Oregon’s Top Defensive Performances- Week 1
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DEFENSE Parker Williams Parker Williams 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB South Salem | 2024 State OR ATH/DB 24′ South Salem One of the state’s top overall athletes got off to a good start. Defensively he made 5 tackles and…
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Parker Williams Parker Williams 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB South Salem | 2024 State OR ATH/DB 24′ South Salem
One of the state’s top overall athletes got off to a good start. Defensively he made 5 tackles and returned an INT 61 yards for a TD, also scoring offensively. He will project as a 1st or 2nd team all-state DB.
Matix Carpenter Matix Carpenter 6'2" | 270 lbs | DL Central Catholic | 2024 State OR DL 24′ Central Catholic
Per usual I can’t say enough good things about Carpenter. He was one of the only Junior lineman in the entire NW to earn 1st team all-conference honors on both sides of the football last season. Once again, he was instrumental, leading CC with 9 tackles in their 48-27 win over Bellevue, WA.
Owen Wright Owen Wright 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Tigard | 2025 State OR DB/ATH 25′ Tigard & Colt Ness Colt Ness 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Tigard | 2025 State OR DB 25′ Tigard
Just when you think the Tigers might be having a down year a bunch of young guys step up and drop the hammer on what is supposed to be a decent North Medford team 27-7. Both Wright and Ness took INTs to the house for TDs in the opener.
Asante Mims Asante Mims 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Hillsboro | 2026 State OR OLB 26′ Hillsboro
I really like Mims. The DE/OLB started as a freshman and will project as one of the state’s top defenders at the 5A level this season. On the night he made 9 tackles with 4 tackles for loss, in the 46-24 win over Wilson.
Evan Morris Evan Morris 6'3" | 185 lbs | DB Sherwood | 2024 State OR S/ATH 24′ Sherwood
As referenced Morris projects as one of the top defenders and fastest rising recruits in Oregon. He played a crucial role and was all over the field stopping the West Salem offense on Friday in the 34-21 win.
Timothy Mitchell Jr. Timothy Mitchell Jr. 5'10" | 180 lbs | ATH Central Catholic | 2024 State OR DB 24′ Central Catholic & Cade Gehlen Cade Gehlen 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Central Catholic | 2024 State OR ATH 24′ Central Catholic
If he can stay healthy Mitchell is as good as any DB in Oregon. He came up clutch against Bellevue making 4 tackles with an INT. The UP Baseball commit continued building on all his success from a year ago, making 9 tackles with a fumble recovery.
Gage Blay WLB 24′ Grants Pass
Most people weren’t aware of Blay, including myself, but the 5-11 185-pound athlete had an outstanding season opener, making 12 tackles with an INT in the 20-6 win over Del Norte, CA. He also rushed 17 times for 73 yards and a TD.
Josiah Hawkins Josiah Hawkins 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Cascade | 2027 State OR CB 27′ Cascade
The highly touted freshman got his first varsity start and didnt dissapoint on Friday, getting his first INT, while guarding what could be another one of the nation’s top prospects in Rasean Jones Rasean Jones 6'2" | 195 lbs | WR Baker | 2026 State OR . Cascade got the win 42-21 in Baker.
Mason Seal Mason Seal 6'1" | 220 lbs | DL Wilsonville | 2024 State OR OLB/DE 24′ Wilsonville
The Wildcats recorded seven sacks against the #4 Colts, with Seal leading the team (2) in their 44-15 win. The 6-1 225-pound OLB/DE projects as one of the top defensive players at the 5A level.
Hatimu Letisi Hatimu Letisi 6'0" | 255 lbs | DL South Salem | 2024 State OR DL 24′ South Salem & Ibe Divine Ibe Divine 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL South Salem | 2024 State OR DE 24′ South Salem
Letisi will project as a favorite for conference & state defensive POY honors. If you don’t double team him, best of luck. The player many don’t know about yet is the freaky 6-3 240 pound DE Divine who is committed to Idaho, and just moved here from Nigeria. Together they combined for 9 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks, in one half of football during their 49-21 win over Liberty, WA.
Karter Wilcox Karter Wilcox 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Sam Barlow | 2024 OR S 24′ Barlow
For most of the game it was the Sentori Martino Sentori Martino 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Barlow | 2024 State OR show for the Bruins. That said as Wilcox played extremely well on D, getting a pick while helping to limit the Lakers passing attack.