’23 Preseason Super 7 – Class 4A Defensive Backs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-5a-defensive-backs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 5A DBs</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>___</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-quarterbacks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 QBs</a>&nbsp;(scroll down in link for all classes)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-running-backs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 RBs</a>&nbsp;(scroll down)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-receivers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 WRs (</a>scroll)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-a-tight-ends/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 TEs (scroll</a>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-class-a-offensive-linemen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 OL (scroll</a>)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-defensive-linemen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 DL (scroll)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-linebackers/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 LB</a>&nbsp;(scroll)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IOWA CITY, Iowa – </strong>Believe it or not, high school football practice officially kicks off one week from today. The first games are less than a month away.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To help prepare us, we're listing seven top players returning at each position in all seven classes. You can read about the positions we've covered at the links above.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're digging in on defense. Here are the Class 4A defensive backs:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='247963' first='Reed' last='Pfaltzgraff'], '24, Bondurant-Farrar - </strong>At 6-4, 165 pounds, it's fair to call Pfaltzgraff rangy. It serves him well, as you can see during his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14781576/6356ad7e3deb72050ce24abc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlight reel</a></strong>. The package starts off with clips on offense, where he had 692 yards and nine touchdowns receiving. On defense, he intercepted four passes. He returned punts and handled place-kicking duties. The IPSWA named him to its first-team all-state secondary for 4A. He's fluid and benefits from long arms playing cornerback in the clips we see. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248038' first='Curtis' last='Witte'], '24, Lewis Central - </strong>Like Pfaltzgraff, Witte (6-1, 175) stands out on both sides of the ball and earned IPSWA first-team all-state honors as a defensive back. He picked off a 4A-best eight passes to go with 998 yards and 13 TDs receiving. He produced 23 solo tackles and averaged 15.8 yards on 16 punt returns. His <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14746349/637c49938cd42211f8ee956b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> feature a lot of clips of him playing offense, which he does very well. His instincts returning punts also stand out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nate Lampe, '24, Newton - </strong>Lampe (5-10, 150) landed on the IPSWA's all-state second-team as a defensive back after a '22 that saw him excel in all three phases as a receiver, safety and kicker. He intercepted six passes with 26.0 tackles (24 solo, 1.5 for loss). He backpedals well and breaks quickly on the ball as he shows during his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15843975/63e28c93ff0c8a02602b518e" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlight reel</a></strong>. He diagnoses plays well from the backend, putting him into position to make plays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320880' first='Brock' last='Carpenter'], '24, Western Dubuque - </strong>In '22, Carpenter (6-0, 180) contributed significantly as a receiver and a defensive back. When watching his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14804162/63ebae7c3864cb0f10c0ca38" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong>, the first clip shows off his coverage skills with him breaking nicely on a ball for an interception. The second clip proves he can lay out a ball carrier while supporting the run. A few clips later, we see him sack the quarterback off of a blitz. He picked off three passes last fall with 25 solo tackles and a pair of sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kade White, '24, Winterset -</strong> White (6-3, 190) begins his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14910902/648fe753968078108c9b159a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlight package</a></strong> split out wide on offense, where he delivers a pair of acrobatic receptions, one of which was a touchdown. His clips on defense show us a guy who works well at deep safety, reading and reacting. It helps put him in a good position to make plays on the ball. He closes well. He intercepted three passes last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='247961' first='Kaiden' last='Griffith'], '24, Marion - </strong>Like Carpenter and White, Griffith (6-1, 180) picked off three passes as a junior in '22. On his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14621974/63cec5935eed8d0bf469e1d5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">11th-grade highlights</a></strong>, he kicks off with clips showing him thriving as a receiver, where he averaged 19.3 yards on 16 receptions. The final play on the reel reveals him dropping into coverage and intercepting a pass. He averaged 19.2 yards on 13 punt returns last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='248042' first='Darian' last='Davis'], '24, Mason City - </strong>Davis (6-1, 170) shined as a junior last fall with 38 of his 45.5 total tackles being of the solo variety. He was credited with 5.0 tackles for loss, intercepted a pass and returned a kick 75 yards for a touchdown. We can see while watching his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14820301/635bb1d1d21ad21718d9ef68" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> a defensive back capable of thriving in coverage or in stopping the run. He hits hard and breaks well on the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->