Pallone’s 2024 All-Scouted Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched a LOT of great defenders this season. Here are the best of the hundreds of defensive players I watched in person this season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All-Scouted Defense</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='1312080' first='Derrick' last='Simmons'] - Frankenmuth</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='1217538' first='Jacob' last='Tur'] - De La Salle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - Xavier Newsome - Detroit MLK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='247641' first='Zachary' last='Green'] - UofD Jesuit</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='212359' first='Isaiah' last='Harris'] - Saline</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='1291326' first='Connor' last='Brintnall'] - Hudsonville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - Paul Hess - Niles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='602039' first='Brady' last='Hamby'] - Dakota</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='1246940' first='Drew' last='Heimbuch'] - Notre Dame Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='566881' first='Nathan' last='Gersh'] - Dexter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='899621' first='Chris' last='Little'] - Birmingham Groves</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='577658' first='Max' last='Macklem'] - Goodrich</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='329420' first='Alex' last='Graham'] - Cass Tech</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='602014' first='Troy' last='Temple'] - Walled Lake Western</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Reasoning</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='1312080' first='Derrick' last='Simmons'] - Frankenmuth</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Although Frankenmuth lost in the State Championship, I was INCREDIBLY impressed with Derrick on both sides of the ball. In the first drive alone, Derrick broke through a few double-teams and blew up plays. Confident he'll be a great player at MSU. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='1217538' first='Jacob' last='Tur'] - De La Salle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Someone who still doesn't get much attention. Tur has great size, great motor, and I'd be surprised if he isn't a very good college football player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - Xavier Newsome - Detroit MLK</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watch a lot of players Xavier's size, but those players are very rarely as athletic as Xavier. He's a low Power 4 prospect in my eyes, and I think he'll do a great job at Howard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='247641' first='Zachary' last='Green'] - UofD Jesuit</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No quit in Zachary. I watched him during a game that all of UofD would like to forget. When a lot of his team looked down and out, Zachary kept on going and was very successful. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='212359' first='Isaiah' last='Harris'] - Saline</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An excellent speed rusher. Did very, very well against a B1G tackle prospect who was frankly too slow for Isaiah's speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='1291326' first='Connor' last='Brintnall'] - Hudsonville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll say it again- the best linebacker in West Michigan. Led the Hudsonville LB core, which was the best in the state, IMO. Very competitive, fast, great tackler. Can't wait to see where Connor plays his college ball if he wants to go that route. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - Paul Hess - Niles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've talked about Paul a couple of times over the past two weeks, but I'll reiterate what I've been saying about him. Against South Christian, he played phenomenally. Insanely physical, fast to the football, and very competitive. Against Goodrich, he played the exact same.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maybe a little undersized for the position, but I am still confident he can become a good college football player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='602039' first='Brady' last='Hamby'] - Dakota</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The #2 linebacker I watched all season. Maybe colleges think he has a lower ceiling for some reason? He undoubtedly played better than several D1 prospects I watched this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='1246940' first='Drew' last='Heimbuch'] - Notre Dame Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An insanely high-motor player who is schemed up to make a ton of plays. Huge credit to Drew for being able to blitz and tackle great in space. Some credit to the ND Prep staff for scheming up EXCELLENT defense all season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='566881' first='Nathan' last='Gersh'] - Dexter</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The best linebacker I watched all season. Nathen has it all. He's got the size, speed, explosiveness, and competitiveness. He's going to be a very good Division 1 football player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='899621' first='Chris' last='Little'] - Birmingham Groves</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outperformed my expectations when I watched him against Seaholm. Absolutely PERFECT fit for Grand Valley State Football. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='577658' first='Max' last='Macklem'] - Goodrich</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just a straight-up great football player. On both sides of the ball, he does all the little things right. Can't wait to see what Max does in college. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='329420' first='Alex' last='Graham'] - Cass Tech</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the most impressive performances of the season at the Division 1 State Championship. Perhaps the best high school DB I've ever seen in person. I am HIGHLY confident that Alex will have an amazing career at USC. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='602014' first='Troy' last='Temple'] - Walled Lake Western</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another player who does all of the little things correctly. Great all-around defender. Not afraid to stop the run, tackle in space, plus he's pretty rangy defending the pass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->