Film Review C/O 2025 Interception Leaders: Class 3A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Creating turnovers and locking down receivers is as important as anything when it comes to finding success for a football team. Finding players who can take away a team's top receiver can disrupt any offense's flow. Forcing turnovers is great, but there's more that goes into being an elite defensive back. Let's dive into the film and see what makes these five special.</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='1280029' first='Keegan' last='Groat']","_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":"6'0u0022","_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":"Humboldt","_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":"Groat had a terrific junior season, tying for second in the class with three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, and had 60 yards returned after the interception. Groat is an absolute blast to watch on film. The way he flies around the field, he's always in a great position to make a play, and his speed and athleticism are tremendous. He's a very instinctive defensive back, reading the quarterback and dissecting plays quickly to explode downfield to make a play. Groat understands his areas in zone and knows his assignment to ensure he's where he needs to be. He has some twitchiness to his game, quickly changing directions, putting his cleats in the ground and exploding out of his breaks. Groat is a reliable tackler on the boundary and even occasionally comes on a blitz from the edge. He's tough to run by when ball carriers get in the open field due to his long reach and phenomenal tackle radius. Groat is a lockdown defensive back that coaches want anchoring their defense because of his reliability in all facets of the game. With one more year left, Groat will definitely be someone to watch as one of the better defenders in the state.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16467836/keegan-groatu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eGroat's HUDLu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f30adb56d4a"} /--> <!-- 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":"Max Burgmeier","_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":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"185","_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":"Central DeWitt","_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":"Burgmeier had a great junior season, tying for the lead in the class with four interceptions in his junior season, one returned for a touchdown, and a total of 128 yards after the interception. Deployed as a strong safety, he plays a versatile role, playing near the box as a stout run defender, and will drop back in coverage as a two-high safety. He has the size and speed combination to be a lethal weapon on defense. Burgmeier uses that size to deliver powerful hits and the speed to track down ball carriers and make explosive breaks on passes. He does a great job of reading the quarterback's eyes and flowing to the side of the field he's reading. Burgmeier has the ball skills and athleticism to make any pass to his side of the field a potential turnover, and with his final year nearing, we could be in for another season of phenomenal production.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16289591/Max-Burgmeier/aboutu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eBurgmeier's HUDLu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f30adb56ae0"} /--> <!-- 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":"Geren Kenney","_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":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"185","_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":"Perry","_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":"Kenney had a tremendous junior season, tying for second in the class with three interceptions. Playing wide receiver on offense and defensive back on defense, his strong and natural hands show off on both sides of the ball. He's a big-bodied player who can take contact and deliver hits, but he also has plenty of speed in his game. Kenney can easily change directions, cutting on a dime to create space on offense and break on passes on defense. When he gets the ball in his hands or tracking down ball carriers, he's lightning-quick with great acceleration and explosiveness. If his senior year is anything like his junior season, Kenney will be hitting the radar and eyes of many.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16205924/Geren-Kenney/highlightsu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eKenney's HUDLu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f30adb56bb2"} /--> <!-- 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='1282275' first='Braylon' last='Van Gelder']","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"165","_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":"MOC-Floyd Valley","_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":"Van Gelder had a fantastic junior season, tying for second in the class with three interceptions. As a safety, you must have great instincts and be a reliable tackler, which is exactly what Van Gelder brings to a defense. He has great vision and eye discipline to read the play, and the eyes of the quarterback to mentally break down where he needs to be to ensure he's in a position to make an impact on the down. Also, as a receiver on offense, Van Gelder's natural hands translate to defensive production, producing interceptions and contested passes. He's a tough player who isn't afraid of contact, disrupting passing lanes, playing through the receiver, and delivering strong hits. After a productive season of putting up solid stats and film, Van Gelder will have many eyes on him throughout his senior year.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/15008674/braylon-van-gelder/aboutu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eVan Gelder's HUDLu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f30adb56c7f"} /--> <!-- 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":"Devin Larsen","_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":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"160","_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":"Algona","_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":"With four interceptions in his junior season, one returned for a touchdown, Larsen tied for the lead in the junior class 4A group of defenders. He has great eye discipline in zone coverage and in a half-turn technique, keeping his eyes on the quarterback and quickly breaking on the ball. Larsen is a tough player willing to get the ball at the high point and force contact, making it a tough catch for the receiver. There are hits on his film that show his power and pop in his pads. With the interception production, Larsen clearly has the ball skills and natural hands to make a potential turnover any time a pass is thrown his way. If last year's production is any indication of what's to come, Larsen is in for a massive final year.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/13547082/Devin-Larsen/aboutu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eLarsen's HUDLu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f30adb569f9"} /-->