Prep Redzone 2024 All-State Championship Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The State Championships have come and gone! This weekend was a fun one, and we got to see some stellar defensive performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's our Defensive All-Championship Defense! <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/prep-redzone-2024-all-state-championship-offense/">Click here to view the Offensive team!</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- 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='437914' first='John' last='Baker'] IV - Cass Tech</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - Charlie Saunders - Lumen Christi</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - Brevin Hendricks - Millington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='600162' first='Marvin' last='McCallum'] - Cass Tech</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='568050' first='Jakoby' last='Lagat'] - Goodrich</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='1358969' first='Paul' last='Hess III'] - Niles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - Luca Gasperoni - Notre Dame Prep</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='568100' first='Brody' last='Sink'] - Notre Dame Prep</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 - Derrick Jackson II - Cass Tech</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Reasoning</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='1312080' first='Derrick' last='Simmons'] - Frankenmuth</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Derrick was the #1 defensive lineman and one of the best offensive linemen in the State Championships. He wrecked the ND Prep offensive line. I watched him break through double teams, bench-press opposing linemen to the ground, and lay some massive hits. Amazing football player- and could have an immediate impact at Michigan State</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='437914' first='John' last='Baker'] IV - Cass Tech</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Baker IV played a good game against Hudsonville. He totaled 4 tackles, 1 TFL, and 1 fumble recovery. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - Charlie Saunders - Lumen Christi</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This guy played out of his mind and forced Lansing Catholic to be very one-dimensional. Just too quick for the LC O-Line. Stats speak for itself - 7 tackles, 2 sacks, 3.5TFLs, 1 forced fumble. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL - Brevin Hendricks - Millington</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brevin played a major role in shutting out a team averaging 46PPG in the postseason. He led the charge with really good physicality. Final Stats - 6 tackles, 2 sacks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='600162' first='Marvin' last='McCallum'] - Cass Tech</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without Marvin, this game would have been a lot closer. I thought the Hudsy O-Line did a decent job, but Marvin made sure a lot of those runs they're used to running 4-7 yards instead went for 1-3 yards. Really good play speed and physicality all game. <br>Stats - 8 Tackles</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='568050' first='Jakoby' last='Lagat'] - Goodrich</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm happy to have seen [player_tooltip player_id='568050' first='Jakoby' last='Lagat'] finally beak into the scene. He played an excellent game against what is usually a stellar Niles offense. Jakoby was one of the fastest and most reactive LBs of the weekend! Stats- 4 tackles, 1 Sack, 2TFLs, 1 forced fumble</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='1358969' first='Paul' last='Hess III'] - Niles</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I watched Paul Hess in back-to-back weeks on two of the biggest games of his High School career. He rose to the occasion twice, playing excellent on defense, and excellent on offense during last week's semifinal game.<br>State-Championship Stats - 12 Tackles</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - Luca Gasperoni - Notre Dame Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of many amazing players on the Notre Dame Prep defense. Gasperoni totaled an outstanding 13 tackles in their domination of Frankenmuth. He's played phenomenal all season and deserves a shot at the next level! </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>Max is one of the best tackling DBs I've ever seen. On top of that, he's very physical and gets off of blocks quickly. He's everything he's advertised to be, and I think he'll be a phenomenal player in the MAC. Stats- 4 tackles, 3TFLs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='568100' first='Brody' last='Sink'] - Notre Dame Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A great State Championship performance from Brody. He's finally earned a ton of well-deserved attention after playing at a high level for years. He's fast, can tackle, blitz, cover, whatever you need. Stats- 6 tackles, 1 sack, 2TFLs.</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>[player_tooltip player_id='329420' first='Alex' last='Graham'] is now my #2 player in the Class of 2025. I was incredibly impressed with his state championship performance. He's built incredibly well and is somehow a little underrated, in my opinion. Truly one of the best DBs I've ever watched. Can do it all. I very strongly believe that Alex will accomplish a lot at Colorado. <br>Stats- 6 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - Derrick Jackson II - Cass Tech</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Derrick was yet another Cass Tech player who played great in the Division 1 State Championship. His stats say it all! <br>Stats- 7 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->