Early Look: 5A/4A League 5 Defensive Players To Watch

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["595715"],"_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":"Branham will be a player to watch this year as he is a backer that has good hands and is able to shed blocks quickly to get to the ball carrier. Branham shows good vision and has good play recognition getting out of his stance and making plays behind the line of scrimmage. He is a player that has a knack for being around the ball and came up with a couple of interceptions as well this year, showing off his hands. He shows that ability to be a backer that can play sideline to sideline and can cover most TE's and RB's out of the backfield. Branham should be a key piece for the Mustangs on defense and will turn some heads with the way he makes plays consistently.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["145655"],"_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":"Patton should be a player that catches some eyes this year with his explosiveness and his tackling ability. On blitzes Patton looks like he is being shot out of a cannon the way he attacks with his speed. He is able to recognize plays and react quickly which helps him play fast and meet ball carriers at or behind the line of scrimmage. He is a good open field tackler and he makes it hard for the ball carrier to get extra yardage as he usually wins the one on one plays. Patton hustles and flows with the play making tackles down the field when the ball carrier tries to cut back. He had a hand full of sacks last year and I think he will be able to build on those this year. I think Patton will be one of the top backers to watch this year.","_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":"Cahlel Barthlow","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Vista Peak Preparatory High School","_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":"Barthlow had a productive season on the offensive end and will be looking to make an impact on the defensive end this year. Barthlow show the intangibles and being able to read his keys. I think this year he will be able to play more free and faster, being more instinctual than previous years. He has some good hands and at his size should be able to use his hands and strength to shed blockers and be a run stuffer on the defensive end. Barthlow has the ability to come and make plays from the backer position or put his hand in the dirt and use his speed and strength to beat bigger offensive linemen. He is a big part in getting the run game going on offense but will be able to make an impact for the Bison on the defensive side and turn some heads in the process.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Amani Vegas","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Denver South High School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Vegas is an aggressive corner that is good at being able to read plays and make adjustments quickly. He has good eyes when looking through the receiver to the QB's eyes. He has the combination of height and speed that allows him to play aggressive also having the makeup speed if they get past him. Vegas is also physical enough to make plays in the running game and he gets off of blocks quickly and makes the play when it gets to the outside. Vegas is good at getting his hand in at the last minute and disrupting the ball, getting it out of receivers hands. Vegas had opportunities to have more interceptions and wasn't able to come up with them but I think he will swing those his direction this year. He should be a top DB in this league and will be interesting to see if teams just avoid him this year finding success elsewhere.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Westen Hoffschneider","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Ponderosa High School","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Hoffschneider has an explosive first step and this helps him disrupt the play in the backfield. He is good at punching the ball out as well and it make him dangerous when he gets in on the QB or a ball carrier that is holding it out too far. He is able to use that first step to get on offensive linemen cushion quickly and then beats them with hands. Hoffschneider pieced it together this year and made himself a dominant player on the Mustangs line and should be able to improve on that this year. He was key at stuffing the run in the backfield and caused a few fumbles as well. I expect his production to go up this year which will put him as one of the top DL in this league and definitely a top player to watch.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6406503137815"} /-->