2025 Breakout Defensive Candidates

<!-- 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='1295644' first='Justus' last='Derickson']","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"250","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Rampart","_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":"Derickson is a big force to be reckoned with for Rampart. The junior currently plays defensive end and offensive tackle, and excels at both. He's got good size at 6'3 250 pounds, and uses it to his advantage. Throughout the season he accounted for 32 total tackles (8 solo, 24 assisted), 13 TFL, 6.5 sacks, 7 QB hurries, 2 PDs, 1 FR. He's got good athletic ability due to good acceleration, change of direction, footwork, and solid speed. Lengthy arms to knock passes down at the line of scrimmage. Derickson has very good strength and throws around his opposing player with ease. He starts out with a good quickness out of his stance. Gaining a low pad level to out leverage the offensive line. He uses his good hand strength and hand placement to push them out of the way. Derickson has a powerful bull rush and uses that to his advantage to decimate the OL. He swats the OL's arms away giving an extra edge to his play. Derickson eats up blocks and gets into the backfield consistently. He's a good run stopper and tackler. He stops the ball carrier in their tracks. Derickson demonstrates very good competitive toughness. He is continuing to play after the whistle and plays at a high level consistently. I'm looking forward to seeing him develop further in the upcoming season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Colton James","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"210","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Thompson Valley ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"James made an impact on Thompson Valley's defense last year. The 6'5 212 pound outside linebacker accounted for 61 total tackles (21 solo, 40 assisted), 8 TFL, and 7 sacks. He's got good size and uses that in tandem with his good athletic ability to keep offensive lines on their toes. Colton has good athletic ability through his good speed, good acceleration, and good change of direction. James has very good strength and was running through linemen with ease. He's got good mental processing, and will switch between rushing inside the tackle or outside creating unpredictability. Good quickness out of his stance and utilizes a low pad level to out leverage the OL. James demonstrates a good burst of speed at the line of scrimmage, allowing him to bend around the tackle and get into the backfield. An example of his speed is during a field goal attempt, he sped up and blocked it. James was consistently in the backfield making plays. James has a very good spin move in combination with a good bull rush. James is a great player who I'm excited to see more of in the next season.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Marqes Pasillas","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"155","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Middle Park ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Pasillas is a 2-way baller out of Middle Park in Granby. He plays WR/DB, and I would be doing him a disservice if I didn't go over both positions. He measures in at 6'0 155 pounds. In 5 games played, he accounted for 42 (18 solo, 24 assisted) tackles and 4 int. As a receiver, he had 18 receptions for 220 yards and 3 touchdowns. Pasillas has very good athletic ability due to his very good speed, acceleration, good change of direction and jumping. He's got good mental processing and shows it in many ways. He watches the QB's eyes, reading the play and being in the correct place to get a pick 6. When the ball is released, he is gone. He is very good in zone and will come down to lay the boom on unsuspecting ballcarriers. Pasillas has good ball tracking skills and very good catching. He'll pluck the ball out of the air. Translates to wide receiver very well. He has very good body control and will adjust either above or below to come down with the catch. He's got a good spin move and uses his home run speed to get free from defenders. Pasillas is a great 2-way player who I am excited to see more of next season.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Josh Bittner","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Evergreen","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Another 2-way player who made this list. Bittner made his mark on Evergreen during his junior season. He plays DB/WR/RB and balled out at each position. As an offensive weapon he rushed 27 times for 223 yards and 5 touchdowns. He had 25 receptions for 288 yards and 3 touchdowns. As a DB, he had 84 (18 solo, 66 assisted) tackles, 1 TFL, 4 INT, 9 PD, and 1 FR. Bittner has very good athletic ability due to very good speed, acceleration, change of direction, and jumping. As a WR, he creates separation between DB through his use of athletic ability and out running them. He has good body control and would consistently come down with contested catches. He'll keep 2 feet in bounds on sideline catches. However, I believe he thrives as a defensive back. Shows good mental processing by watching the QB's eyes leading him to a tackle or an interception. Bittner has a good understanding of gaps. He'll identify the correct one and rush through it. He stays up in the zone, and will come down to lay the hit on unsuspecting ballcarriers. Good in zone coverage and locks his zone down. He can play in the box and succeed. Good run stopper and stops the runner in their tracks. He tackles towards the player's center of gravity and brings them down with ease. Bittner play demands more eyes on him, and I'm looking forward to seeing his senior year.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6611aa45eb666"} /-->