Defensive Standouts: Week 3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each of these defenders made big plays for their teams in week three. Whether it was a clutch tackle or a big turnover, each of these players contributed in a big way to their team's success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Riggin Hamblin || DL || 6'1 || 200 || Syracuse High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Easton Adamson || DL || 6'3 || 245 || Brighton High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dalyn Ellison || DL || 6'3 || 248 || Herriman High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='478695' first='Brock' last='Thrall'] || DL || 6'0 || 255 || Viewmount High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284204' first='Viliami' last='Moala'] || DT || 6'3 || 310 || Davis High School || 2026 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hamblin constantly applied pressure and stopped the run against Herriman, where he finished with eight tackles and a sack. Adamson ravaged Riverton with 1.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles in a dominant performance. Ellison battled against the Titans all game long and made plays between the tackles and in open space. Thrall was a force to be reckoned with against Taylorsville, with 2.5 sacks and nine tackles. Moala is one of the state's top interior defensive linemen and shut down the Clearfield offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linebackers </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marriner Richards || LB || 5'11 || 210 || Syracuse High School || 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='532683' first='Brigham' last='Morrison'] || LB || 190 || 6'0 || Bountiful High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jackson Buehler || LB || 6'0 || 185 || Corner Canyon High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ryan Talo || LB || 6'1 || 210 || Kearns High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tagun Whitehead || 5'9 || 195 || Snow Canyon High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richards was sensational against Herriman, where he stuffed the state sheet with seven tackles, one sack, one interception, and two defensive touchdowns. Morrison had a monster performance against 12 tackles Olympus and was flying around the field making plays. Buehler had been sharp for the Charger all year and registered six tackles in Corner Canyons' win against Lone Peak. Talo helped the Cougars get an upset on the road, where he recorded eight tackles and 2.5 sacks to help Kearns beat Northridge. Whitehead had 13 tackles vs. Green Valley to help slow down the Gator's offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Backs </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='532694' first='Faletau' last='Satuala'] || DB || 6'3 || 195 || Bountiful High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1552242' first='Carter' last='Buchanan'] || DB || 6'2 || 175 || Box Elder High School || 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='718012' first='Hugh' last='Matsumori'] || DB || 5'10 || 160 || Olympus High School || 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Will Gunther || DB || 5'11 || 170 || Spanish Fork High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacob Prescott || DB || 6'1 || 190 || Herriman High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Satuala is our top-rated defensive back and showed why against Olympus; he had three tackles and an interception while rarely being targeted. Buchanan had excellent hips and quick feet that helped him take the ball away through the air. Mastumori helped the Titans beat Bountiful by picking off a pass and making plays all game long. Gunther led Spanish Fork in tackles in their big win against Orem and had one interception. Prescott was a physical presence on the outside for the Mustangs against Syracuse, where he battled against some of the state's top receivers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->