West Texas: 10 Permian Basin Defensive Players To Watch In 2024
The 2023 West Texas high school football season ended less than a month ago. But we’re already looking forward to the 2024 campaign. Here are 10 Defensive Players to Watch in the Permin Basin for 2024: Kheeandre Abdul-Aziz, Odessa Permian:…
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Continue ReadingThe 2023 West Texas high school football season ended less than a month ago. But we’re already looking forward to the 2024 campaign. Here are 10 Defensive Players to Watch in the Permin Basin for 2024:
Kheeandre Abdul-Aziz, Odessa Permian: Abdul-Aziz had 69 tackles during the regular season to lead the Panthers, including 45 solo. Fearless in making tackle close to the line of scrimmage. If an opposing offense ran a WR screen to his side, Abdul-Aziz usually made the tackle.
Joel Aguilar, Pecos: As a 6-foot-0, 185-pound sophomore LB in 2023, Aguilar led the Eagles with 111 tackles, 9.0 TFL and 3 QB hurries in his first year playing varsity. Needless to say, he has a bright future.
Yobany Baeza, Odessa: The Bronchos didn’t make the playoffs following a wild regular season involving several high-scoring shootouts, but Baeza showed plenty of promise as a sophomore with 54 tackles, 2.0 TFL and 1 INT in 8 games. He should be one of Odessa’s defensive leaders in 2024.
Alfredo Hidalgo, Reagan County: Hidalgo followed up a promising sophomore campaign in 2022 (40 tackles) with an even better junior season as he finished with 70 tackles and 9.0 TFL.
Cole Neatherlin, Midland Legacy: Blessed with great size (6-2, 180) and speed, Neatherlin is a fearless safety for the Rebels. He finished his junior season in 2023 with 107 tackles, 7.0 TFL, 4 QB hurries, 2 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. In short, he was always around the football. First-Team All-District and the District 6A-2 Defensive Newcomer of the Year.
Ejay Ortiz, Fort Stockton: The Panthers finished with a respectable 9-2 record and advanced to the Class 4A, D2 playoffs as Ortiz led the defense with 78 tackles from his MLB spot. He added 3 QB hurries.
Dylan Soltero, Wink: Wink had an outstanding season with a final 10-2 record. Soltero led the Wildcats’ defense with 111 tackles and 4.0 TFL. He has bene playing varsity since he was a freshman in 2021. In the last two season he has 209 tackles, so he has great instincts and an incredible nose for the football.
John Paul Valenzuela, Alpine: Besides having a cool name, Valenzuela is also a very good football player. He had 59 tackles as a junior in 2023 to help lead Alpine to the 2nd round of the Class 3A, D2 playoffs.
Julian Williams, Midland: The productivity of the Bulldogs’ run-dominated offensive attack was the #1 storyline for Midland in 2023 but their defense was pretty good too. Williams, a cornerback, finished among the team leaders with 100 tackles and 3.0 TFL. Midland returns five defensive starters with 50+ tackles in 2024.
Brady Young, Midland Christian: No dispute who the defensive leader of the Mustangs was this past season. As a sophomore, Young led Midland Christian with 115 tackles, by far the most on the team, 3 INT and 9 passes defended. The Mustangs’ second and third leading tacklers were also sophomores, so MCHS appears set on defense in 2024.