Breaking Down C/O 2025 Interception Leaders: Class 5A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having a lockdown defender who can create turnovers on passing plays is becoming as important as having an elite pass rusher. Taking away the passing threat and the potential for a big play is vital for the success of a defense. But forcing interceptions isn't the only thing that declares a cornerback elite. Let's dive into what makes these five defenders impressive.</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":"Bryce Westemeier","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"180","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Waterloo West","_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":"Westemeier is a superb athlete whose presence is felt all over the field. He's lined up everywhere on both sides of the ball. On offense, he's a receiver with home run potential, and on defense, he has reps at all five defensive back positions and even lined up near the line of scrimmage. Westemeier has tremendous speed to run with any receiver, track down ball carriers, and even beat defenders over the top. He does a great job adjusting and maintaining body control when going up to high point the ball. His ball skills translate from wide receiver to defense, finding the ball in the air and using his natural hands to make a play. Westemeier even showed flashes as a run defender, proving to be a powerful tackler and an all-around player.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16282419/Bryce-Westemeieru0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eWestemeier's Hudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d6211bdb129"} /--> <!-- 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='1249578' first='Bryson' last='Miell']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_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_weight":"175","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Linn-Mar","_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":"Miell is a taller corner who is constantly around the ball and always has the potential to force a turnover. He's a hard-hitting player with a nose for the ball, forcing three interceptions and mixing in fumbles with his powerful tackles. Meill's length allows him to make tackles outside his frame and get the ball at its highest point. He does a great job reading the quarterback's eyes and breaking on the ball with tremendous burst and explosiveness. Meill has the athletic profile, size, and relentless aggressiveness to be an elite defender.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16115349/Bryson-Miellu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eMiell's Hudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d6211bdaf8a"} /--> <!-- 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='1361723' first='Andrew' last='Eastman']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_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_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Waukee Northwest","_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":"Eastman played a versatile role, lining up in the box and a two-high safety. This role put his coverage skills on full display and his ability to make an impact in the running game. Eastman is sticky in man coverage, staying in phase with the receiver throughout the route. He does a great job recognizing when to get his eyes back to the quarterback and finding the ball in the air. Eastman is explosive when getting out of his breaks and firing downhill to make a tackle. When he makes initial contact, he drives his shoulder into the ball carrier and drives through them. With three interceptions last season, Eastman's impact could be even greater in his senior year.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/15944718/Andrew-Eastmanu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eEastman's Hudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d6211bdb05b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1105158"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"With three interceptions throughout the year, Milton proved on film that he has the potential to be a top-tier defensive back. He played a versatile role as a zone coverage safety and was lockdown as a nickel. Milton is also reliable in the run game, playing with aggressiveness and strength. That strength comes into play alongside his ball skills, playing through the receiver's hands and breaking up passes. He's very intuitive in zone coverage, reading route combinations and the quarterback to quickly make a break on the ball, putting himself in a good position to force an ill-advised throw.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16103107/Dane-Miltonu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eMilton's Hudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d6211bdaeb6"} /--> <!-- 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":"Tal Nettleton","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Sioux City North","_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":"Nettleton had an impressive season both as a receiver and a cornerback. Forcing three interceptions and diving into last season's film showed plenty of potential to be a game-changing defender. He's a phenomenal athlete and isn't afraid of physicality, as he squares up ball carriers and drives them to the ground. Nettleton gets off blocks well on the boundary, proving to be a reliable run defender who takes away the outside. His ball skills translate from receiver to corner, showing he's a great ball tracker and attacks the ball at the high point. Nettleton has great speed, and when he has to flip and turn to run with receivers, he shows off his burst and gets to top speed quickly.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16388411/Tal-Nettletonu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eNettleton's Hudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d6211bdae36"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1277230' first='Jackson' last='Laver'], ATH, Bettendorf</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1278914' first='Dominic' last='Salibi'], DB, Iowa City High</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1279607' first='Emmanuel' last='Gaye'], DB, Southeast Polk</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1417561' first='Parker' last='Taylor'], DB, Davenport North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Parker Peterson, LB, Sioux City North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->