Pallone’s 2025 Preseason All OK Conference Defense

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>My hand-picked ideal defense from the Ottawa Kent conference. Needless to say, all of these players should be All-Region contendors at the absolute least. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">All OK Conference Defense</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OLB - [player_tooltip player_id='1251326' first='Elijah' last='Reynolds'] - West Ottawa</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rare to find someone as tall and athletic as Elijah. Has put in the work and is on his way to reaching his High School potential. As long as he's coachable, Elijah should find success at Central Michigan! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OLB - [player_tooltip player_id='568150' first='Brayden' last='Sweeney'] - Grand Rapids Catholic Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pressure creates diamonds. Through the expectations and tough work that come with starting at GR Catholic Central, Brayden has excelled. Will be an extremely important leader on a program looking to return to Ford Field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MLB - [player_tooltip player_id='1015657' first='Garrett' last='Nawrocki'] - Grandville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A straight-up great all-around LB. Happy to see the Northwood offer! Will once again be a massive piece of the Grandville defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MLB - [player_tooltip player_id='1291399' first='Sam' last='Cummings'] - Rockford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rockford linebackers tend to be extremely fundamentally sound. Doesn't matter how big, strong, or athletic- if you start at LB at Rockford, chances are you're an extremely good high school football player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='568145' first='George' last='Duggins'] - Mona Shores</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duggins, man. From an extremely promising safety at Spring Lake to a superstar at Mona Shores. Took a big step up last season and will take another step forward this season. One of the best safeties in Michigan. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='1689131' first='Grayson' last='Tidd'] - Grand Rapids Catholic Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Extremely promising athletic metrics. Western Michigan offered. Currently extremely underrated. People should know Tidd's name if Catholic Central makes another deep playoff run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='1331349' first='Austin' last='Nelson'] - East Kentwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Extremely impressive coverage skills. Good instincts. Fluid hips. Patient. Confident. Has a chance to emerge into a star this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB - [player_tooltip player_id='1148719' first='Luke' last='Ahern'] - Rockford</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hits like a truck. Solid athlete. The epitome of a Rockford football player. You simply won't find a more physical DB in Michigan. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DE - [player_tooltip player_id='1264786' first='Recarder' last='Kitchen'] - Muskegon</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The most obvious selection on this list. Big, daunting DE with too many offers to count. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DE - [player_tooltip player_id='1613777' first='Ryan' last='Aukeman'] - Hudsonville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Flew all over the field last season. Can rush the passer. Doesn't let anyone outside of him. Pretty athletic for his size. Will be a game-changer again this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DT - James Jones Jr - East Kentwood</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will be a massively valuable piece of the EK D-Line. Flashes an elite getoff. When he's on, he's one of the best DTs in West Michigan. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DT - [player_tooltip player_id='1529533' first='Luke' last='Brodnicki'] - Hudsonville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Near-elite run stopper. Extremely valuable to his team, and a headache for offensive coordinators. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH - [player_tooltip player_id='671877' first='Aaron' last='Ricord'] - West Catholic</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Can't leave Ricord off this list. Excellent football player on both sides of the ball. Plug him in pretty much anywhere on defense. Nickel, strong safety, free safety, linebacker- he can do it all! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->