Prep Redzone 1st-Team All Kickoff Classic – DEFENSE / ST

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Man, we saw some GREAT defense this past weekend! Having watched four games, eight teams, and dozens of college prospects, it was difficult to narrow down the talent to a first-team defense. So, here's the first-team defense alongside two specialists that also deserve first-team honors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defense</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='899614' first='Deshawn' last='Murray'] - Belleville -<a href="https://x.com/deshaun_murray">@deshaun_murray</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The best defensive line performance for Belleville. Consistently manhandled the Clarkston offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1417617,"width":"469px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/IMG_6110-crop-1537x1009-1725282522.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1417617" style="width:469px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - Xavier Newsome - DET King - <a href="https://x.com/NewsomXavier">@NewsomXavier</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was very impressed with Xavier (Tree). He was having fun out there, took just about every rep seriously, and played with great instincts. Tree is a very talented player with a ton of leadership potential at the next level! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1417621,"width":"454px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/IMG_6193-crop-1537x1009-1725282636.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1417621" style="width:454px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='1217538' first='Jacob' last='Tur'] - De La Salle - <a href="https://x.com/Jacob_Tur">@Jacob_Tur</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The best defensive line performance of week 1. No interior defensive lineman plays with the motor that Jacob does. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='1312088' first='Warren' last='Cain'] - Davison - <a href="https://x.com/WarrenCain44">@WarrenCain44</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A massive talent. Both literally and metaphorically. Makes pass rush look like a cake walk, has LONG arms that get in the way of passing lanes, and a super wide tackle radius. If he develops well at Western, Warren could be an incredible Division 1 football player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - Samare Stephens - DET King - <a href="https://x.com/SamareaStephens/media">@SamareaStephens</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not the biggest or strongest linebacker, but a fearless player that reacts quickly. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='1538482' first='Brock' last='Culpepper'] - Trenton - <a href="https://x.com/BrockCulpepper1">@BrockCulpepper1</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A hard-hitter with a ton of upside. A BIG reason why Trenton stopped the run with so much success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='899627' first='Dalton' last='Drogosh'] - De La Salle - <a href="https://x.com/DDrogosh">@DDrogosh</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A key player for this De La Salle defense. Dalton was a huge reason why Davison couldn't run the ball, and he's also one of the best pass-defending LBs in the state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='601054' first='Andre' last='Thomas Jr'] - Belleville - <a href="https://x.com/AThomasJr_2025">@AThomasJr_2025</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Andre hits, he HITS. There were a ton of extremely hard hits from Andre, and great instincts demonstrated on Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1417627,"width":"448px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/IMG_6118-crop-1537x1009-1725282825.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1417627" style="width:448px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='567929' first='Jaidon' last='Windom'] - DET King - <a href="https://x.com/sparvyy">@sparvyy</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A few great plays in addition to his game-sealing interception. He was having fun out there, and I can't wait to see how he does against De La Salle this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - Ke'Jwan Reed - Cleveland Heights - <a href="https://x.com/KejwanReed">@KejwanReed</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reed was all over the field on Friday. Even though his team lost, Reed was playing tight coverage and made a few great tackles. This is a high-effort and athletic football player who seems underrecruited. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='437958' first='Sebastian' last='Rouse'] - De La Salle - <a href="https://x.com/SebastianRouse2">@SebastianRouse2</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I can't count the number of times I heard Sebastian's name on Thursday night. Good coverage, a sack, and an all-around excellent performance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - Tray Haido - Davison - <a href="https://x.com/trayxhaido">@trayxhaido</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tray had himself a nice game. It was good to see growth compared to last year, and I hope he's able to string together several good performances. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Specialists</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>K - Aidan O'Neill - Clarkston - <a href="https://x.com/aidanoneillll">@aidanoneillll</a></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Touchback machine. Did not attempt an FG, but he's obviously got a big leg that can make big kicks if necessary. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>P - Brayden Bower - Clarkston - No Twitter found</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>BOMBING punts all day. Very impressed with his in-game and practice performance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->