Top Defensive Trios (3A, Part 1)

With high school football returning this month, we look at some of the best defensive trios within class 3A. Class 3A will be split into two lists.   Algona   DL - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13547095/658dbc902aa7ac06d42fcb34">[player_tooltip player_id='252334' first='Jack' last='Limbaugh']</a>   DB - <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2MDc6Z">Devin Larsen</a>   DB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13627374/Tate-Slagle?_gl=1%2A1htj9i6%2A_ga%2AMjAzMzE1MDk0My4xNzIxNzMyOTUz%2A_ga_29LPHS2HWC%2AMTcyNDcxOTAzMS40LjEuMTcyNDcxOTEwNS4wLjAuMA..">Tate Slagle</a>   Considering all the talent the Bulldogs have on defense, it wasn't easy to name a trio. Aiden Ulrich and Landon Thompson were considered as well, however, Limbaugh, Larsen, and Slagle take the cake. Upfront Limbaugh sometimes seems unstoppable. The Iowa State commit plays with good speed, and effort. He also plays with good hand usage, being able to forcefully shed blockers but also can win off pure strength as well. Patrolling the secondary is the dup of Larsen and Slagle. Both are playmakers in this defense and create havoc for receivers. Larsen is an aggressive and smooth corner who plays with an edge to him. You can see that when you turn on the tape, Larsen likes the challenge. He covers well, hits hard, and led the team in interceptions (4) a season ago. Slagle is more of an instinctual and finesse player. He plays the role of a safety/rover-type hybrid and is pretty much always around the ball. He led the team in tackles (58 total) a season ago and it wasn't because things were reaching him. He was coming down to make plays and create turnovers. The senior can cover and bait QBs as well, showcasing his versatility.   Grinnell   ATH - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16254520/65fcfa045eede204b82b300c">[player_tooltip player_id='1279700' first='Broc' last='Heishman']</a>   LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17863818/Jack-Gallagher">[player_tooltip player_id='1369795' first='Jack' last='Gallagher']</a>   LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18096450/Logan-McDonald?_gl=1%2A12nuaj2%2A_ga%2AMjAzMzE1MDk0My4xNzIxNzMyOTUz%2A_ga_29LPHS2HWC%2AMTcyNDcxOTAzMS40LjEuMTcyNDcyNTE4MS4wLjAuMA..">Logan McDonald</a>   The Tigers bring back a trio that wreaks havoc all over the place. Heishman is a hybrid-type player who makes plays everywhere. He is efficient when playing close to the line of scrimmage because he is good at blitzing and triggering on the run. He plays with tremendous effort and doesn't give up on plays. Alongside him are linebackers McDonald and Gallagher, who were the team's leading tacklers last season. Both play with tough and physical motors that allow them to pursue the ball with violent efforts. They can both fill gaps without hesitation and are sound at actually bringing ball carriers to the ground. While McDonald is more in the box, Gallagher has the versatility to come off the edge as well as play in the box.     Harlan   DL - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16769606/Hayden-Soma/highlights?_gl=1*k2emf6*_ga*MjAzMzE1MDk0My4xNzIxNzMyOTUz*_ga_29LPHS2HWC*MTcyNDc3MjE0OS41LjEuMTcyNDc3NDA1OC4wLjAuMA..">[player_tooltip player_id='252337' first='Hayden' last='Soma']</a>   LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16773178/657639fd176d2904dc9deffd">[player_tooltip player_id='245592' first='Jozef' last='Reisz']</a>   DB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16912848/65aebb08bd6a8514a46011c4">[player_tooltip player_id='1406611' first='Landen' last='Kaufman']</a>   The Cyclones have some playmakers in this defense. Soma is the workhorse upfront. The senior portrays some good burst and hand usage when rushing the passer. When it comes to the run, he can often get knockbacks that are very disruptive. Behind him in the box is Reisz, who is simply a playmaker. He is good a blitzing and getting knockdowns when the ball is released. He can read the mesh well and trigger. He also is sound when dropping back into coverage and is very reactive. Finally, there is Kaufman who is a capable corner. Kaufman plays with instincts and can usually see what is coming. He is reactive in zone but also efficient in man. He has the speed to stay with deep threats but also can break on routes underneath.     Humboldt   LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17982910/654a5afdd21b95135c790f1b">Cael Donahe</a>   LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16467744/65491dac0c537711709f9451">Mason Van Pelt</a>   ATH - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16467836/6541bc670dc9ee053c3bb06d">[player_tooltip player_id='1280029' first='Keegan' last='Groat']</a>   The Wildcats have an underrated trio, to say the least. Donahe and Van Pelt are tucked in the box while Groat is more of an outside/rover-type backer. Donahe plays with his hair on fire. The kid is a physical defender who just simply likes contact. He can read the mesh well and understands angles, but also is very fast in triggering. Once he sees the ball it is as if he shot out of a canon. Van Pelt is a lot more of a WILL-type backer who can do it all. He is sound when he reads run but also very smooth when he drops back into coverage. Van Pelt, like his teammate, is physical and efficiently pulls his trigger when he sees the run. Groat is the more athletic one of the bunch. He plays well in space and is a quick processor. He is efficient in coverage and can run with guys hip to hip. He is aggressive when filling in on the run but also has good awareness, as you can see in the film.     Independence   LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16501691/6557921d041e3711c89f307a">[player_tooltip player_id='1406617' first='Tate' last='Wood'] </a>   LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16482373/655255270660b50598ad3c48">[player_tooltip player_id='1279979' first='Cameron' last='Roth']</a>   LB - <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/17137079/Cael-Troutman/highlights?_gl=1*1m0zdgn*_ga*MjAzMzE1MDk0My4xNzIxNzMyOTUz*_ga_29LPHS2HWC*MTcyNDc3NTI3NS4xLjEuMTcyNDc3NzE2NS4wLjAuMA..">[player_tooltip player_id='1242263' first='Cael' last='Troutman']</a>   Another defense that has high production through their linebackers, the Mustangs return their trio of bruisers. Wood, Roth, and Troutman are an exciting trio as they all play fast, physical, and instinctively. Leading the charge is Wood who broke the 100 tackle mark last season. Wood plays with excellent effort. He is tough, has a great motor, and plays through his opponents rather than avoiding them. He understands how to maneuver gap schemes and can easily burst through the line of scrimmage to make plays. When taking on blockers, he creates knockback and is good at stopping offensive lineman in their tracks. Next to him is Roth who was second in tackles on the team. Roth may not be as powerful as Wood but he is very athletic and quick. He accelerates well when he sees the ball and often takes good angles to create some serious contact. He is smooth in how he reads mesh and can be slippery when avoiding blockers. He has great pursuit when chasing down tacklers and brings a very tough attitude behind him in his play. Troutman is an outside backer but he is just as physical as his teammates. He attacks the run well and isn't afraid to throw his body in the mix. Tasked with more coverage assignments, he can do whatever is needed when dropping back. He plays with good instincts and can quickly trigger when he sees the ball off. The Mustangs perhaps argue here for one of the best backer cores in the state.

With high school football returning this month, we look at some of the best defensive trios within class 3A. Class 3A will be split into two lists.