Top returning secondaries - Part II

Part two of my returning secondary units features some big metro schools but also a pair of outstate secondaries that were solid last year and, based on who they are returning, should be even better this fall.   Wayzata   [player_tooltip player_id='924341' first='Sam' last='Booh'] – has good closing speed when coming off the edge on a blitz and when closing on a receiver. Booh works well in space and has good instincts when in zone coverage. He is smooth coming out of his backpedal, which is part of the reason he is good in space. His quick hips allow him to transition well from that backpedal to a trail or sprint technique.    [player_tooltip player_id='1204504' first='Tyler' last='Schuman'] – has good length and uses his reach to keep blockers off him when defending the run. With that long reach, Schuman breaks well on the ball and disrupts passes that others can't get to. He doesn't worry about his body when defending the running game – he doesn't shy away from making a big hit.   Anoka   [player_tooltip player_id='551306' first='Austin' last='Meyer'] – comes up aggressively defending the run from his deep safety spot. He attacks ball-carries with aggression and adds to that with solid tackling form. Meyer is just as comfortable as a deep safety as he is near the line of scrimmage. His speed gets him downhill quickly but also allows him to play from sideline to sideline in coverage or when tracking down plays on the other side of the field.   [player_tooltip player_id='1248628' first='Devon' last='Luckas'] – another safety who doesn't mind getting involved in the running game. Despite a thin build, he is effective weaving his way through traffic to find the ball.   Kasson-Mantorville   [player_tooltip player_id='591730' first='Jeremiah' last='Peterson-Gordon'] – attacks the line of scrimmage aggressively and can make runners pay with his tackling ability. He tracks the ball well in coverage and is big and physical enough to make plays on fifty/fifty balls. Peterson-Gordon tracks receivers well. He has good footwork and uses his hands and length well to keep blockers off his body in the running game. A two-way player, his physical play translates from his offensive position – running back.   [player_tooltip player_id='541228' first='Caisen' last='Thome'] has excellent length and uses it well covering the deep ball. He is also a two-way player. Thome breaks well on the ball and, despite his lengthy frame, is a physical tackler. That length also helps him keep separation and get off blocks on the outside. He usually plays as a cornerback but can drop back to safety and use his anticipation skills to make plays from there, too.   Maple Grove   [player_tooltip player_id='1204368' first='Jack' last='Weigel'] has great hips, which allow him to change direction smoothly. He is a physical defensive back—so much so that in some packages, he plays more like an outside linebacker. Not surprisingly, Weigel is a solid tackler and comes up strong when supporting the run. He is a weapon on special teams. He not only covers kickoffs but also racked up multiple kick blocks last season.   [player_tooltip player_id='592132' first='Brayden' last='Dozier'] – a long athlete, he uses his length well when playing the ball at the catch point. He does a good job contesting balls. Dozier has good instincts. He breaks on the ball effectively and has the speed to close when playing off coverage. He comes out of his breaks quickly, making him a solid man-to-man coverage guy and gets him in position to make plays on the ball.   Waseca   [player_tooltip player_id='592119' first='Deron' last='Russell'] – does a great job breaking on the ball. Russell has excellent size, and he knows how to use it. He uses his long arms to get around the body of the receiver to disrupt the catch. He makes up ground quickly when he attacks the running game and is a solid tackler when he gets to the ball carrier. He opens his hips rapidly, transitioning smoothly from his backpedal to a trail technique. He is also a solid receiver – likely part of why he plays the ball well on defense – and is a dangerous return man.   [player_tooltip player_id='641132' first='Damarius' last='Russell'] – has excellent speed at deep safety. He closes quickly in the running game and has great range on the back end. When he makes up that ground, he is a solid tackler both against the run and the pass. His quickness and length allow him to make plays even when he appears out of the play. A two-way player, his skills as a receiver are apparent when he plays the ball on defense. He rarely comes off the field, as he is also a good kick returner.

Part two of my returning secondary units features some big metro schools but also a pair of outstate secondaries that were solid last year and, based on who they are returning, should be even better this fall.