Watchlist Defenders Fine-Tuning Game In The June Grind

June will come to a close shortly and with it has been a busy camp season that was productive for many ballers striving to be elite.   Most of the players below went to a variety of camps and combines throughout spring and early summer and by doing so were able to see how they stacked up against both the local competition as well as the best and brightest outside the region.   In this report we are taking a closer look at five disruptive defenders who have been grinding since early in the year. All have been juggling off-season training individually and with teammates as well as hitting the camp circuit, and are ready for dominating seasons   So, without further adieu, let's check these guys out:     [player_tooltip player_id='2103536' first='Carter' last='Baker']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/carter-baker/"></a> , 6'4, 215, Edge, Eisenhower, '28, it has been a busy off-season for this returning all-state defender who transferred from Garden Plain to Eisenhower earlier and has recently been busy on the camp circuit and training. June in particular has been busy as he was at the K-State Camp the first week, later was at William Jewell and was in Lawrence last week where I saw him showcasing his game at the KU Camp. He has been focusing on fine-tuning his technique and mechanics and utilizing specific coaching received at the recent camps. With ideal size, a wide wing span and aggressive hands, he blows through double teams and uses his lateral burst and baller instincts to make plays sideline to sideline. He is coming off a strong sophomore season when he piled up 70 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions and 3 TDs coming off the edge. This guy is primed for a big season.     [player_tooltip player_id='2101266' first='Jaylen' last='Johnson'], 6'4, 225, Edge/OLB, Bishop Miege, '28, up next is another mauling, brawling edge rusher who is already building a name for himself with 10 D1 offers to date. Earlier this month he showed his potential at the William Jewell camp and received an offer from Minnesota, last week received an offer from North Carolina and recently had a good on-site visit with KU. He has had a busy off-season playing hoops and has been training for football with Coach Rashad at NXT Level Performance with an emphasis on speed and quickness. He has also hit weight training hard, focusing on explosiveness and strength and has set PRs in all the key lifts. He is coming off a good sophomore season helping his team to a state-runner-up finish and routinely showed glimpses of his high-ceiling game. With prototype size, reach, closing speed and athleticism he is going to continue to draw top-level attention. This guy is going to be en fuego this fall.     [player_tooltip player_id='1639963' first='Andy' last='Gray'], 6'3, 185, LB/ATH, Shawnee Mission NW, '28, and last but certainly not least for the juniors, we have a versatile defender who can come off the edge, line up as an outside linebacker or even receiver as needed. He is another baller who has really amped up his game, training with SMNW Coach Cook in the off-season as well as in the trenches during the season. With good length, lower-body strength and quickness he can make plays on the perimeter against the run or the pass, but can also collapse down and bring the hammer stopping the run game between the tackles. It has been a busy June as he and his teammates are returning from contact camps at Emporia and Friends. He has also been pounding the weights and consistently doing his speedwork and the improvements are already obvious as he is bigger and faster than he was a year ago. With his strong off-season look for this guy to have a breakthrough season this fall.     [player_tooltip player_id='1343607' first='Tyler' last='Brown']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/tyler-brown-3/"></a> , 6'5, 275, DL/TE, Oxford, '27, up first for the seniors is a guy still flying under the radar somewhat but has had an excellent off-season getting ready for his final season. With next-level size, speed and athleticism, he is a multi-positional player on both sides of the ball. This year he will help out on the interior offensive line as well as play defensive tackle, but with his 4.8 speed at 275 pounds he has been utilized as a tight end as well. Wherever he lined up on offense the pancakes followed as he used his pounding blocking skills to pick up 25+ last fall as well as catching three passes for 82 yards and a TD. On defense he is a penetrating defensive tackle, with a quick initial step and weaponized hands, who can shut down the run game between the tackles or slide down and stuff interior rushers at nose guard. Last fall he accounted for 70 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, three forced fumbles. This guy is ready hit somebody in the mouth this fall.     Cooper Brown, 6'2, 285, DT, Mulvane, '27, it has been a strong off-season for this trench warrior as he has been training hard since early in the year and the months of grinding are starting to pay off. He kicked off the summer with a busy June, showcasing his skill sets and developing next-level connections at a variety of camps and combines. The first week of the month he was in Manhattan for the Kansas State Big-Man Camp, followed by Pitt State the following week and then recently went south to the Big-Man Camp at Oklahoma State. He is also planning a return to Pitt State in late July for a final camp before pre-season begins. He has been getting in agility, speed and quickness work and has been hitting the weight training hard, establishing new PRs in all the established lifts. His work is already reaping dividends as he is a lean-mean 285 pounds and has grown two inches. This guy has not received the attention he deserves yet but is going to change that this fall with a big year.     In conclusion, get out and see these guys dominate this fall - you will not be disappointed. Also, DM me via X if you run across any players flying under the radar.   And, as usual…   Keep grindin'

June will come to a close shortly and with it has been a busy camp season that was productive for many ballers striving to be elite.