Pre 2025 Rankings: Who Will Make The Biggest Jump – Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> <strong>The Oregon 2025 Rankings will be updated in the coming days with the state's top 250 athletes being listed. Here we see some of those individuals who are being added or making a nice jump up the rankings board...   </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='754595' first='Ceville' last='Pasi'] 6-0 210 LB Churchill&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pasi will be a conference POY favorite on both sides of the football, while projecting on D. The 2x 1^st&nbsp;team LB also rushed for 1,289 yards and 19 TDs, highlighting his overall athleticism.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1103947' first='Reid' last='Linkmeyer'] 6-3 205 LB Liberty&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the state's top baseball players can also play a little football. He was an honorable mention all-conference selection at QB/LB as he brings legit size and athleticism to the table. If he was to pursue football, he could do well collegiately.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='754602' first='Kellen' last='Hilliker'] 6-4 230 DE Lake Oswego</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hilliker still has a lot to prove but could be a real presence for the Lakers on the interior this season. Coach Coury seems to have a guy or two breakout every year and that could be him.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1103942' first='Neal' last='Steger'] 6-2 235 DE Sherwood&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Steger has helped himself out this off season, hitting multiple Ivy League camps and doing well. Positionally he is more of an OLB collegiately while playing the DE spot for the Bowmen. Regardless his combination of size and strength put him in an elite category for his class.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='957947' first='Garren' last='White'] 6-2 215 DE Mountain View&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best players in Oregon at the 5A level. White earned 1^st&nbsp;team all-league and honorable mention all-state honors and was an absolute tear on the defensive front. From a projection standpoint he's somewhat undersized for a D lineman but will jump up the rankings board with his overall talent.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1104662' first='Marco' last='Larsen'] 6-0 215 LB Summit</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Larsen had a nice junior year earning unanimous 1^st&nbsp;team all-league and 2^nd&nbsp;team all-state honors. He will be listed among the top defenders at the 5A level with his ability to read from his backer spot being unique.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1320143' first='Ayden' last='Logan'] 6-3 220 DE Gladstone&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 4A standout comes quick and hard off the edge and was tough for anyone to block last season. Logan earned all-conference honors at DE and also honorable mention accolades at Tight End. The team struggled but he did well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1322045' first='Aedan' last='Saele'] 6-1 220 LB Sprague&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saele is a leader for the Oly's on D, recently looking good at the Les Schawb Bowl with numerous other Oregon all stars. He moves relatively well at the position and showcased some of that ability on the 7v7 circuit as part of Team Alpha.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1104615' first='Tristen' last='Collins'] 5-9 150 Safety Thurston&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collins is undersized but extremely talented. His 57 tackles and 3 INTs were a big part of him locking up 1^st&nbsp;team all-conference honors last season. He plays much bigger than he actually is and could be a good collegiate athlete.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1322034' first='Andre' last='Stitt'] 6-1 215 LB South Albany&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5A LB followed up a 2^nd&nbsp;team all Mid-Willamette Conference season, with an outstanding performance at the region's premier event, the Northwest Showcase at Western Oregon. Stitt has put himself on the map over the last year and should feel good with South winning their last 4 games in 2023.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1119071' first='Cannon' last='Sternberger'] 6-0 190 DE/OLB Jeff&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sternberger plays out of position at DE but more than holds his own, many times looking like the best player on the field. He earned 1^st&nbsp;team all PIL honors and plays with the necessary tenacity to do well at the collegiate level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='832771' first='Alexis' last='Ruiz'] 5-10 170 DB Clackamas </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The kid out of Clack played well at the Les Schwab Bowl a few weeks back, not allowing any catches while making 4 assisted tackles. The Cavs will need guys like this to step up this coming year if they want to make the playoffs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->