Defenders Putting On a Show in Week 6

This week's group of disruptive difference makers is a deep one. We have athletes from the Classes of 2025 through 2027 making noteworthy impacts and putting out strong stat lines and tape for all of us to watch through. We have several athletes who dominated backfields from the OLB or DE positions. We have one of the top MLBs giving us a 17 tackle performance. Plus we have a sleeper at CB in the Class of 2026 and a new name to know at LB in the Class of 2027. Dive in, get to know these rising studs, and watch their film. Enjoy!    Stats: 5 Tackles, 2 Sacks, 2 TFLs, 3 QB Pressures   Sophomore LB [player_tooltip player_id='782976' first='Jamal' last='Booker'] has become an impactful, disruptive presence on varsity while still being an underclassman. Jamal is developing a wide array of traits to make plays. His first sack on tape came from a nice speed rush where he was able to beat the OT around the edge. The second sack came off of effort after fighting off a block, redirecting, and gang tackling the QB. Jamal also has shown that he has the strength and anchor to set a strong edge by standing up TEs or OTs at the line. Booker also proved he can disengage from those blocks and make the tackle himself too. The standout LB is putting together a good season of disruptive play. Check out the weekly highlights.      Stats: 8 Tackles, 3 TFLs   Liam put himself on our radars at the start of the season, and the junior is back with another dominant performance off the edge. The junior has an impressive base of power that gives him an advantage in several scenarios. The power shows up in his initial get off as he explodes out of his stance and starts to attack the edge. That power also flashes when he decides to turn that quickness into power and bull rush his opponents. Liam is able to create a big push that overpowers OTs. His power to run through block attempts on the way to the ball jumps off the tape as well. He has proven over and over to be too quick to land a reach block on and he makes teams pay with disruptive plays in the backfield when they try to do it to him. Lastly, the power in his hands helped Liam make multiple quick block disengages then get after the ball. Make sure this kid is on your radars. He is a difference maker.      Stats: 10 Tackles, 1 FF   Jesse did a great job of setting the edge vs the Xaiver outside run game. He did a good job of taking on TEs or OTs 1 on 1 without giving up ground. The junior also impressed with his stout anchor while taking on the blocks of pulling linemen. In either situation the junior was able to find the ball, disengage from the block, and make the tackle solo or get involved in the gang tackle. He did a great job of keeping his outside leverage and forcing ball carriers back inside to where his help was. Give the junior's highlights a watch!      Stats: 6 Tackles, 2 PBUs   It is very quick film from Alex this week, but you don't need many clips to see the head turning athleticism jump off the tape. Alex's burst and quickness are next level quality. His ability to accelerate from a stop or to change direction and burst to top speed looks so natural for him. His balance is also key to success in that area. Ciak also has an explosive closing burst to make plays on the ball when it looks like he is out of position. That type of recovery speed at CB is a massive bonus and a great tool to bait QBs into bad throws. I'm going to be keeping more of an eye on the junior CB rest of season. Check out the tape below.      Stats: 10 Tackles, 3 TFLs   The Class of 2027 athletes coming out of Catholic Memorial is an impressive bunch. A new standout from that group to just hit our radars is LB Ne'Vareon Flowers. Flowers already has built a powerful, rangy 6'1" 205 lbs frame. I was really impressed with how consistently clean the MLB stayed while making plays against the run game. He could make linemen miss with lateral quickness or shoot through the gap before anyone could get hands on him. The sophomore is a natural athlete who can easily burst downhill, or pursue out to the sideline all while staying free of blocks. Definitely give this kid a look.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/FNevareon/status/1840524087216537779 </div></figure>     Stats: 9 Tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 Sacks, 1 FF   Watching through the highlights from Brian this past week I could only think of one word. Relentless. The senior DE flies around the field at 100 mph until the whistle blows. He has the physical tools to really impact games with that high motor. Brian is explosive off the ball, and able to get angles or bend around the edge with his speed and flexibility. Brian is able to move laterally so quickly too to avoid blocks on the edge vs the outside run game. The senior has great range for the DL position and it shows up on tape as he chases down ball handlers from across the field. Don't sleep on the senior DE. He is a very disruptive edge defender.      Stats: 17 Tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 PBU   The junior LB is looking bigger and better than ever this season. Jack now checks in at 6'3" 215 lbs, and even with the added size the LB still maintains that impressive play in space that he has always had. Jack plays with a high football IQ, reading the flow of the line and moving with them to maintain his gap, not falling for fakes, and quickly diagnosing plays. The junior LB also has a strong knack for avoiding blocks with his lateral quickness and even shows some quick hand use/fighting techniques to keep himself clean from OL. Murray isn't just an athletic, finesse LB though. He will not hesitate to meet an OL in the hole and power through them to get to the ball carrier for the tackle. Jack finds the ball and has a wide array of traits that can get him to it quickly. He has a nose for the ball and it shows up in the final stat sheet every week. Check out this week's tape!      Stats: 6 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 QB Hurry   Harrison might lack the size needed for the DL, but this kid is about as disruptive as you will find in the trenches this fall. The Week 6 highlights give a great glimpse into his talents. Harrison has an elite motor that is always going full out. He locks onto the ball like a heat seeking missile and doesn't stop attacking until the whistle blows or he makes the hit. Walker has some solid athletic traits that help him be as disruptive as he is. He is very quick off the ball and with his lateral agility while working through the trenches. Harrison can shoot gaps or make OL whiff on blocks then accelerate after the ball. Walker also has flashed quick hands to keep OL off of him. The speed he has to chase down blocks also suggests maybe he could play LB where his frame is more suited. Harrison is a junior so we have time to watch him continue to play and develop. Give him a watch and a follow.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Harriso30547439/status/1841331164247683117 </div></figure>

This week's group of disruptive difference makers is a deep one. We have athletes from the Classes of 2025 through 2027 making noteworthy impacts and putting out strong stat lines and tape for all of us to watch through. We have several athletes who dominated backfields from the OLB or DE positions. We have one of the top MLBs giving us a 17 tackle performance. Plus we have a sleeper at CB in the Class of 2026 and a new name to know at LB in the Class of 2027. Dive in, get to know these rising studs, and watch their film. Enjoy!