Post-Season Snubs; 5 Defensive Studs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most players at the High School level play both sides of the ball and while these players are no exception, they were forces on defense. Here, I will talk about 5 players that were menaces for opposing offenses but were overlooked by the All WNY &amp; All State teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1513378"],"_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-697b090a7a4dc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Watching Anderson play gives you that old school ground and pound feel. He is a two year varsity starter at RB and LB. Micah is devastating between the tackles and is rarely brought down by one defender. But on the defensive side, he has all the tools necessary to be the premier LB in Class A. Injuries has slowed down his statistical output but he is healthy now and I expect him to lead the Warhawks in tackles in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1513357"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2115686,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-697b090a7a561"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hampton not getting any post-season recognition this year is surprising. As Bennett's starting LB, he led the team with 121 tackles and added a pair of sacks. He is extraordinarily fast and someone that can make big plays. He came into his own as a RB at the end of the year, being named Player of the Week in Weeks 7 and 10. With the Tigers starting RB graduating, I see Dontre taking the reigns and making a run as a Connolly Cup finalist in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1371661"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2116131,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-697b090a7a5d4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Landen has been on the radar for a couple years now but due to North Tonawanda's lack of wins, he doesn't get the recognition he deserves. In 2025, the Lumberjacks took a major step forward and showed vast improvements. Jon was the catalyst on defense as their MIKE LB. Landen showed exceptional sideline to sideline speed and great awareness. He ended his junior year with 118 tackles (11 for loss) 1 sack and 1 INT.</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":1909044,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Marcus Daniels","_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":"185","_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":"McKinley","_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-697b090a7a6a4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Daniels showed flashes of greatness in the McKinley defensive backfield this season. He wasn't as consistent as his peers but when he was on, he was a difference maker. I saw him play twice this past season and in those two games, he showed excellent intuition and was a playmaker with 3 INTs and a fumble recovery. The Macks won both those games and Marcus was a key factor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1814181"],"_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-697b090a7a6fb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lake Shore has won just 3 games in two years so you don't hear much from their players. When you watch Smaldino's film, you see someone that is a playmaker in every sense of the word. A WR/DB combo, he has a knack for coming down with the ball. He led the Eagles in receiving as a junior (31-489-4) and was a clutch shutdown CB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->