Division 1 Senior Standouts on Defense

One of my previous articles focused on standout seniors on offense. Now, let's shift our attention to some of the standout defensive players in Division 1. Here are the defensive players who have made a strong impression throughout their final high school season, listed in no particular order.    Long has had an impressive season for Pickerington North. His fluidity on the boundary has allowed him to turn onto balls and keep an eye on the quarterback at a good level. His zone instincts are there, and his ability to make a ball-dropping hit onto receivers may be my favorite asset he holds. As an overall athlete, the talent is there, and the Bobcats will be happy to have him.      Donehue is one of the smartest and most aware defensive prospects I have watched all season. His ability to produce while keeping an eye on the quarterback is impressive and has led to many balls being batted down. Closing off gaps is another thing that comes with his awareness and overall intelligence, which often leads to team success on their defensive fronts. He can play both inside and outside on a 3-man front and be a wrecker for the line, and his ability to set the edge is impressive when given the opportunity.      Myles Hutchinson is a team captain and an impressive linebacker talent. He has 102 tackles, 2 sacks, and 9.5 TFLs on the season. His explosiveness is prevalent in his ability to stop the run game. With his explosiveness, his ability to get physical and impose his will on attackers is eye-opening.      Schapker is an electric ball of fire for the Liberty defense as his athleticism gets him past offensive linemen. His ability to blaze by tackles both inside and outside is key for the defense to set teams back yards. He also has the ability to just slither in behind the line, and he doesn't waste many tackling opportunities when they come his way.      Aiden "Rocky" Jones is the most impressive athlete I have seen all season. His ability to get up to speed in such little time is astonishing and will reward him in his recruiting cycle. He is primarily an offensive player who stands out, but his defensive play is more impactful simply because you can't test him deep. Standing at 5'8'', you'd think he would be easy pickings but he's made every quarterback he's played been wrong. He works primarily out of the slot if not set at safety, and he can match up well there, too.      Jack Schneider is Westerville Central's focal point in their defense. He is a weapon defending the run, having accumulated 74 tackles and 6 TFLs. Schneider does well at creating havoc over the middle of the field, as he can lay the big hit and tackle hard. He is good at seeking out the right gap and is just a player that every defense needs.      Knapke is a pivotal piece of the Hilliard Bradley defense, and he has been great this season. He has the size and physicality to match up against any personnel grouping the offense shows, and he is flexible between the slot and deep safety. His biggest attribute is his ability to read the eyes of the quarterback. In addition to his defensive play, he has the ability to play on both sides of the special teams game.

One of my previous articles focused on standout seniors on offense. Now, let's shift our attention to some of the standout defensive players in Division 1. Here are the defensive players who have made a strong impression throughout their final high school season, listed in no particular order.