Check Out These Defensive Prospects Who Shined on Mid-Season Tape

We once again examined the tape from the first half of the season and these were some of the defensive players that left an impression with their play!   DL [player_tooltip player_id='1570788' first='Micah' last='Welch'] (Johnsburg – 2027)   This edge player has been very productive the last three weeks with 14 tackles, 2 sacks, 2.5 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, and 5 QB hurries.   DL [player_tooltip player_id='1670334' first='Noah' last='Rivenburg'] (IC Catholic – 2026)   Rivenburg is a senior defensive tackle that goes 6'3” and 300 pounds.  Big body up front that can be an effective nose tackle taking up blockers for his linebackers to make plays.  Forces teams to double him because of his powerful bull rush.   DL [player_tooltip player_id='654074' first='R'mon' last='George'] (Oak Lawn – 2027)   This EDGE player is quick twitched off the line of scrimmage with good bend.  Plays well against the run taking on blocks and getting off it.   DL Isaac Henderson (Carmel – 2027)   Big bodied 6'4” 280 pound defensive tackle that can take on the double team and get off it to make a play on the ball carrier.  Good run stuffer that is effective taking up space along with making tackles at the line of scrimmage.   DL Anthony Sebastian (IC Catholic – 2027)   At defensive tackle Sebastian shows quickness off the ball getting up field making plays.  Good strength and plays with toughness.  Shows off his mean streak on the offensive line at center getting defenders on the ground.   DL [player_tooltip player_id='1585163' first='Gage' last='Ladere'] (Lincoln Way East – 2026)   This 6'2” defensive tackle has good strength and excellent quickness off the ball.  Regularly gets in the backfield making TFLs.  High-motor player that fights through blocks while always having his head up to where the ball is at.  Best against the run, but does have some pass rush pop up the middle.   DL [player_tooltip player_id='1941216' first='Cameron' last='Shields'] (Barrington – 2026)   Shields is a 6'5” 220 pound edge player that has the ability to get after the quarterback.  Good pass rusher with bend and strength.  Turns power into speed well.  High-motor player that fights through blocks, but also effective going around them.  Lives in the backfield!   DL [player_tooltip player_id='1688887' first='Khristaan' last='Moore'] (Crete Monee – 2028)   Moore is a 6'0” 245 pound defensive tackle who shows quickness and burst off the snap.  Gets off blocks to make tackles and uses his hands exceptionally well for a young defensive lineman.  Gets TFLs and stops at the line of scrimmage on a regular basis.   DL Kameron Rutlin (Fenwick – 2027)   Rutlin is a 6'0” 265 pound two way lineman.  On defense through six weeks he has 3 sacks, 7 TFLs, and 10 pressures on the quarterback.  Offensively he has 25+ pancakes already served up!   DL [player_tooltip player_id='1345210' first='Mason' last='Bucon'] (Plainfield South – 2027)   High-motor defensive end that runs very well.  Uses his hands well to get off blocks.  Physical playing against the run to his side absorbing lineman and then getting to the ball carrier.    DL Michael O'Connor (Marist – 2026)   O'Connor is a 6'4” 255 pound defensive lineman that has a strong and stocky frame.  He is effective as a defensive end rushing the passer with his power running over tackles and backs trying to block.  Lives in the backfield consistently getting pressure on the QB or TFLs against the run.   DL Lachlan Smith (Marshall – 2028)   The southern Illinois defensive lineman is a big boy up front at defensive tackle that blow up plays on the interior.  Stuffs well against the run getting leverage on the interior lineman.  Puts pressure on the QB in his face.   LB Michael Murphy (Fenwick – 2026)   Murphy is a middle linebacker that diagnoses the play vs the run well and takes excellent angels to the ball.  Effective in coverage over the middle including grabbing an interception.  Runs well sideline to sideline wrapping up low.   LB Jonathn Mansker (Hinsdale South – 2027)   Linebacker that is a good tackler using his long arms.  Also on the offensive side of the ball he is effective as a side back and pass catcher on intermediate routes making crisp cuts.   LB Nick Ergish (St. Patrick – 2026)   The senior outside linebacker has good speed pursing the ball.  Tackles well in space.  Runs sideline to sideline.   LB [player_tooltip player_id='1688932' first='Dylan' last='Wellner'] (Nazareth – 20287)   The 6'0” 205 pound linebacker has 42 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 interception so far this season.   LB [player_tooltip player_id='1741206' first='Kellen' last='Younie'] (West Aurora – 2026)   This linebacker has been productive racking up 43 tackles through the first six games of the season.   LB Aleks Paskiewicz (St. Viator – 2026)   Good speed attacking the ball carrier with discipline making the tackle in the hole.  Gets off blocks and flows to the ball.   LB Caleb Jackson (Lakeview – 2026)   This outside linebacker has racked up 21 tackles including 4.5 sacks and a pick 6 in the first six games of the season.   LB Pierce Stevens (Neuqua Valley – 2027)   Linebacker that gets in the backfield with his feel for the snap count slicing through the line of scrimmage on a regular basis.  Had a nice interception.  Good technique and is a sound tackler that wraps up well down low.  Burst to the ball coming off the edge and flies to pass catchers reeling them in down field.   DB [player_tooltip player_id='1719142' first='Travell' last='Williams'] (TF South – 2027)   Williams is an athletic corner that plays with a lot of speed.  Smooth back pedal and can explodes to the ball carrier when he sees a pass or run to his side.  Really like his ability to quickly change direction along with his footwork.  Never gives up plays even when they are opposite him.    DB [player_tooltip player_id='1570745' first='Cayden' last='Birmingham'] (Maroa Forsyth – 2026)   This senior defensive back has been productive through the first five games of the season with a pair of interceptions, 5 PBUs, 1 fumble recovery, and 21 tackles.  Most impressively he hasn't allowed a catch in coverage all season.  He is a ball hawk at safety and corner that has good instincts.  Gets up high to bat down passes.   DB [player_tooltip player_id='1694359' first='Coen' last='Demack'] (Bishop McNamara – 2026)   The 6'3” safety has posted big numbers in the early going as through six games he has 3 interceptions and 16 tackles on defense.  Offensively he also has 5 touchdowns through the air.   DB Taylor Finley (De La Salle – 2028)   The Meteors safety is a backend player with good speed that can come up and help in run support.  Tackles well in space.  In coverage he makes plays on the ball in the air.   DB Anthony D'Angelo (Prospect – 2026)   This Prospect 6'0” corner has nice size and instincts on the back end.  Makes plays on the ball consistently.  Very good feel for breaking up passes without getting PI calls.  Solid tackler that comes up in run support.  Underrated player here.   DB [player_tooltip player_id='613744' first='Chase' last='Bradley'] (Cahokia – 2027)   The Cahokia defensive back goes 5'10” and 150 pounds.  He has been effective this season racking up 26 tackles, 6 pass breakups, and 1 interception through six games.   DB [player_tooltip player_id='1646278' first='Ryan' last='Kennedy'] (Bremen – 2027)   The 6'0” safety has range and makes plays on the ball downfield including an interception in the endzone.  Definitely very effective coming up in run support tackling down low and wrapping up.   ATH Javonte Williams (Wheaton St. Francis – 2028)   Williams has had an impressive start to the season with 20 tackles, 1 interception, 7 PBUs, and 3 TFLs in his first six games.

We once again examined the tape from the first half of the season and these were some of the defensive players that left an impression with their play!