Uncovered Gems #17 - OK Red Defense #4

A final look at defensive players in the OK Red! Over the past week, I've evaluated dozens upon dozens of players from this great league. A lot of newly-discovered players who will be ranked in February, and a few more here! Today, we're looking at a DT and DB from Hudsonville, EDGE from Grandville, LB from Jenison, and a LB from Grand Haven.    Luke has an opportunity to be the best defensive lineman in the OK Conference next season.   As a sophomore, Luke already made a huge impact. Just look at the highlight at 1:14- solid getoff, great swim move, and earns the QB pressure. Not many sophomore defensive tackles move that quick. Then, at 1:20, Luke sheds the block with a great push-pull move and earns a great tackle. At 1:29, he splits a double team. I could go on and on.   Awesome highlights- Luke WILL be ranked during the next update!      Malachi is a very high-effort player. His first highlight shows an excellent sideline-to-sideline TD-saving tackle against East Kentwood. His next highlight is a solid TD on a post route- and it looks to be the same game against EK.   The rest of his tape consists mostly of good defensive plays and a few plays on special teams. Although I don't think Malachi is super athletic, every single highlight shows tremendous effort. Great play speed, great effort, and pretty physical. If Malachi can hit the weight room and become a bit of a better athlete, he'll be a great Varsity player.      Motor, motor, motor. I'm very impressed with the motor shown by Demario'n throughout his three-minute tape. Watch the first 30 seconds, and you'll see three amazing run stops in what looks like the same game against Hudsonville. Even if he's far from the RB (0:14), Damario'n still gets on his horse and chases down the ballcarrier.   Last highlight I'll mention is at 1:46. Hudsonville is trying to run a trap play, while Demario'n blows it up by running a stunt right into the pulling guard's vacant gap, tackling the RB from the backside. Most players simply aren't explosive enough to make that play.   GREAT tape from Demario'n. His height will probably limit recruitment, but he's still 100% a Saturday player.      Mason had a solid season as a hybrid linebacker. Lining up on ball, Mason oftentimes freely rushing from the edge on bltizes. For example, at 2:19, Mason explodes off the ball, earns a free lane to the RB, and gets in on a gang tackle.   I also like the overall effort shown every highlight. At 2:35, Mason is dead to rights with two linemen in front of him while the play is run to the opposite side of the field. A lot of players would check out in this situation, but instead, the running back cuts back, leaving a wide-open field to run with the exception of Mason. Without Mason making an excellent diving tackle for loss, that RB could have scored with all of the blockers he had.   Solid stuff from Mason. I'm not sure about his athleticism, so it's difficult to say if he's a college prospect. With good camp performances, he could earn D3 attention.      Quick eval for Sawyer- he's an excellent high school linebacker.   Physical, has good play speed, and is an overall great inside run-stopper. At 0:54, Sawyer immediately diagnoses the inside run, fills the gap, and makes a quick tackle. At 1:48, another quick read, a little bit of an over pursuit, but at the end, a good tackle.   Height will very likely limit Sawyers recruitment. Regardless, he's a great high school LB who should have a great senior season.

A final look at defensive players in the OK Red! Over the past week, I've evaluated dozens upon dozens of players from this great league. A lot of newly-discovered players who will be ranked in February, and a few more here! Today, we're looking at a DT and DB from Hudsonville, EDGE from Grandville, LB from Jenison, and a LB from Grand Haven.