What Defenders Caught Attention with Week 1 Film?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With week 2 in the books we went back to take a look at the film of several week 1 standouts on the offensive side of the ball!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL Michael O'Connor (Marist - 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>O'Connor is a defensive end with a strong frame is very physical vs the run using his hands well.&nbsp; Chases on the backside and hits QB with authority.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1670138' first='Will' last='Gray'] (West Aurora – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray is a long armed linebacker that fills the middle. Diagnoses plays and stuffs in the run game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1328984' first='Austin' last='Collins'] (Lincoln Way West – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like how Collins flies to the ball and contributes on special teams. Collins takes good angles and closes on the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1565289' first='Tyler' last='VanderLaan'] (Neuqua Valley – 2028)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This safety in his first start showed great instincts making plays on the ball.&nbsp; Jumped a route leading to a INT and tackled very well in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='537245' first='Jayden' last='Marshall'] (Crete Monee – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marshall is a silky smooth corner who had a pass batted down on a slant route in the endzone and blanketed receivers downfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB Connor Hites (St. Ignatius)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big safety at 6'3” that won a 50/50 ball over the middle for an interception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB [player_tooltip player_id='801993' first='Adidum' last='Aadum'] (Glenbrook South – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This safety is a hard hitter at SS that tackles well in space, runs to the ball, and can come down the line for a stop like he did on the goal line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH Lebron McClellan (Harlem – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McClellan is a smooth wide receiver that is slippery with the ball in his hands including&nbsp; a 90 yard TD catch on deep post. 45 yard catch over middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH Patrick Carnell (St. Viator – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This 6'1” athlete on the offensive side is a well built wide out that runs with power.&nbsp; Takes short catches for long runs including a touchdown. Physical tackler in space defensively and had an interception in deep coverage as a safety.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1676937' first='Cooper' last='Childers'] (Bloomington – 2027)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big first week for Childers who had a touchdown on a reverse play on offense.&nbsp; Defensively he high pointed the ball in the endzone along with another pick on an under thrown ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ATH Cedric Terrell (Kankakee – 2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Terrell took a short pass to the house for a long TD showing off his speed.&nbsp; Had an interruption in the endzone along with flying to the ball.&nbsp; Can also line up at RB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->