Dominant Defensive Standouts: Week 5

This week we have a great balance of hidden gems in the Class of 2025 and quickly rising athletes in the Class of 2026 and 2027. The thing they all have in common is that this group was putting up impressive numbers with their talented traits. Numbers that include 20 tackles, 3 Sacks, multiple INTs, and a lot of backfield disruption. Get these steals, and up and coming standouts on your radars today. Also make sure to check out the film that is linked to each athlete. Enjoy!    Stats: 8 Tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU   In the Nathan Hale zone coverage scheme Braeden has was able to make multiple highlight reel plays in Week 5. The junior did a great job of keeping everything in front of him and also turning and running with the receiver if they attacked deep downfield. On plays that were in front of him, the junior CB was quick to read and react. That led to his INT and also allowed him to make several solid tackles right after the catch to prevent any YAC. Looking more at his tackling, Schick doesn't away from contact and has proven he can be counted on to make the one on one tackles in space. Check out the weekly highlights from the junior.      Stats: 15 Tackles   The junior LB showed his versatility on the way to a very productive Week 5 playing ILB and OLB during this game. Deondre is showing noteworthy talent, roaming the front seven and pursuing sideline to sideline. He brings the physicality needed to thrive in the front seven. Klemme is able to engage and disengage quickly while maintaining his gap or outside leverage if playing contain on the edge. Deondre also proved to be a stout tackler who could stuff any sort of forward progression on impact. Check out the junior's highlights from the week vs a talented opponent.      Stats: 5 Tackles, 1 TFL   Quinn is a hidden gem who is shining this fall on the OL and the DL. I'm very excited for his potential at DE and the Week 5 tape shows why. First off, the senior has a great frame to build on at the next level. He is 6'4" 230 lbs with long limbs that jump off the tape as he creates separation on the edge. That separation is created from very impressive upper body strength. There are multiple highlights of him completely rag dolling opponents as he presses them away and tosses them to the ground before making the tackle. That allowed him to set a stout edge this past week and be clean to make tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage. Quinn is one of the top athletes on a successful Burlington team.      Stats: 20 Tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 FFs, 3 PBUs   This is not the first time we have covered the weekly performances of sophomore LB [player_tooltip player_id='1226911' first='Cayden' last='Cavanaugh']. The standout sophomore keeps giving us reason to shine the spotlight back on him. This time it is because of an ultra-productive week with 20 tackles and plenty of plays on the football. The highly productive day helped contribute to a defensive shutout for De Pere. Against the run, Cayden is on the hunt. He is quick to lock onto his target and has the downhill burst and lateral movement to work his way to the ball in a hurry. This week also showed the comfortable play in zone coverage as he reads the QB and gets his hands into the throwing window. The instincts are getting better and better and the sophomore is doing a great job of reacting to what he sees quickly. The arrow continues to point up of this kid.      Stats: 7.5 Tackles, 1 Sack, 3 TFLs   While Sam doesn't have the prototypical size of a college LB, he does bring a lot of the traits to the field that you look for. The first being how strong and stout the senior is. He routinely runs through blocks or bull rushes blockers into the backfield leading to a lot of play disruption. That power also shines in his hard hitting tackles that stand up runners and drive them back. Weber also has a very high motor that has helped him make some impressive pursuit tackles. The senior stood out during the game I attended live earlier this year, and he is continuing to dominate in the middle of the Kaukauna defense here at the midseason point.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/SamWeber_32/status/1837972988316017094 </div></figure>     Stats: 15 Tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 Sack 1 FF   Arrowhead earned a massive conference win in Week 5, holding a very good Muskego offense to 3 points. One of the athletes leading the way was standout junior LB [player_tooltip player_id='700149' first='Brendan' last='Foley']. The junior has an elite downhill burst against the run and as a blitzed. The speed he plays with between the tackles really jumped off the tape this week, even while being surrounded by a lot of talent. His instincts and reaction to what he reads allows him to meet the ball carrier right at the line of scrimmage. Foley also brings the speed needed to wreck havoc in the backfield, flying through gaps untouched. He also navigates through the trash within the trenches so well on his way to the ball. The junior is going to continue to rise with the development he has made this offseason and season. He is a talented LB recruit in the Class of 2026.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/brendanfoley07/status/1837986658223903153 </div></figure>     Stats: 2 Tackles, 2 INTs, 1 Pick Six, 1 PBU   Kaleb is an under the radar senior who will be on the rise with tape and production like this. The first takeaway from the tape is that the senior can efficiently transition from backpedal to attacking downhill on the ball. He is smooth in his transitions in coverage overall too, allowing him to close quickly and jump routes, like he did on his pick six. The senior CB also brings the physicality and tackling needed to truly thrive and be trusted out on an island. It was a great week from the 2025 CB. Keep an eye on him the rest of this season.      Stats: 9 Tackles 3 Sacks, 3 TFLs   Against a very talented OL unit, Racine Park's senior DL Nation Santoya- White was able to pile up an impressive individual stat line. He was all over the backfield disrupting timing and getting pressure on the QB. The senior found success inside at DT and outside at DE this week too. He showed he could use his hands and leverage to drive IOL off the ball and into the backfield. He also demonstrated a quick first step and decent bend to run the loop to the QB. Natavion plays with the power needed to hold the line of scrimmage all along the trenches. The combination of power, quickness, and leverage makes the senior an intriguing prospect. Check him out. Don't sleep on him.      Stats: 4 Tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 Sack   It was a great week off the edge for junior ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1220652' first='Ryan' last='Westrich']. His elite length and power make it easy for him to drive OTs off the line and then disengage when he gets near the ball carrier. His long strides allow him to get to the depth of the ball in the backfield so quickly and he has the body control to be able to stop, move laterally, or cut to the football. Ryan is an exciting prospect because he wins so consistently with raw power and natural gifts. As he learns more of the technique of the position he could take a massive leap. His best football is still way ahead of him. Check out one of the best in WI.

This week we have a great balance of hidden gems in the Class of 2025 and quickly rising athletes in the Class of 2026 and 2027. The thing they all have in common is that this group was putting up impressive numbers with their talented traits. Numbers that include 20 tackles, 3 Sacks, multiple INTs, and a lot of backfield disruption. Get these steals, and up and coming standouts on your radars today. Also make sure to check out the film that is linked to each athlete. Enjoy!