Week 5’s Top Under-the-Radar Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The leaves are just beginning to turn and fall, forest life are preparing for winter, and championship-caliber teams and performers are now starting to distinguish themselves with top-caliber defensive performances that will be essential to any long-term, reliable success. Collectively, top prospects underscore the fact that quality defenders can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all share the ability to run, they play with consistently high urgency and they quickly close space to ball carriers. These defensive performers all demonstrated those valued traits in Week 5 action and appear poised to lead their teams to memorable playoff runs.</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='1175819' first='Zane' last='Biever']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Owensboro","_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":"In his first season as a regular defensive starter for the Red Devils, Biever lines up with his hand on the ground as an edge defender and attacks first-level blocks with the hand placement, pad level and separation of a much older and more experienced defensive lineman. At 6'0u0022 205, his primary attributes of mobility, technical proficiency and disciplined eyes/reads as plays develop make him an excellent penetrator when called upon and he adeptly works underneath base blocks versus inside runs. In Owensboro's 61-21 win at cross-town rival Apollo, he broke out for 4 solo tackles, 2 assists, 3 tackles for loss and 2 sacks. Appearing in 7 varsity contests last year as a freshman, his physicality and acumen for defeating zone blocking schemes belie his underclassman status. In 6 games this season, he has proven to be a consistently disruptive presence for opposing offenses, totaling 9 solo tackles, 12 assists, 6 tackles for loss and 4 sacks.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Cameron Bottoms","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Mercer County","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Aligning as an outside linebacker in the Titans' 4-4 look, Bottoms is a deceptively athletic, versatile defender with the frame and skill set to either bump inside and play behind a defensive lineman or drop to a more traditional strong-safety or nickel responsibility. In Mercer County's 42-6 win at Madison Southern, he contributed 5 solo tackles, 10 assists and 1 sack defensively and even hauled in 2 pass receptions for 53 yards as a wide receiver. Currently the #2 tackler on his defensive unit with 8 solo tackles, 27 assists and 1 sack, he combines above-average speed, physicality and the ability to maintain a balanced, athletic posture through contact to fulfill a number of situational defensive roles. Also collecting 8 pass receptions offensively for 129 yards and 1 touchdown, his versatility and high motor are significant factors contributing to the Titans' 5-1 start.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["653504"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"After finishing his junior season as the #4 tackler in Class AAAA and averaging nearly 12 tackles per game, we all have expected big things from Eddington in his last season leading the Commodores' defense, and he certainly hasn't disappointed. In Perry County Central's 42-21 road win at Martin County, he collected 3 solo tackles, 13 assists and forced 2 fumbles while helping secure his program's 4-2 start heading into district play. Currently averaging 13.3 tackles per game, he has contributed 23 solo tackles, 57 assists, 2 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions, ranking him the #2 tackler in Class AAAA (#7 statewide). A powerful, dynamic downhill force versus interior runs, Eddington's most noteworthy technical skills include consistent forward lean, excellent power angles in his hips/ankles and quick-twitch, explosive force targeted to (and through) blockers/ball carriers.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Mason McDaniel","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Clinton County","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Primarily aligning as an inside linebacker in the Bulldogs' 3-4 defensive front, McDaniel's height and length are the first characteristics noticed, followed quickly by his surprising athleticism, lower-body flexibility and leverage skills. In Clinton County's 26-6 road win at Edmonson County, he produced 2 solo tackles, 11 assists, 2 tackles for loss and 1 interception, helping secure his squad's third win this year after enduring a winless season in 2022. After leading his team in tackles last season as a sophomore, he leads all Bulldog defenders again this year with 9 solo tackles, 37 assists, 8 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception. His current average of 9.2 tackles per game ranks him 9th among all Class AA defensive players, and his developmental trajectoryu002du002dcoupled with his physical attributesu002du002dprojects very favorably going forward.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1706057' first='Simon' last='Rickman']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Murray","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"One doesn't have to watch a whole lot of film on Rickman before he becomes a favorite. He's young (a sophomore), sure...at 5'10u0022 160 pounds, he certainly is not the biggest uniform on the field, that's a granted. But, man...he's just a quick, aggressive, determined and clearly athletic nuisance for any opposing offense that has to deal with him for 48 minutes. Playing a 4-3 outside linebacker, as a freshman last season, he finished as the Tigers' 8th leading tackler with 64 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 3 sacks and 2 fumble recoveries. And if those numbers confirming his disruptive defensive presence weren't enough, this season he now leads all Murray defenders with 28 solo tackles, 16 assists, 2 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Well on his way to eclipsing his 2022 production (and more importantly, helping lead his squad to a 5-1 start this season), his current average of 8.8 tackles per game ranks him 26th among all Class AA defenders, and he is #4 among Class AA sack leaders.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65144e0c87492"} /-->