San Diego Section Playoffs: D-I Sleepers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Taking a look at some of the underrated playmakers in San Diego Section's D-I playoffs starting this week</em>. </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":"Kade Wilken","_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":"6'1u0022","_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":"Torrey Pines ","_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":"Wilken is a highly impactful front-seven defender for one of the top defenses in San Diego Section's D-I playoffs. He consistently creates negative plays in the backfield by attacking downhill with quick, twitchy movement and a lethal first-step over slower OL. He's active and violent with his hands as a block-shedder, reads the backfield with his eyes, and shows relentless motor to the football. Wilken totaled 55 tackles, 11 TFLs, and 13 sacks in the regular season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6540dd9ceb925"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/WilkenKade/status/1715882603990122635","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/WilkenKade/status/1715882603990122635 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- 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":"Isaiah Hasten ","_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":"6'3u0022","_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":"St. Augustine ","_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":"Hasten's playing his best football heading into the playoffs after posting 10 catches for 278 and 3 TDs in the final two weeks of league play. St. Augustine's senior WR/DB is a long, athletic playmaker at 6'3”/180 with great hands and ball skills on the perimeter. He plays more physical than his lankier frame would suggest and is crafty with the ball after the catch. He shines in 1v1 situations where he can use his natural length, ball-tracking, and body control to make plays on the ball. Hasten and #5-St. Augustine host #12-Mira Mesa in the first round this Friday.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6540dd9ceb9cd"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/IsaiahHasten/status/1716865694833520987","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/IsaiahHasten/status/1716865694833520987 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- 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":"Carson Howard ","_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":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"El Camino","_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":"Howard was among San Diego's most productive passers during the regular season, totaling over 2,000 yards and 18 TDs while completing 64% of his passes. He's a strong passer from outside the pocket that can roll/scramble to either direction and find receivers on the run for explosive plays. He shows athleticism when avoiding the rush and tucking for scramble yards. He can deliver on-time from the pocket on quick-hitters and leads receivers into space after the catch. Howard and #3-El Camino will host the winner of #6-Cathedral Catholic and #11-Ramona after their first-round bye.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6540dd9ceba62"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/carson_howard11/status/1705965860136116377","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/carson_howard11/status/1705965860136116377 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- 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":"Francisco Martinez ","_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":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"La Costa Canyon","_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":"Martinez posted a breakout game in a close loss to one of the top teams in the area, Carlsbad, catching 9 passes for 265 yards and 3 TDs. He's a slick WR with the frame (5'9”/160), speed, and athleticism to effectively operate the middle of the field as a slot receiver. He accelerates with burst out of the break and excels at creating separation on double-moves over the top of the secondary. Martinez could be an X-factor on offense for #4-La Costa Canyon, they'll host the winner of #5-St. Augustine and #12-Mira Mesa in the second round.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6540dd9cebaf4"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/paco4martinez/status/1716527121852694543","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/paco4martinez/status/1716527121852694543 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- 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":"Reid O'Keefe ","_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":"6'1u0022","_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":"San Marcos","_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":"O'Keefe has proven to be an extremely disruptive defender between the tackles with 42 total tackles, a team-leading 22 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks on the season. He makes great use of his quick, violent hands and combines power with finesse to dominate 1v1 matchups. He gets off the ball with a sudden first-step and engages OL with leverage and pad level. O'Keefe brings game-wrecking potential to a defense that's allowing less than 9 ppg during San Marcos' 5-game winning streak. #7-San Marcos faces #10-Poway in the first-round this Friday.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6540dd9cebb83"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/reidokeefe/status/1715935403751145569","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/reidokeefe/status/1715935403751145569 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>More D-I Sleepers to Watch:</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Jake Sweeney</strong> (RB / 2024 / Torrey Pines)<strong> </strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='740862' first='Viliamu' last='Trollinger'] </strong>(LB / 2026 / St. Augustine)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Charlie Abts </strong>(WR / 2024 / Cathedral Catholic) </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='723763' first='Sergio' last='Garcia'] </strong>(ATH / 2025 / La Costa Canyon) </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Lucas Miller </strong>(LB /  2024 / San Marcos) </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='689931' first='Jake' last='Williams']</strong> (DL / 2025 / El Camino) </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Joey Castillo </strong>(LB / 2025 / Mater Dei Catholic)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Danny Underwood </strong>(DB / 2024 / Mira Mesa)<strong> </strong></li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Jack Davy</strong> (ATH / 2025 / Poway)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->