Midwestern League POY Candidates + Others to Watch (DEFENSE)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Referenced below are next season's POY candidates on the defensive side of the ball</strong>. <strong>Please note that Player of the Year projections are NOT necessarily a reflection of an individual's recruitment.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POY Candidates #1-4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1.<strong>Hayden Weaver</strong> DL 24' Eagle Point</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2.<strong>Ceville Pasi </strong>DL 25' Churchill </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3.[player_tooltip player_id='206867' first='Connor' last='Dye'] SS 24' Springfield&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4.[player_tooltip player_id='153309' first='Jackson' last='L Babbitt'] DB 24' Springfield&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5.<strong>Ronan Schmidt </strong>LB 24' South Eugene</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DEFENSE </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>POY CANDIDATES:</strong> Playing down South 6-3 220 pound DE <strong>Hayden Weaver</strong> of Eagle Point doesn't necessarily get the attention others do, but he is deserving of the recognition. Expect him to be a conference POY favorite along with current sophomore D lineman<strong> Ceville Pasi</strong> of Churchill HS. Pasi earned 1^st team all league honors, making 62 total tackles, with 11 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks on the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Springfield standouts [player_tooltip player_id='206867' first='Connor' last='Dye'] and [player_tooltip player_id='153309' first='Jackson' last='L Babbitt'] will be in the POY conversation, with Babbitt earning 1^st&nbsp;team accolades and finishing with 4 INTs in 2022. Dye could potentially be the conference player of the year on both sides of the football. He's better known for his offensive ability, but might project on D at the next level, finishing last year with 33 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch:&nbsp;</strong>Thurston will once again be favored to win the league, so expect multiple athletes to be in the hunt for POY accolades. 5-7 155-pound CB Lombel Doreen earned 1^st&nbsp;team all-conference honors last season, with fellow DB&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1094109' first='Caleb' last='Phillips']</strong>&nbsp;having an outstanding junior year and earning 2^nd&nbsp;team all-conference accolades.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Separate from Doreen and Phillips, [player_tooltip player_id='209500' first='Luke' last='Newell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='152362' first='Ethan' last='Burkhead'] both have the potential to be two of the top defensive players in the conference. Newell will be a primary weapon on O, so it will be interesting to see how much time he gets on D. He made 23 total tackles with 3 tackles for loss last season. When healthy Burkhead is one of the fastest and best players around. We will see how that works out.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior athlete&nbsp;<strong>Brady Bidwell&nbsp;</strong>and fellow DB&nbsp;<strong>Andy Womack</strong>&nbsp;will be one of the best 5A secondary combos in the state for Churchill. Both earned all-conference honors last season. Teammate&nbsp;<strong>Isaiah Meashintubby</strong>&nbsp;returns after earning 2^nd&nbsp;team all-league accolades from his DL spot and will also be one of the top defenders in the conference.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two other D lineman to note include 6-5 260-pound [player_tooltip player_id='206868' first='Nate' last='Williams'] of Springfield who we've already spoken on. While projecting on offense, he moves incredibly well for a big man, accounting for 19 total tackles and 8 tackles for loss last season. North Eugene's 2^nd team all-conference returner <strong>Cooper Birns</strong> would be the other individual to watch, finishing among the MWL leaders in tackles for loss. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lastly, as noted on Offense&nbsp;<strong>Ronan Schmidt</strong>&nbsp;returns after earning 1^st&nbsp;team all MWL honors on D. A super impressive feat considering South Eugene's 1-8 record.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->