Five Defensive Players Full Of Potential Heading Into The Fall

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talent that the state of Indiana has brewing is so intriguing. Every class is loaded with athletes who can make a difference on both sides of the ball. Today, I'll be featuring five guys who have shown incredible potential up to this point and have so much room to grow on the defensive side of the ball going forward. These athletes are guys that are must-watches heading into the 2023 campaign and beyond. </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":"Mariyon Dye","_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":"6'5u0022","_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":"Elkhart","_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":"Measuring at 6'5u0022, Mariyon Dye is a physical freak of nature. On the edge, there aren't many opponents that he faces that can match his length and physicality. He will routinely beat his blocker to the punch and physically dominate them from there on out. Dye is quick to the backfield and if he catches the ball carrier within reach, his 7'1u0022 wingspan will wrap them up and not let them go anywhere except to the ground. His arsenal of moves is fairly small as of right now but I don't have any doubt that Dye is athletic enough to grow it for success as he continues to develop. This fall, he'll only playing in his junior season so he has plenty of room to grow as he gets older. Dye has the athletic makeup to be successful and it will be fun to follow as he develops over the next few years. The potential is astronomical.rnrnTwitter: @MariyonDye","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["541858"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='541858' first='Brock' last='Thompson'] found great success in 2022 where he received Class 4A First Team All-State honors and his Northridge Raiders brought home a sectional title. From a statistical standpoint, Thompson filled up the stat sheet, recording 98 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks. When you flip on his tape, you see a guy that has a nose for the ball and will lay down the hammer on opposing ball carriers. Thompson is quick to the backfield and demonstrates solid play recognition. I like his ability to maintain speed and balance as he adjusts to the play and that led to his 15 tackles for loss a season ago. He knows how to create chaos and it benefits the rest of the defense. Oftentimes, Thompson is involved in a play where he isn't receiving a mark in the scorebook. That's how much of a difference maker he is.rnrnTwitter: @BrockThom10","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["542029"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"In 2022, [player_tooltip player_id='542029' first='Ashton' last='Pesetski'] established himself as one of the premier players in the Fort Wayne area and in the entire state of Indiana, as he was named to the Top 50 Indiana All-State Team by the IFCA. He was a key factor on a defense that found themselves in the 6A State Title game, eventually falling to Center Grove in the final. Pesetski totaled 95 tackles with 21 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks. He was a constant in opposing backfields all season long. Pesetski is so exciting to watch. He plays the game at lightning speed, yet completely under control. He is extremely quick which places quarterbacks under pressure as soon as the ball is snapped. I love his motor, as well. You won't see Pesetski give up on any play and there were many instances where that drive made a huge impact on the result of the play. Entering into his senior season, Pesetski is one of the most entertaining defensive players to watch in all of Northeast Indiana. If last season was any indication, 2023 could be a huge year for Pesetski.rnrnTwitter: @ashtonpesetski","_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":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1002374' first='Max' last='Phenicie']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Zionsville","_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":"I really like what [player_tooltip player_id='1002374' first='Max' last='Phenicie'] brings to the table for the Zionsville Eagles. He's an athletic and lengthy safety that plays the position well. In coverage, his play and route recognition is astounding. He has shown that he can play the receiver and the ball before the pass has reached him. He'll be a junior this season yet when he plays, you would think he has much more experience. It looks natural to him. Phenicie is a tough player and he's not afraid to step up in run support. His game is truly multifaceted and he'll be a close watch as he enters the second half of his high school career. The sky is the limit for [player_tooltip player_id='1002374' first='Max' last='Phenicie'].rnrnTwitter: @PhenicieMax","_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":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Mason Keifer","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Brownsburg","_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":"Out of Brownsburg, Mason Keifer is a dominant force on the Bulldog defensive line. He plays with so much grit and toughness that it's not a surprise when you see him blow up an opposing offensive lineman. Keifer is incredibly strong and with one push, he can force his blocker onto their heels where it's game over from there. He can break through double teams and find his way to the ball. In 2022, Keifer produced 60 total tackles, five tackles for loss, and four sacks. Like a few others on this list, Keifer is a 2025 guy and seeing how he has produced early in his career is intriguing. He has so much room to grow and if he fills those shoes, we'll be looking at an incredible defensive lineman making an instant impact wherever he takes his talent next.rnrnTwitter: @mason_keifer","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6483c91263dcb"} /-->