The Buck Stops Here: Best Defensive Efforts of Week 1

Defenses usually have the upper hand early on in the season. They rely on reading and reacting over timing and that allows the athletes to fly around more freely and confidently earlier in the season compared to offensive players. Several athletes across WI verified that idea with the numbers and tape they put out in Week 1. It was great to see very noteworthy performances from athletes at basically every position in Week 1, and now that I am back from my wedding and honeymoon it is time for us to talk about it! So let's dive right into some of the state's best Week 1 defensive performances!    Stats: 7 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 FR   Things are developing really well for 2027 edge defender [player_tooltip player_id='1426803' first='Harlan' last='Kuehn']. He has had a great frame going back to his sophomore season. In Week 1 we see that he has taken that next step in learning how to utilize his length to make plays. He is able to create and maintain separation with his hands, and is showing more consistent success with his lateral agility and burst to defeat blocks and get into the backfield to create havoc. Harlan also shows the high motor needed to make the extra effort plays out in space and downfield. The arrow is pointing upwards for the 2027 edge.     Stats: 19 Tackles, 1 Sack, 2 TFLs, 1 INT   Unfortunately things didn't go how EC Memorial wanted them to, but safety [player_tooltip player_id='1506633' first='Ryan' last='Schultz'] had himself a night. He was all over the field racking up 19 tackles. Ryan proved to have taken a big step over the offseason. He flew around the field in Week 1. You will see him explode downhill against the run from 12 yards deep and meet the RB at or behind the line of scrimmage and make very sound tackles. Ryan is an athlete you can trust to make those one on one tackles in space. You can also trust him in deep zone coverage. He does a great job of reading the QB, processing plays, and also has the closing speed to make plays on the ball. Ryan's short area agility and change of direction also make him a viable option to cover man to man when necessary. He is already looking like a riser in the Class of 2026 and more importantly, a steal.      Stats: 7 Tackles, 3 Sacks, 4.5 TFLs   One of the top edge athletes in the Class of 2026 had himself the type of Week 1 performance that should garner him vastly more attention than he has received to this point. The explosive DE set up residence in the offensive backfield and took over the game. Nick comes off the line like he is shot out of a cannon. His first step and acceleration made for nightmares for the opposing OL. Even with his 240 lbs frame, Nick has several clips showing off how much of an athlete he is. You see the range to chase down plays or the agility to be able to tackle RBs 1 on 1 in space. Nick closes quickly and violently. He is such a steal at the DE/edge positions. Give his tape a watch!      Stats: 10 Tackles, 1 FF   We have been excited to see Josh back on the field after missing a lot of 2024. The senior DB delivered with a 10 tackle night in a big time Week 1 win. Joshua is a safety that is going to run through you when he tackles you. He closes quickly and is always the one who delivers the hit. No doubt he is the hammer in every tackle. Missing time hasn't affected his instincts and ability to diagnose plays. He sits back deep, reads, and then flashes the range to get to the ball and punish the offensive player before they can pick up any significant yardage. It was a great start to a senior season that should turn heads as the weeks go by.      Stats: 8 Tackles, 1 Sack, 2 TFLs   I'm blown away by the leap that Hudson has taken from his junior season to this season. The senior DE/Edge flashed next level agility, quickness, and hand use to get around OLs. Hudson was able to win over and over, both inside and outside, with his athleticism in the trenches. Also his range to chase down the ball around the backfield. Paired with that is some solid strength in his upper body to shed blocks and lower body strength to hold the line of scrimmage against the run game. I highly recommend taking a fresh look at the 2026 DL/Edge.      Stats: 10 Tackles, 1 PBU   The off-ball OLB for Oshkosh West had a great first week of his junior season. He flew around the field showing good eye discipline. Melvin did a great job of finding the ball in traffic and through fakes, staying home, and getting to the ball efficiently through all the trash in the front seven. Melvin also brings that physical, thumper play style against the run game where he delivers hard hits that end forward progression. Keep an eye on the 2027 LB.      Stats: 7 Tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 FR   Even while being asked to primarily play OL in Week 1 Jake was able to put together some impressive defensive highlights. The long, lean edge defender caught my eyes with his outstanding burst off the line of scrimmage, range in the backfield, and closing speed that ended with violent collisions. It was great to see him be able to stay home, set the edge, force the ball inside, and make the tackle as a run defender. Jake looks better than ever, showing three down potential with a very safe floor of being an explosive pass rusher off the edge.      Stats: 10 Tackles, 3 TFLs   Jasiah is new to my radar, so I'm late to the party when it comes to the athletic LB. While he is undersized for the position, Jasiah uses his vastly superior athleticism to win between the tackles and wreck havoc in the backfield. His ability to accelerate through the line of scrimmage before OL can get hands on him lets him be so effective against the run game. Wilson's not afraid to get skinny and force his way past an OL and is a solid hitting tackler. Jasiah plays like a future nickel or safety at the next level. Don't sleep on the Hudson standout.      Stats: 10 Tackles, 1.5 Sacks, 1 TFL, 4 QB Hurries   Teigan took the momentum of a strong summer and rolled it right into Week 1 where he was a monster for the Wausau West defense. The senior edge defender was all over the backfield making plays and creating pressure. Rasmus has the explosive burst off the edge that gets him into the backfield untouched at a super high rate. His wide alignment lets him run almost a straight line to the ball and even while doing that the OL can't get depth in time to cut him off. Teigan played like a heat-seeking missile that always seemed to know where the ball was, allowing him to always be on a straight line path to it. Explosive athleticism and instincts are coming together more and more making Rasmus a need to follow athlete this season.      Stats: 7 Tackles, 2 TFLs, 4 QB Hurries   The 6'7" 300 lbs NG is built to control the line of scrimmage. Haden does that well with his sheer mass and power. However, he also does it with more nuanced parts of his game. Like his ability to play with a low pad level and win with leverage. He also does a great job of using his powerful hands to disengage with OL. Haden isn't just a space eater, though. He can get penetration and mess up timing or get to the ball carrier himself and drag them down. Haden is going to be a force in the middle of the Sussex defense and give them an advantage all season long. Haden is flying under the radar, but that should change quickly as more of this type of tape comes out.      Stats: 14 Tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 FR   Tyler is a fun LB to watch on tape. The senior LB flies around the field and plays with equal parts athleticism and physicality/violence. He is able to play quickly through traffic, avoiding blocks with his lateral movements and then exploding through ball carriers. Tyler shined vs the run game in Week 1, mirroring backs and meeting them in the hole right at the line of scrimmage. Find the ball and you will find Tyler. It was a great start to his senior season.      Stats: 5 Tackles, 2 Sacks   Lincoln went up against some very talented OL in Week 1 and came away with great tape. He flashed quick hands, pass rush moves, and the ability to bend and dip underneath OTs on his way to the QB. Lincoln also maximized the length he has to create space while running the loop to the QB. Hanson's lateral quickness also made it so that OL couldn't seem to ever land a block on him squarely, allowing him to find ways to slip off and into the backfield. Lincoln is bigger, stronger, and quicker than ever. A exciting sign of what could be on the way over the next year for him.      Stats: 11 Tackles, 4 QB Hurries, 7 TFLs   Nolan is one of the bigger sleepers when it comes to senior defensive players. He verified that with his outstandingly productive Week 1 performance. Nolan was all over the backfield while playing off the edge. He was able to take on blocks and set the edge where he also made plenty of tackles in the backfield against the outside run game. Nolan brings excellent range and mobility to the edge too. He makes plays chasing down the ball, including an impressive high motor play this past week where he chased down a WR 40+ yards downfield. That athleticism also allows him to corral shifty RBs 1 on 1 in space. Nolan brings a frame for the next level that can move in space like needed at the next level too.      Stats: 8 Tackles, 2 TFLs, 2.5 Sacks   Kingston looked unblockable in Week 1! Between his quick first step, heavy hands, and ability to turn speed into power Kingston was able to work his way into the backfield very quickly play to play. It resulted in a very productive day for the senior DL. Kingston is a special IDL. He is able to get into the backfield so quickly, but it is his power that to drive OL into the backfield that gets him back there so fast. That overwhelming power is hard to find. Especially in an athlete that also has a strong base of athleticism and technique to go along with it. Kingston had a great summer, and is continuing to look better and better. Big things are ahead for this kid.

Defenses usually have the upper hand early on in the season. They rely on reading and reacting over timing and that allows the athletes to fly around more freely and confidently earlier in the season compared to offensive players. Several athletes across WI verified that idea with the numbers and tape they put out in Week 1. It was great to see very noteworthy performances from athletes at basically every position in Week 1, and now that I am back from my wedding and honeymoon it is time for us to talk about it! So let's dive right into some of the state's best Week 1 defensive performances!