Stat stuffers back for more – Interceptions
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For my last defensive stat stuffers story, I move the back end of the defense and look at the defensive backs that put up big interception numbers and will be patrolling the secondary for at least one more high school…
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Continue ReadingFor my last defensive stat stuffers story, I move the back end of the defense and look at the defensive backs that put up big interception numbers and will be patrolling the secondary for at least one more high school season.
Dan Plamann
Dan Plamann
9 INT 29 TKLrnPlamann is a two-way player. His skills as a receiver are apparent when watching him play deep safety. He has excellent ball skills, and on any 50/50 ball, the odds – as they say in The Hunger Games – are always in his favor. His length and overall athletic ability significantly contribute to his ability to make plays on the ball. He has solid instincts on the defensive side of the ball. He often makes his breaks as or just before the quarterback throws. He is a deep threat on offense, and that speed translates into Plamann’s ability to work from sideline to sideline.
Austin McCraven
Austin McCraven
7 INT 32 TKLrnMcCraven is a big, physical safety. He is not afraid of contact on either side of the ball. His speed is easy to see when he is coming downhill to support the run. The dual-threat quarterback uses that quarterback knowledge to diagnose plays on defense, giving him that first step needed when anticipating a throw. That knowledge, combined with his athleticism, gives him great range on the back end of the Cougars’ defense.
7 INT 45 TKLrnThode is a jack-of-all-trades weapon for the Tigers. He is best known for his skills on the offensive side of the ball as one of the top dual-threat running backs in the state. He has good speed, great feet, and is more powerful than he looks. All of that transfers to Thode as a deep safety for Hutch. He has the athletic ability to make plays on the ball, the speed to cover plenty of ground, and the toughness to lay a hit on a ball carrier or potential receiver.
6 INT 75 TKLrnThielges’ ability to come out of a backpedal and break on the ball stands out immediately when watching the junior defensive back. Once he comes out of his backpedal, his speed allows him to close the gap on receivers and keep him in plays. That speed – especially for an athlete as big as he is – also gives him solid range on the Spuds’ back end. Thielges is not afraid of contact when coming downhill against the run or an underneath throw. Most receivers are not physical enough to block him on the outside, and Thielges delivers a hit and wraps up.
5 INT 29 TKLrnBoadi is a big, physical corner with great instincts. Almost all of his five interceptions resulted from him reading a route and quickly breaking on the ball. His size and physical nature make him a threat against the running game. He doesn’t make ‘business decisions’ when an offensive player is coming downhill. Unlike some defensive backs who tackle by getting hit by the ball carrier and then wrapping the offensive player up, Boadi squares up runners and does the hitting. In fact, the junior often lined up in the traditional outside linebacker spot – highlighting his physical play. As effective as he is against the run, he still has good hips and footwork that make him effective in coverage.
Brayden Sturm
Brayden Sturm
5 INT 43 TKLrnAs one of the top returning receivers in the state, Sturm’s ball skills on the defensive side of the ball translate easily to the defensive side of the ball. As smooth as his hips are, the junior often tracks receivers like he is the one running the route. A threat to beat his man deep on every play, his speed allows him to run with most receivers and still get back into the play even if he gets out of position. Sturm has excellent length, allowing him to make plays on balls even out of the receiver’s reach.
These stat stuffers I couldn’t find football highlights for but deserve mention:
Caiden Schjenken Deer River 6’2 JR DB 10 INT
Brock Scalese Brock Scalese 5'8" | 140 lbs | DB Kittson County Central | 2026 MN Kittson County Central 5’8 SO DB 6 INT 43 TKL