All-2024 Un-Offered Team | Defense
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Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: OscarGalindo30 in the coupon code area. We are very close to the start of the season, and as I’m looking at the 2024 class, I couldn’t help but notice that there are still…
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We are very close to the start of the season, and as I’m looking at the 2024 class, I couldn’t help but notice that there are still some big names sitting without an offer.
So I decided to highlight the top prospects at each position that are still “Un-Offered” up until this point. Here I have the All-Class of 2024 Un-Offered team, featuring the best players still holding out on offer #1. There is a lot of talent in this group, but for whatever reason, they have yet to get on the board. Several gems and steals in this group!
Here is the C/O 2024 All-Unoffered Team Defense! Keep an eye out for our All-Unoffered Team ATHs… the guys that are too versatile to stick to one position or side of the ball.
DL:
S’marious Henderson S’marious Henderson 6'3" | 295 lbs | DL Omaha North | 2024 State NE | Omaha North | 6’3″ 295 lbs
S’Marious is a player that I believe has the tools to be a run-stuffing ace at the next level. S’Marious is a tall, strong defensive tackle that has shown the ability to be a valuable two-gap defender on the interior DL. He does a great job extending at the snap with a ton of power behind it to drive blockers off their spot. I don’t think S’Marious gets the credit he should for some of the dirty work he does on the DL, holding off double teams and eating space, allowing for his teammates to make plays. I think this is the season S’Marious puts it all together and makes a splash on the recruiting circuit.
Clay Hedges Clay Hedges 6'3" | 215 lbs | DL Archbishop Bergan | 2024 State NE | Archbishop Bergan | 6’4″ 240 lbs
Clay is an impressive athlete with tons of next-level potential at both OL and DL. I chose Clay for his defensive play where he flashed big time as a junior with 60 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, two sacks, and a fumble recovery. Clay is a taller, leaner defensive end with great mobility, flexibility, and explosiveness. He has great pursuit and always finds his way near the ball. Whether he’s on defense or offense, you know he’s going to bring a mean streak and be physical from start to finish. He’s a hard-hitter, but still uses solid technique to bring down his opponent, using his long arm to wrap up. Versatile rush approach— he can use speed or flat-out bully his way into the backfield.
Ryker Goettsche Ryker Goettsche 6'2" | 230 lbs | DL St. Paul | 2024 State NE | St. Paul | 6’2″ 235 lbs
Surprisingly overlooked after a productive junior season. St. Paul’s Ryker Goettsche Ryker Goettsche 6'2" | 230 lbs | DL St. Paul | 2024 State NE was a major bright spot, in an unusual down year for the Wildcats, racking up 67 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks, and a pass defense. Ryker is a well-rounded defensive end that can defend the run and rush the passer very well. He does a great job defending the edge and funneling outside runs back inside while staying locked onto the ball. Ryker definitely looks like he could continue adding onto his frame to get closer to that desired college DE size while still maintaining his quickness. Goettsche is a sound tackler when he gets to the ball.
Tyree Smith Jr Tyree Smith Jr 6'0" | 255 lbs | DL Cozad | 2024 State NE | Cozad | 6’0″ 255 lbs
Tyree has been on a tear this offseason with a string of impressive camp performances. Tyree had a strong junior campaign in which he recorded 32 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, and two forced fumbles. Smith has a compact, strong frame that allows him to move blockers at will. He has an explosive first step and uses a variety of moves to slip past defenders, including a mix of speed and power moves. Tyree uses his hands very well to disengage from blocks. Great lateral explosiveness, he can get downhill quickly, and will also chase a back 10-15 yards downfield. I also like Tyree at OL, where he is consistent with his footwork and technique.
Caleb Daniell Caleb Daniell 5'10" | 240 lbs | DL Yutan | 2024 State NE | Yutan | 5’10” 240 lbs
Class C1/2 SHOWS out on the defensive line! Yutan’s Caleb Daniell Caleb Daniell 5'10" | 240 lbs | DL Yutan | 2024 State NE is another small-school DL prospect that could be very effective at the next level. As a junior, Caleb recorded 45 tackles, ten TFLs, and six sacks, showing off his big play ability. Daniell plays like his hair is on fire and with a tireless pursuit of the ball. He has experience at the 1, 3, and 4 techniques (at least that’s all I saw on tape) and has the versatility to play in a stand-up role at the line of scrimmage. Caleb’s quickness stood out to me as he has a quick get-off and can turn that speed into power when he shoots his hands. Daniell has surprisingly good bend and consistently holds his pad level low. He is very underrated when it comes to getting in the backfield and making big plays behind the LOS.
LB:
Kevon Newsome Kevon Newsome 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Omaha Central | 2024 State NE | Omaha Central | 6’1″ 215 lbs
This one is a mystery to me. Kevon ended his junior season as the Class A leader in tackles with 130 total tackles, ten tackles for loss, three sacks, and three interceptions. Newsome has great range both going downhill and when getting depth in coverage. He’s very instinctive and breaks on the ball very well with closing speed to get to his target quickly. Newsome is a terrific run defender that plays his gaps very well and is a sure tackler when he gets to the ball carrier. Next-level LB size at 6’1″ and 215 pounds with lengthy arms. Kevon capped off his great junior year with a 1st team All-Metro and All-State honorable mention.
Nolan Venner Nolan Venner 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Omaha North | 2024 State NE | Omaha North | 6’0″ 205 lbs
Nolan made a splash in his first season with the North Vikings. Playing middle linebacker, Nolan finished his junior year with 54 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and two fumble recoveries. Nolan is a super smart LB that reads his keys very well and anticipates what offenses are going to do. Great pre-snap communicator- he does a good job relaying what he sees from the offense. Venner is quick to drop back when he reads pass and can cover a good chunk of field with his range. He’s very physical when he gets to his target and makes sure to make his presence known with some hard hits. Nolan makes sure to get the job done on and off the field with a reported 4.35 GPA and an impressive 31 ACT score.
Clay Shafer Clay Shafer 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Roncalli Catholic | 2024 State NE | Roncalli Catholic | 6’0″ 225 lbs
A thumper of a middle linebacker! Clay Shafer Clay Shafer 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Roncalli Catholic | 2024 State NE is ready to help lead what should be a tough Roncalli Catholic defense. Shafer concluded his junior season with 90 tackles and nine tackles for loss. He has solid linebacker size at 6’0″ and 225 pounds with great downhill explosiveness. He’s a very strong player that can blow past block attempts to make plays in the backfield. Clay does a great job flowing to the ball while managing to stay free from blockers until he shoots his gap. Sound tackler in open space. Clayton earned All-District and Class C1 All-State honorable mention honors.
Brecken Erickson Brecken Erickson 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB North Platte St. Patrick | 2024 State NE | North Platte St. Pats. | 6’3″ 210 lbs
Brecken is an interesting prospect that could play linebacker, edge rusher, or defensive line at the next level. I believe he would be an absolute terror as an outside linebacker/edge rusher where he can use his length and explosive get-off to terrorize QBs. Brecken is very quick off the line with nice bend when coming around the edge. Very disruptive player that can wreck a game in a flash. I couldn’t find Brecken’s stat totals from last season, but I believe he had 20+ tackles for loss and easily reached double-digit sacks. Erickson also showed that he can play off-ball with some impressive reps in coverage, even snagging a few interceptions along the way. Massive ceiling and surprisingly still un-offered.
Cord Symons Cord Symons 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Scottsbluff | 2024 State NE | Scottsbluff | 6’0″ 195 lbs
Depth at LB led to Cord playing out of position on the defensive line for a good chunk of the season. Even so, he still did great in the trenches and ended the season with 63 tackles, seven TFLs, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. When you watch Cord, you see a player with a crazy motor and tireless pursuit. He has a quick get-off and does a great job exploding through his extension to make impactful initial contact. Powerful leg drive to move blockers off their spots and penetrate the backfield. Active hands help him break away from blocks. I’m not sure if he’ll be back to middle linebacker this season, but I believe that’s where he projects best at the next level.
DB:
DJ Sterling DJ Sterling 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH Omaha Central | 2024 State NE | Omaha Central | 6’0″ 170 lbs
DJ is a possible two-way selection for this team with his talents at receiver, but he will be focusing more on the defensive side of the ball in 2023. Sterling is a great cover corner that embraces being physical and playing press coverage. He uses his lengthy arms very well to jam receivers immediately at the line. Sterling then has the eye discipline, footwork, and smoothness in coverage to keep up with receivers step-for-step. Great ball skills when the ball is in the air- Sterling doesn’t hesitate to go up and contest the catch. He’s a smart player, too, using his receiver knowledge to predict what his opponent and the offense are trying to do.
Delunn Jones Delunn Jones 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Millard South | 2024 State NE | Millard South | 5’11” 175 lbs
One of the biggest risers this offseason! Millard South cornerback Delunn Jones Delunn Jones 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Millard South | 2024 State NE experienced a great junior season as he broke into the varsity ranks for the Patriots. Since then, Jones has only continued to sharpen his skills and looks primed to have a monster senior year. Bulked up now, Delunn is a lot more physical with receivers and will battle for contested balls. Jones is fluid with his change of direction and with quick footwork and solid closing speed. He’s displayed great eye discipline and can time his hands very well not to draw the PI. Looking forward to seeing what Delunn has in store for his senior season.
Adin Carrera Adin Carrera 5'9" | 170 lbs | DB Bellevue East | 2024 State NE | Bellevue East | 5’9″ 170 lbs
I’m sure the Chieftains are excited about having Adin back for a full season after missing some time due to injury. Despite missing time, Adin still managed to have an impact on the team with 27 tackles, a pick-six, and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. My biggest takeaway from Adin’s game is his physicality and tenacity in coverage. Even as a “smaller” corner, he does a great job engaging in hand fighting and can disrupt a receiver’s route timing. Adin will also use his hands to break up the ball when it’s in the air. Good footwork and loose hips help him stay on the receiver’s hips in coverage.
Alex Runge Alex Runge 5'10" | 185 lbs | DB Gretna | 2024 State NE | Gretna | 5’10” 190 lbs
Straight up playmaker! Alex played a key role in the Dragon’s stifling defense from last season. Holding down the free safety spot, Alex racked up 39 tackles, seven PBUs, four interceptions, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown en route to helping Gretna reach the state championship game. Runge is a very disciplined defender that executes his job at a high level. If he’s in coverage, he does an excellent job reading the QB and making sure nothing gets behind the defense. Quick to break on the ball, great hand use, and can change direction seamlessly. Alex will also step up to make tackles in the box or sniff out and stop screens to the outside. One thing that may go unnoticed about Alex’s game is his efforts on special teams as well; he’s quick to get downfield to minimize any chances of a return and is a willing blocker when he’s on the receiving team. Well-coached, team-first mindset player that would be a steal!
Jon Ferguson | Millard West | 5’9″ 185 lbs
An underlooked member of a great Wildcat secondary from last season. Jon Ferguson is a scrappy player that can do it all from the free safety position, and it shows on his stat sheet with 80 tackles, eight PBUs, and two blocked kicks. He is a very willing tackler that won’t hesitate to step up into the box to defend the run. He does very well in coverage and can flow from sideline to sideline. Jon does a great job getting his hands up to bat away passes and can jar balls loose to force an incompletion. Picks up receivers with ease and can change direction on a dime. Reported a 4.5 40 yard time, a 10’4″ broad jump, and 39.7″ vertical- displaying his explosiveness and overall athleticism.
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