CCC Invite Only: Defenders Who Stood Out

FORT MILL | If you want to see a prototype Gaffney linebacker, [player_tooltip player_id='1036755' first='Kendaris' last='Bailey'] is it.   Big, fast, strong, and physical, Bailey is a presence any time he steps on the field. The problem at the Carolina Coaches Combines Invite Only session, though, is that Bailey couldn't showcase his physical side. With no contact to the ground and an "offense wins" philosophy, defenders are limited to drills and what they're able to do in regimented competition reps.   So Bailey just went about dominating in those instead. He showed explosiveness, great lateral movement, closing ability, and a nose for finding the ball that go beyond just big hits.   "I came out here and competed and I feel like I stood out," Bailey said. "It's see ball, get ball, and you can't let anybody beat you. You've got to always be the one that brings it to them."   Bailey's just one of a bunch of guys who brought it on defense. Here's a look at some of the others.   [player_tooltip player_id='1818040' first='Kaden' last='McClure'] DL, South Pointe   McClure worked well in drills and was particularly good in the competition portion, even considering the limitations defenders faced in showing a run-stopping look. He has plenty of power and a quick first step, and he consistently collapsed the pocket and got up the field to bring pressure. McClure's in an interesting situation on a defense that lost a bunch of senior production, and he seems like a guy who's going to be able to step in and contribute right away. His size and good fundamentals give him a great chance to succeed.   [player_tooltip player_id='1816894' first='Myles' last='Brooks'] DB, Rock Hill   Brooks was a standout at every turn on Sunday. He was great in drills. He was outstanding in competition, with great coverage and a couple of pass deflections, including one on a deep route on which he high-pointed the ball and batted away a sure touchdown. He ran well and was one of the leaders of his group. Brooks had 36 tackles, four picks, and three pass deflections a year ago. His Invite Only performance seems to indicate there's a bunch more of that in store.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822753' first='Jayden' last='Logan'] DL, Greenwood   Logan comes from a long line of players in his family who stood out at the skill positions for Greenwood. So naturally, he's a...defensive lineman? Yep, and a very good one. He looked great in drills, he plays with really good leverage, and he pursues the ball well. Nothing Logan does is flashy. He just takes on blockers, holds his ground, and blows up plays. Greenwood's got a chance to have a special DL unit this season, and Logan will be a huge part of that.   [player_tooltip player_id='1702151' first='James' last='Porter'] DL, Dorman   It's clear from watching him for just a little while that Porter is different. He stands out wherever he plays on the line, but for most of Sunday it was in the middle. There, in run situations, he routinely controlled the line of scrimmage against some of the best OL in the state, forcing runs outside and giving LBs a chance to make a bunch of plays. He also looked great in pass situations, collapsing the pocket and forcing QBs to get rid of the ball. With two all-star DL alongside him last year, Porter might have been a little bit overlooked at times. Those days should be over.   [player_tooltip player_id='1823720' first='Jeremiah' last='Knightner'] LB, CA Johnson   Knightner was one of the fastest LBs at Spartanburg, with a sub-4.6 40 and a 4.6 shuttle. He continued to show that speed at the Invite Only. He looked great in drills, and consistently brought speed off the edge in the competition portion of the event. Knightner used his speed to notch 11 tackles for loss and three sacks last year, and was good enough in coverage to pick off two passes and knock down two more. His physical tools give him the ability to range all over the field and make plays, and the Hornets will depend on him this season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1283361' first='Jaylon' last='Richardson'] DB, Northwestern   Richardson was hard not to notice in drills, from his speed to his footwork to his ability to break on the ball. That continued in competition, as he provided good coverage against top guys all day. Richardson is a key guy for the Trojans, with 44 tackles, three interceptions, and nine pass deflections last season. His speed and ability to adjust to the ball in the air are two of the main reasons why, but he also showed the ability to be physical when he needs to be.   [player_tooltip player_id='1821280' first='Jayden' last='Wertz'] LB, Powdersville   Wertz is a big, explosive guy, and he gets to the ball in a hurry. That explosiveness was evident in drills. But what stood out in competition was Wertz's ability to react to what was going on in front of him. He diagnosed what was going on in a snap, shed blockers, and flew to the ball. That shouldn't have been a surprise, because that's a lot of what he did for the Patriots last season. He's an absolute tackle machine, with an eye-popping 185 last year. A lot of that comes from his incredible instincts, reaction time, and lateral movement.   [player_tooltip player_id='1809307' first='Shaun' last='Carvalho'] LB, JL Mann   Carvalho is a really intriguing player. He's fast and rangy enough to be a LB, and he has enough power to line up with a hand on the ground and come off the edge. He looked good in LB drills at the Invite Only, backing up a strong performance at Spartanburg earlier. He was one of the Patriots' leaders on defense last season, with 93 total tackles. With a year in the system under his belt, Carvalho could be set to put up a monster season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1172361' first='Matthew' last='Ponkow'] DL, Bishop England   Ponkow's another prototype guy - 6 feet, right at 200 pounds, long arms, explosive movements, and fast. But he's also got something that difficult if not impossible to coach.   He never stops. And he thinks that's the best part of his game.   "My high motor," he said. "The biggest thing is pursuing the ball, getting downhill fast, moving fast, and making everything explosive.   Ponkow thinks he accomplished that at Invite Only.   "I feel like I played pretty well," he said. "It was great competition, and it was fun to come out here and give it my best after Spring ball."

FORT MILL | If you want to see a prototype Gaffney linebacker, Kendaris Bailey Kendaris Bailey 5'11" | 195 lbs | LB Gaffney | 2027 State SC is it.