Pallone’s 2025 Preseason All Catholic-Central Defense (MI)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're back with the All Catholic League Defense! Just like the offense, we're pulling from OLSM, DLS, DCC, and Brother Rice. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Preseason All Catholic League Defense</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DE - [player_tooltip player_id='422612' first='Gage' last='Nessen'] - St. Mary's</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been a really good offseason for Gage, as he's earned offers from Grand Valley State, Albion, and Wayne State. Safe to say Gage has improved this offseason. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DE - [player_tooltip player_id='1429031' first='Hunter' last='Stokes'] - Detroit Catholic Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A successful Junior season with 5 sacks, 8TFLs, and 3 FF. I'd expect Hunter to play an even bigger role on this defense this season. Logic says Hunter has improved this offseason, and his production should follow. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DT - [player_tooltip player_id='1309977' first='Treighjan' last='Gibson'] - St. Mary's</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shoo-in. One of, if not the best, interior defensive linemen in Michigan. Uber-athletic for the position. Does the little things well. Smart player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DT - William Cartwright Jr. - De La Salle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I was able to get a good look at William Cartwright Jr once this offseason. I liked what I saw. Size is as-advertised, and he's got a couple of good pass rush moves. This is one of my biggest interior D-Line breakout candidates! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='566976' first='Anthony' last='Bitonti'] - De La Salle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bitonti should be a full-time linebacker this season. Last season, he showed great flashes. This offseason, he was able to earn the attention of several Division 1 programs. The Princeton commit should have a breakout, all-conference season at linebacker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - [player_tooltip player_id='489281' first='Brandon' last='Adams Jr'] - St. Mary's</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have a pretty bullish ranking for [player_tooltip player_id='489281' first='Brandon' last='Adams Jr']. Love his upside at linebacker. Physical and athletic enough to be an all-state LB, and develop further in college. Also, one of the better multi-positional players in the catholic league. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - William Lewis - Brother Rice</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A guy who I completely missed over the years. Total blind spot. Love Lewis's effort. Hits like a truck. Solid athlete as well. Should be a phenomenal linebacker on what should be a much-improved defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB - Joshua Atiemo - Detroit Catholic Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reactive, smart, athletic linebacker. A handful of super high-effort plays. Sound tackler who knows when to deliver the big hit. Played his best ball against DCC's toughest postseason opponents. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='1687171' first='Gideon' last='Gash'] - Detroit Catholic Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Corners taller than 6'1" are rare. It's even more rare to get a tall DB who can move as well as Gideon can. He can also play X receiver as good as anyone in Michigan. Gideon is going to be a problem this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='1201160' first='Caden' last='Blankenburg'] - St. Mary's</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's been a good offseason for Caden, as he's earned offers from Miami (OH) and Kent State. Caden was a productive player on both sides of the ball last season. He'll play a similar role this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - Luca Genrich - Detroit Catholic Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big-time player who made a few big-time plays last season. Uber-reactive, not afraid to jump a route, punishes QBs who throw late. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='566975' first='David' last='Williams'] - De La Salle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Practically the entire MAC is after [player_tooltip player_id='566975' first='David' last='Williams']. A gifted athlete, and arguably the best DB in the Catholic League. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='528080' first='Deondre' last='Hill'] - Brother Rice</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm expecting Hill to take a massive leap this season. He's gotten his feet wet as a freshman. Now, he's expected to play a huge role for Brother Rice this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->