5 SIAC 2024 Defensive Players To Lookout For This Year

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Southern Indiana Athletic Conference seems to get overlooked every year. The talent is there in the Evansville area and it shows. Every year, at least one team from the SIAC plays on Thanksgiving weekend. When you turn on the film from the conference, you will see guys flying around and making plays. I like what I see from the trenches in the 2024 class on defense and my top five reflects that. These five prospects raised their stock last year with great defensive performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Levi Oxley","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"FJ Reitz","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Levi Oxley had an impressive 2022 season with 59 total tackles and 15 sacks on the year. This earned him 1st Team All-Conference Honors and IFCA 4A Junior All-State Honors. Levi has the tools coaches love to be an effective pass rusher at the next level. He takes advantage of inexperienced players on the edge. I love the way he plays the position! He is explosive off the edge and stays active throughout the play. The way he plays the position puts fear into the minds of offensive line coaches. Levi will have another great year dominating in the trenches this year. Levi is just one piece to a dominating Reitz defensive line coming back this fall.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Kaleb Harris","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Evansville North","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Kaleb Harris is another great edge rusher in the SIAC. Kaleb had 39 total tackles, and 6 sacks on the year, earning him 1st Team All-Conference Honors. His athleticism, high motor, and wingspan is what stands out the most when you watch his film. His arms stand out when he is knocking down passes and disrupting throwing lanes. His speed on the edge is the best I've seen from this class in the SIAC. Kaleb is going to be another fun player to watch this year in the trenches. Look out for Kaleb Harris to create some buzz around the D-Line group at summer camps.","_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":"Jayden Hazelwood","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Evansville North","_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":"Evansville North has a good D-Line coming back next year. The stud in the middle is Jayden Hazelwood. Jayden earned 1st Team All-Conference Honors last fall. Jayden currently holds offers from Army, Eastern Kentucky, and Miami (OH). He is a LOAD to handle up front. Jayden is an athletic big guy that brings a powerful punch. Jayden is a two-way player and also tears it up on the offensive line. I like how active he is up front and how he uses his brute force to his advantage. Jayden has a bright future at the next level and is going to have another great year in the trenches.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["522861"],"_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":"Turn on [player_tooltip player_id='522861' first='Landon' last='Holder']'s film and you will see a defensive stud flying around to the football. Landon had 28 solos, 47 assists, and 75 total tackles on the year. Landon's defensive efforts helped Castle to semi-state showdown with Whiteland last fall. Landon is running around sideline to sideline looking to make a game changing play with his physicality. I love how quickly he closes the distance between him and the ball and does so with great technique. The ball comes out and Landon is already there bringing down his opponent. He is good at fighting off blocks on the perimeter and making plays. Landon does not give you the chance to use him as a u0022blockingu0022 highlight clip. He also has the ability to hawk down his opponents and make touchdown saving tackles. Look out for Landon to emerge as a key leader for the Castle Knights this fall.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["314039"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='314039' first='Calab' last='Utley'] is another vital piece to the FJ Reitz defense and is a warrior in the trenches. Calab had 60 tackles, 15 sacks on the year, earning him 2nd Team All-Conference and IFCA 4A Junior All-State. He has a big, powerful frame that he uses to his advantage. I see Calab more as an inside guy at the next level based on his size. Calab is disruptive in the backfield and has good technique to get him there. Expect Calab to make huge gains once he steps foot in a college weight room. I predict Calab to have a huge senior season. He is taking his offseason training to another level and putting in the work to build on his career and take himself to the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644d38af5ccee"} /-->