Mid Willamette Conf POY Candidates + Others to Watch (DEFENSE)
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Referenced below are next season’s POY candidates on the defensive side of the ball. Please note that Player of the Year projections are NOT necessarily a reflection of an individual’s recruitment. POY Candidates #1-8 DEFENSE 1.Brysen Kachel LB 24′ West…
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Continue ReadingReferenced below are next season’s POY candidates on the defensive side of the ball. Please note that Player of the Year projections are NOT necessarily a reflection of an individual’s recruitment.
POY Candidates #1-8
DEFENSE
1.Brysen Kachel LB 24′ West Albany
2. Wyatt Wessel Wyatt Wessel 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Lebanon | 2024 State OR LB 24′ Lebanon
3. Hayden George Hayden George 6'4" | 235 lbs | TE Lebanon | 2024 State OR LB 24′ Lebanon
4. Xavier Orozco Xavier Orozco 6'0" | 220 lbs | DL Silverton | 2024 State OR DL 24′ Silverton
5. DeShawn Gilliam DeShawn Gilliam 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB South Albany | 2024 State OR DB 24′ South Albany
6. Cohen Mulick Cohen Mulick 6'0" | 165 lbs | ATH Silverton | 2024 OR DB 24′ Silverton
7. Steven Ward Steven Ward 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB Dallas | 2024 State OR DL 24′ Dallas
8. Truman Brasfield Truman Brasfield 6'2" | 170 lbs | WR Corvallis | 2025 State OR DB 25′ Corvallis
POY Candidates: The returning MWC Defensive POY Brysen Kachel will be the favorite to win the award again. I see the 6-3 225-pound LB/TE having a big off season and landing a handful of division 1 offers.
Look for Lebanon to improve on their (4-4) record from a season ago, with Wyatt Wessel Wyatt Wessel 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Lebanon | 2024 State OR and future D1 athlete Hayden George Hayden George 6'4" | 235 lbs | TE Lebanon | 2024 State OR leading the D. Wessel will make a nice jump on the rankings board once updated. The 6-3 LB is athletic and will play opposite George as you expect universities to be aware of the talented combo.
Xavier Orozco Xavier Orozco 6'0" | 220 lbs | DL Silverton | 2024 State OR had one of the best seasons of any player in Oregon at the 5A level, being named the lineman of the year in the Mid-Willamette Conference. Depending on how Silverton performs, the undersized DE has the potential of being the overall DPOY.
As noted offensively, DeShawn Gilliam DeShawn Gilliam 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB South Albany | 2024 State OR is one of the most versatile athletes in the state at the 5A level. He returns after earning 1st team honors on D, while also being recognized as one of the top return men in Oregon.
Cohen Mulick Cohen Mulick 6'0" | 165 lbs | ATH Silverton | 2024 OR had an outstanding season offensively, averaging 17.1 yards per catch, with 38 receptions and 5 TDs. That said as he could be one of the INT leaders statewide and definitely a conference POY candidate defensively.
The Dallas Dragons have quietly been one of 5As best teams due to individuals like Steven Ward Steven Ward 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB Dallas | 2024 State OR . The 6-0 220-pound DE had a great junior season earning 1st team all-conference honors.
Last but not least you have to look at Corvallis’ Truman Brasfield Truman Brasfield 6'2" | 170 lbs | WR Corvallis | 2025 State OR . The current 6-2 165 athlete was a 2nd team all MWC selection last year on O, but could very well project on defense, where he earned honorable mention all-conference accolades. The sky’s the limit for the current sophomore.
OTHERS TO WATCH: 5-8 170-pound LB Brody Sullivan Brody Sullivan 5'8" | 175 lbs | DL Silverton | 2024 OR is a kid who could thrive for the Foxes, especially if they win the MWC title and make a run come playoff time. LB Mateo Womack will project as one of the top defensive players in the conference. Both him and Sullivan were 2nd team all-league selections a season ago.
Another kid who will make a nice jump on the rankings board is Andrew Eames Andrew Eames 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Central | 2024 State OR of Central. The 6-2 170-pound DB had an impressive season, with 57 total tackles, 3 INTs, and 3 PBU’s. The Panthers graduate a ton of talent after going 7-3 last season. Eames will be called upon to step up after racking up 2nd team all MWC honors in 2022.
You will also want to keep tabs on 6-2 210-pound LB Dominic Sobota Dominic Sobota 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Dallas | 2024 State OR out of Dallas. Both him and Steven Ward Steven Ward 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB Dallas | 2024 State OR will need to play out of their minds next season if they want to compete for a MWC title.