1A Midseason Defensive Player of the Year Watchlist

<p>We're just over halfway through the regular season and after checking in with players by year, it's time to start preparing for our end of year awards. We're not sure exactly how, but we want to have a fan-voted element to this year's Player of the Year lists. That will come next month. For now, we wanted to give people an idea of where we stand with these awards.</p>   <p>While this list won't be exhaustive, there's a good chance our 1A Defensive Player of the Year comes from this list. Here are some guys we think could take home the award.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top 1A Defensive Player of the Year Candidates</h2>   <p>As a note here, while Prep Redzone typically focuses more on college potential than high school stats, this is a notable exception. We're not simply giving the award to the highest-ranked player in the class and will instead seek to give it to the player who has the biggest impact on the game in each class. We already looked at the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/10/midseason-1a-offensive-player-of-the-year-watchlist/">1A offensive watchlist</a>.</p>   <p>Accordingly, there will be high-profile players who don't even make our check-ins and watch lists and there might be some players on the lists that don't end up gaining much traction on the recruiting trail. That being said, these players are some of the best in their class and deserve to be recognized.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">Hamm is one of the best young defensive players in the state, regardless of class and he's shown it this year, with at least one sack in every game this season. He can win with speed or power and has flashed an array of pass-rushing moves. He's been used some on offense this year where he's averaged nearly 30 yards a catch, but as always, it's his defense that will win him awards.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">We put Cuthbertson on the offensive watchlist, but it's only fair that we put him on the 1A Defensive Player of the year watchlist as well. While Winston-Salem Prep has struggled some, he's been everywhere on defense, racking up 38 tackles, including six for loss and has forced a bunch of turnovers, both forcing fumbles and coming up with interceptions.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">The state's leading tackler is a candidate to be named the best defender in 1A. Johnson isn't the biggest guy, but he sorts through offensive linemen well in the running game and knows where to find ball-carriers. He's excellent on special teams as well, which helps him add to his numbers.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Hughes is as disruptive a speed-rushing defensive tackle as you'll ever see, and he's among the class leaders in tackles despite playing exclusively with his hand in the dirt as a three-technique. Hughes is both a dynamic pass-rusher and strong run defender. He's playing his best ball at the moment and has gotten better as the season has gone on.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Powell has had a fantastic season so far, leading the class with 14 sacks and also has two of just three 115-yard passing performances for Tarboro in the past seven years. Powell is growing as a pass-rusher and learning how to use an array of pass-rushing moves. The results are obvious and he's helping Tarboro to another potential deep playoff run.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other 1A Defensive Player of the Year Candidates</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">DJ Joyce, DL, Mount Airy</h3>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1717339' first='Jason' last='Eaton'], DL, Mountain Island Charter</h3>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1717322' first='Steven' last='Elliott'], DL, Perquimans</h3>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1678636' first='Caden' last='Fritz'], LB, Christ the King</h3>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Kadence Leatherwood, LB, Murphy</h3>   <p>Think we missed someone? Let me know on Twitter (@whelms21). Want to make sure we see you compete in person? Register for our <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/1324/register/carolinas-stock-up-showcase">Stock Up Showcase</a> on Dec. 15. Use discount code HelmsPRZ2024 at checkout for $10 off your regristration.</p>

We're just over halfway through the regular season and after checking in with players by year, it's time to start preparing for our end of year awards. We're not sure exactly how, but we want to have a fan-voted element to this year's Player of the Year lists. That will come next month. For now, we wanted to give people an idea of where we stand with these awards.