Nevada Week-1 Top Performers: Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Highlighting the top defensive performers in Nevada's week-1 action. Senior LBs [player_tooltip player_id='817714' first='Cole' last='Smalley'] (Douglas) and [player_tooltip player_id='817736' first='Keau' last='Hadley'] (Shadow Ridge) were among the state's top tacklers last season and look on track to be at the top again in 2023. [player_tooltip player_id='819550' first='Marcus' last='Council'] (Silverado) and [player_tooltip player_id='1112625' first='Tyler' last='Paul'] (Durango) impressed on both sides of the ball in their teams' wins.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["817714"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64eeea4dde764"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smalley was stout against the run game, totaling 12 tackles (6 solo), 3 TFLs, and 3 sacks in Douglas' 14-9 win over Elko. He was active at every level of the defense, filling holes aggressive downhill and tracking down sideline-to-sideline. Smalley's a rangy, athletic ILB at 6'3”/210 with great physicality and motor. PRZ's #3-LB in Nevada's 2024 class picked up his first offer from Cornell in May and has drawn interest from multiple Mountain-West programs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/smalley_cole/status/1696252065474081048?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/smalley_cole/status/1696252065474081048?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["819550"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64eeea4dde7eb"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Council continues to stand out on both sides of the ball, this week totaling 9 tackles (6 solo), 2 TFLs, and an INT on defense and 3 TDs on offense (2 rec/1 rush). He's an athletic, high-IQ OLB that makes plays with natural speed and awareness. He flashes the lateral speed to track down towards the sideline and can create turnovers in shallow coverage. Council's one of the most underrated two-way players on Nevada's recruiting radar and is already putting together a senior season that should generate interest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15607919/64e9a3794ba8730b28b6c192">Week-1 Highlights </a></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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1112625' first='Tyler' last='Paul'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Durango","_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":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64eeea4dde8d6"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Paul was highly impactful on both sides of the ball in Durango's 27-13 win over Desert Oasis, posting 2 INTs and a PBU from his FS spot and 8 catches for 173 yards on offense. He's a fluid defender in coverage that can read with his eyes in zone and react with twitch in man. He's a nimble receiver that can get behind the defense and track the ball downfield. Paul offers sneaky upside in his overall athleticism and versatility. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/tylerpaul130/status/1695671264676053121?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/tylerpaul130/status/1695671264676053121?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["820602"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64eeea4dde952"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Motuapuaka and the entire Gaels DL dominated the LOS and kept the Long Beach Poly offense out of rhythm from the first snap in their 60-15 victory- totaled 6 tackles, 2 TFLs, and 2 sacks. He's a stout interior DL that can punch/shed at the LOS, create pressure around the interior, and plays with great leverage and violence at the POA as a 3-technique. Motuapuaka holds offers from Utah, Idaho, UNLV, and Hawaii and looks on track to pick up more in the near future. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["817736"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64eeea4dde9c1"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hadley leads the state in total tackles with 26 (15 solo) through the first two weeks. He posted 10 (6 solo) and 3 TFLs in Shadow Ridge's 21-7 victory over Spanish Springs on Friday. Hadley's an aggressive OLB with relentless motor to the football and is constantly found making plays around the LOS. He picked up an NAIA offer from William Woods on 8/28 with other offers from Denison, Oberlin College, Adams St., and Pacific University. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/hadleyjr5/status/1696722471964336306?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/hadleyjr5/status/1696722471964336306?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Other Top Performers</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='820760' first='Jordan' last='Hales'] (LB / 2024 / Arbor View): </strong>15 total, 12 solo, 3 TFLs&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Steve Manuma (DL / 2025 / Desert Pines): </strong>3 sacks</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Miki Poloa (DL / 2024 / Shadow Ridge): </strong>7 total, 3 TFLs, 2 sacks&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1112653' first='Aaron' last='Coverdell'] (LB / 2024 / Shadow Ridge): </strong>2 TFLs, 2 sacks&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284050' first='Prince' last='Williams'] (DL / 2026 / Bishop Gorman): </strong>9 total, 5 solo, 3 TFLs&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Tony Caramella (DB / 2024 / Bishop Manogue): </strong>13 total, 7 solo, 1 TFL&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='811150' first='Salesi' last='Manu'] (DL / 2024 / Bishop Manogue): </strong>4 TFLs, 3 sacks&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='817733' first='Ryan' last='Harden'] (LB / 2024 / Coronado): </strong>14 total, 10 solo, 1 TFL&nbsp;</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='817753' first='Matthew' last='Hunt'] (LB / 2024 / Coronado): </strong>17 total, 11 solo, 1 TFL</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->