Top returning secondaries

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continuing with our series of stories highlighting programs with solid position groups returning this fall. The last group we highlight – defensive backs. Here is part one of our two-story defensive back focus.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Champlin Park</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='565675' first='Connell' last='Brownell'] – shows good hips and breaks well on the ball. He can flip his hips and stay with receivers even when faced with a double move.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='551299' first='Aaron' last='Briggs'] – a standout at the last few Prep Redzone Minnesota showcases; when Briggs is in a trail technique, he has the speed to stay with receivers and then has another gear to accelerate, undercut the route, and deflect passes. He flows to the ball well in the running game and can get off blocks in the open field. His ability to plant and then accelerate out of his plant allows him to stay with the receiver on double moves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='234784' first='Brady' last='Schornstein'] – has all the tools to be one of the best safeties in the state. He plays the ball well in the air and has the size to defend jump-ball situations. He is a physical safety who will make life uncomfortable for receivers coming across the middle and when coming up in the running game. That size allows the Rebels' coaches to walk him up near the line of scrimmage pre-snap. His tackling in the open field makes him an ideal third-level defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Alexandria</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1118371' first='Dane' last='Olson'] – a physical corner who is just as comfortable playing the run as the pass. He has good hip turn and breaks well on the ball, making him especially solid covering short routes. A versatile defender, he can line up out wide, in the slot, and as a deep safety.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='641141' first='Evan' last='Kludt'] – has extremely good hip rotation. Kludt is a great one-on-one defender. He does a good job putting his foot in the ground and breaking on the ball. He plays mainly on the outside and covers a lot of ground when in chase mode or when reacting to the ball not thrown to his man. His great size makes his range even more effective. A two-way player, it is easy to see his receiver skills when he is playing the ball on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='743279' first='Mac' last='Heydt'] – plays in all three phases as a defensive back, a running back, and a return man. His footwork as a running back translates well to his coverage skills as he comes out of his breaks effectively. Obviously, he does not shy away from contact in the running game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Edina</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='512112' first='Liam' last='Holmberg'] – sees the field well and does a great job adjusting to route and route combinations. Holmberg has good ball skills and the athletic ability to win on fifty/fifty deep balls. He comes up aggressively in the running game and is a physical open-field tackler. He is comfortable playing out wide and near the line of scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='819442' first='Trillion' last='Sorrell'] – his speed allows him to make plays all over the field. That speed allows him to stick with his receiver in man-to-man coverage and come off his man and make plays on receivers that were not his first assignment. His quickness in zone coverage allows him to close the gap and make plays on the ball that other defensive backs cannot. Not just a speed guy – Sorrell is a physical tackler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1094114' first='Cooper' last='Drake'] – is just as comfortable near the line of scrimmage as he is lining up as a deep safety. Drake has excellent speed off the edge as a blitzer. Although he aggressively attacks the line, he stays under control and doesn't often run himself out of plays. That speed allows him to come up quickly in run support from his deep safety position. Although starters sometimes get a break on special teams, Drake is a weapon on special teams; he had multiple blocked kicks in '23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Minnetonka</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='234785' first='Jack' last='Yerhot'] – plays a physical safety against the run. Yerhot can play free and strong safety and is effective near the line of scrimmage and as a deep safety. He sells out coming down against the run, but he also shows good range in coverage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1202015' first='Malachi' last='Boadi'] – reads the quarterback well and anticipates and breaks on the ball well. Boadi tackles well in the open field and often dislodges the ball when he hits a receiver. He is a big hitter, but he wraps up and doesn't allow ball carriers to bounce off his tackles. He flips his hips efficiently – allowing him to come out of breaks clean and with speed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->