able to keep up with running backs and ball carriers to the sideline and keep them in front of him. He is a linebacker doing the little things right, including churning his legs all the way through the tackle or until the whistle blows. He possesses long arms to keep backside linemen at bay as he reads where the back is going with the ball. Maholmes has also made it clear that he is not going backwards when making tackles. Unlike a lot of linebackers, Caleb has a knack for getting the ball in his hands. Whether that be fumbles or interception, he is going to get you the football.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["586976"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Although some may argue that he is not the anchor of this defense yet, I would ask who else is elevating the game of their units at only 14/15 years old? Adams is a young talent that is going to blossom in the next year or two and become one of the best talents coming out of Wichita. He already possesses good speed to allow him into the backfield to disrupt and make tackles. He has the body control to jump and turn behind him to put his hands in passing lanes while sprinting the other way. He will take some steam out of his tackles, but his talent is still raw and developing however, but there will be nothing to stop him once it does.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63e2838f40c5b"} /-->