Midwestern League 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 #1-4 1.Hayden Weaver DL 24′ Eagle Point 2.Ceville…
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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 #1-4
1.Hayden Weaver DL 24′ Eagle Point
2.Ceville Pasi DL 25′ Churchill
3. Connor Dye Connor Dye 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Springfield | 2024 State OR SS 24′ Springfield
4. Jackson L Babbitt Jackson L Babbitt 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Springfield | 2024 State OR DB 24′ Springfield
5.Ronan Schmidt LB 24′ South Eugene
DEFENSE
POY CANDIDATES: Playing down South 6-3 220 pound DE Hayden Weaver 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 Ceville Pasi of Churchill HS. Pasi earned 1st team all league honors, making 62 total tackles, with 11 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks on the year.
Springfield standouts Connor Dye Connor Dye 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Springfield | 2024 State OR and Jackson L Babbitt Jackson L Babbitt 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Springfield | 2024 State OR will be in the POY conversation, with Babbitt earning 1st 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.
Players to Watch: 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 1st team all-conference honors last season, with fellow DB Caleb Phillips Caleb Phillips 6'0" | 165 lbs | DB Thurston | 2024 State OR having an outstanding junior year and earning 2nd team all-conference accolades.
Separate from Doreen and Phillips, Luke Newell Luke Newell 6'2" | 200 lbs | ATH Thurston | 2024 State OR and Ethan Burkhead Ethan Burkhead 5'11" | 160 lbs | ATH Thurston | 2024 State OR 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.
Junior athlete Brady Bidwell and fellow DB Andy Womack will be one of the best 5A secondary combos in the state for Churchill. Both earned all-conference honors last season. Teammate Isaiah Meashintubby returns after earning 2nd team all-league accolades from his DL spot and will also be one of the top defenders in the conference.
Two other D lineman to note include 6-5 260-pound Nate Williams Nate Williams 6'5" | 265 lbs | OL Springfield | 2024 State OR 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 2nd team all-conference returner Cooper Birns would be the other individual to watch, finishing among the MWL leaders in tackles for loss.
Lastly, as noted on Offense Ronan Schmidt returns after earning 1st team all MWL honors on D. A super impressive feat considering South Eugene’s 1-8 record.