Rising Stars 250: Defensive Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rising Stars 250 was an incredible showcase of some of the best talent Michigan has to offer. I was spread thin with the immense talent in attendance, especially in session 2. Still, I was able to get some notes on notable defenders. Below are a few of my defensive standouts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2119/register/stock-up-showcase-michigan">Prep Redzone Stock Up Showcase</a> heads to Michigan on December 28! </em><strong><em>LIMITED TIME - use code </em>"RDZPalloneFREE" for 100% off registration</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1331349"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-693845ad33ff8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The sky's the limit for Austin. This is an incredibly efficient, fundamentally sound DB with barely any wasted movement. During the 1on1 period, Austin's hips remained low, feet fast, fluid backpedal, and disciplined eyes. Austin rarely, if ever, bit on a double-move, and always changed direction quickly, fluidly, and without hesitation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I have very few qualms regarding Austin's fundamentals- he's got them down. Upgrade all-around athletic ability, and we'll have what I think is an easy D1 prospect. I'm also looking forward to evaluating Austin's physicality and tackling next Fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1291369"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6938b2f05fa86"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I was not expecting Donavan to be so explosive. He was likely the #1 most explosive DB I watched at camp, and the #2 overall most explosive when you factor in WRs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Donavan is able to accelerate quickly and stop on a dime. Rep after rep, I was consistently impressed with Donavan's ability to accelerate out of his breaks. Combine that with Donavan's proven ability to stop the run, and he makes for a very intriguing DB prospect. Height may be an issue, but still, I don't see how he's lower than a D2 prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Alijah Bondon","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"225","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"East Kentwood","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6938b2f05fb63"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Alijah was the #1 DL standout at camp. Sure, there were some taller, more "high upside" guys in attendance, but nobody held a candle to Alijah's efficency. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More often than not, Alijah won with his first step. He was incredibly quick off the line of scrimmage and was commonly able to dip and rip right past good offensive tackles. Against one offensive lineman in particular, it was obvious that that O-lineman was guessing where Alijah would go pre-snap. Most tackles could not keep up with Alijah's speed, and they knew it. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I absolutely love Alijah's explosiveness, bend, and competitiveness. He's an excellent high school football player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Bryce Tillman-Jones","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"150","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"West Bloomfield","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6938b2f05fc5c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bryce was one of the most well-rounded DBs in attendance. I heard a lot of people bring up Bryce's name throughout camp, and he was an obvious standout. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bryce possesses a great mix of athletic ability and fundamental prowess. Every rep started with a smooth, quick packpetal, low hips, and extremely focused eyes. Once the WR made his break, Bryce was right there with him, commonly not giving up a single step. <a href="https://x.com/TiernanElijah/status/1997754388706934870">Click on this tweet</a>, and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2034582"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6938b2f05fcba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I admittedly did not see Braylon as much as I wanted, but I did make a couple of notes during drillwork. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just like his standout performance against Belleville, I was impressed with Braylon's speed. He's a fluid athlete, and was a common standout during drillwork. Additionally, I really liked Braylon's ball skills against Belleville, and I have no doubt he showed the same thing last weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm looking forward to watching Braylon again at a camp soon!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->