Ohio Preseason Spotlight: Jefferson County (Defense)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we reach the four-month window until the 2023 football season begins, we will spotlight some of Ohio's prospects to watch for this season. Today we will focus on Jefferson County in Mid-East Ohio. Here are some prospects you need to keep an eye on for the offensive side of the ball in Jefferson County for the 2023 season.</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":805542,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Andy Silverthorn","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'6u0022","_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":"Toronto","_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":"u003cspan data-preserver-spaces=u0022trueu0022u003eThe upside for 2025 DL Andy Silverthorn of Toronto High School is off the charts. He is a legit 6'5-6'6 250 pounds and just a rising junior. His frame can hold a lot of weight and at his size, he moves as if he was 6'2 220. To black that claim up, here's his u003c/spanu003eu003ca class=u0022editor-rtfLinku0022 href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13403992/631e745bf55fbe09a4247e7du0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eu003cspan data-preserver-spaces=u0022trueu0022u003esophomore filmu003c/spanu003eu003c/au003eu003cspan data-preserver-spaces=u0022trueu0022u003e where he sees time at middle linebacker and you can see the athleticism jump off the screen. Ultimately, he will end up with his hand in the dirt as he continues to grow which he also has film of too. Depending on how he develops and grows, Silverthorn could play any position on the defensive line in college. He still needs to pack on good weight on his long frame and use his size to his advantage but he will undoubtedly end up at a Division 1 school when the 2025 signing day comes around. Silverthorn is already garnering D1 interest and could easily see him ending up at a P5 school. u003c/spanu003ernrnu003cspan data-preserver-spaces=u0022trueu0022u003eThe sky is the limit for the 2025 defensive lineman and a very intriguing prospect to keep an eye on his next two years of high school.u003c/spanu003ernrnu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/13403992/Andy-Silverthornu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e | u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/AndySilverthornu0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e","_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":805569,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Javin Harper","_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":"6'2u0022","_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":"Steubenville","_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":"Staying with the DL position, another talented name to know is 2024 Steubenville Big Red DL Javin Harper. Harper has above-average size at 6'2 280 and is a very physical player in the interior of the defensive line. You can tell his wrestling background really aids his play as a defensive lineman and often overpowers opposing offensive linemen to make plays at the line of scrimmage and in the backfield. Harper is very strong and has good feet which you don't always see with interior linemen. He also shows a good first step and quick burst off the ball while also using his hands well. His combination of power and athleticism makes him one of the most dangerous interior linemen in the region.rnrnu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/17039682/Javin-Harperu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e | u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/javinharper73u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e","_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":805603,"_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Joey Simpson","_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":"6'0u0022","_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":"Edison (Richmond)","_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":"The last but certainly not least defensive lineman to know in Jefferson County is 2024 Edison High School's Joey Simpson. While he's the smallest of the three defensive linemen we are highlighting today at 6'0 260, he may be the strongest. If you follow Simpson on Twitter you'll often see him posting videos of him putting up impressive numbers in the weight-room and that strength definitely translates to the football field. He often manhandles the guy across from him and sometimes even more than one at a time. You can see right away why teams try to double him and a lot of times not even two guys can push him off the line of scrimmage. While you wouldn't consider him a pure pass rusher, Simpson can very effectively demand double teams and open holes for his linebackers. He is also effective at holding his ground and making tackles at the line of scrimmage for no gains.rnrnu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/14476910/Joey-Simpsonu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e | u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/JoeySimpson52u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e","_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":805665,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Seth Thomas","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Toronto","_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":"Making another stop at Toronto High School with our linebacker name to know is 2024 LB Seth Thomas. Thomas is a physical specimen at 6'3 235 and a very strong athlete. He was a two-way starter for his Red Knight last season at both OL and LB. While his athleticism isn't the highest, it's adequate enough to get downhill and hit the gaps hard. His best position may be on the end of the defensive line at the next and as he continues to grow. Thomas does a nice job of shedding blockers to make the tackle. His strength really shows on his tackles and does a nice job wrapping up and throwing opposing players to the ground. Once he gets his hands on you it's tough to get away. He also more than held his own on the offensive line which lends to his physical strength.rnrnu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/14040553/Seth-Thomasu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e | u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/SethThomas53u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e","_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":805696,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Alex McDiffitt","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Buckeye Local","_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":"The Buckeye Local Panthers make an appearance on the defensive side of the ball with 2025 DB Alex McDiffitt. While he's not the biggest at 5'10 155 he makes up for it with his athleticism and fundamentals. He has good hips and does a nice job of turning his head to defend passes. McDiffitt also shows he has the speed to make up ground and closes on opposing players well. Another trait that shows on tape is his high football I.Q. He's a very advanced player for his age in terms of what to do and where to go with his assignments and reading and reacting. He also gets touches in the return game and at receiver and is dangerous with the ball in his hands. McDiffitt is often found on an island in man coverage at his cornerback spot and does a nice job taking away one side of the field.rnrnu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/15826023/Alex-McDiffittu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e | u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/amcdiffitt06u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-644c29820027a"} /-->