Defensive Game Changers You Need To Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Take a look at some big time players that need more recognition heading into the spring: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1682335' first='Gavin' last='Athey']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"275","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Camp Verde ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6803edee2ea75"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Athey is a very raw prospect with a ton of potential moving forward. Strong, sturdy frame at 6'2" 280lbs with excellent play strength on both sides of the ball. Tenacious kid that plays with a ton of energy and mean streak. He shows a solid initial ball get off and has a good understanding of leverage to utilize his violent hands and play strength to his advantage in a variety of ways. He moves well within his frame as well, showing good lateral mobility and frequently takes accurate angles toward ball carriers. A legit game changer that is easily one of the best players in 2A that deserves to have some eyes on him as we start up spring ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["739458"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6803edee2ead5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I really like Polk out of YC to have a big senior season and see that attention flood in. Quick, twitched up kid with excellent instincts and disciplined eyes. Really good transition and burst on the ball- showcasing good flexibility with loose hips, frequently making bursts from all angles look smooth. Scrappy player as well as he shows the ability to utilize violent hands to fight through blocks. Excellent strength at the POC given his size at 5'10" 160lbs, frequently delivering big hits. Looking forward to what he can bring to the table here in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["739451"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6803edee2eb1d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lang sizes up with an athletic frame with excellent length, and is developing into a promising Edge rusher at the 3A level. He does a great job using that length and physicality against OT's to take away the outside. Excellent pursuit as he'll oftentimes make plays in the backfield from the opposite end, and possesses deceptive speed within those long strides to cover ground quickly. Solid all around tackler in the run game with good lateral bounce to make plays lateral down the LOS. Lang's frame alone should draw some attention his way- and he has a huge opportunity to rise his stock moving forward. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1603412"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6803edee2eb64"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hanna is a young prospect that needs to be on your radar as he enters his junior year, coming off a huge 2024 by racking up 145 total tackles with 17 TFL's, 6 sacks, and an INT. HE does a great job keeping a low center of gravity to utilize leverage and bend to fight through blocks and blow up plays. Excellent in the box to quickly recognize developing lanes to fill quickly with a low POC and explode through the hips of opponents. Hard nosed kid that will relentlessly involve himself in every play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1177561"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6803edee2eba8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Utley comes off a strong junior season by racking up 13 sacks, 80 tackles, and 21 TFL's. He shows a nice initial burst off the ball and solid short area quickness to squeeze or plug those gaps immediately. Really good gap awareness and play recognition overall with solid instincts. He flashes violent hands with the ability to swipe, swim, or dip through opponents to put himself in position to make plays- and knows when to disengage and pursuit, flashing good anticipation. Quick, strong, powerful kid along that D-line with loads of potential moving forward, and should definitely be on your radar. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->