Iowa’s C/O 2022 Ballhawks: DB Focus Part 1
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A successful defensive back is a very cerebral player; someone who is able to process immediately and react instantaneously. The mental toughness, alertness, and discipline of an athlete that can play the position at a high level needs to be…
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Continue ReadingA successful defensive back is a very cerebral player; someone who is able to process immediately and react instantaneously. The mental toughness, alertness, and discipline of an athlete that can play the position at a high level needs to be off the charts. What that recipe calls for can create an absolute ballhawk who, through a big hit or interception, can change the course of a game.
Xavier Nwankpa Xavier Nwankpa 6'3" | 190 lbs | DB Southeast Polk | 2022 State IA , Southeast Polk, hudl, Twitter
FS, 6’3, 190
Nwankpa does it all and at the highest level. His ability to break on a route and time a massively clean and violent hit is elite; the collisions separate receivers from the ball and leave them wondering what day it is. Nwankpa can also identify at the snap of a finger and cover ground to his assignment or the ball right away. His propensity to accelerate to spots allows him to be a factor on every single down. Nwankpa’s alley and gap filling tendencies and premier tackling effectively add another linebacker to the defense; he’s so fast that it’s like playing the run with a twelfth man. In coverage he can play up on a receiver and stick with them through a route and play a zone in a one or two high look, which allows for a lot of variety in play calling. He is rangy and can play in reverse, can highpoint like he’s levitating and out jumps anyone, and can get to other zones in time to support teammates after the ball is thrown. Nwankpa is a total ballhawk; his interception and pass break up total is impressive considering teams seem to avoid throwing in his vicinity.
Jake Malcom, Fremont-Mills, hudl, Twitter
S, 5’11, 150
Malcom is an ideal cover 2 Safety who time and again drops to his deep half of the field, identifies the route that is the nearest threat, undercuts the route once the ball is in the air, and intercepts the pass. Malcom plays the safety position against the pass like he is in centerfield to a t. He doesn’t let anyone get deeper than him, he patrols the zone, comes up on anything that enters what he is responsible for, and provides help to the other deep half when the ball is in the air. Malcom has a knack for using his superior athleticism to get in position to take the ball away, especially when there is help underneath. He also uses very good judgement and knows when he should pursue the ball or attack the receiver to be certain that he doesn’t give up a big play. Malcom plays both ways and is also one heck of a quarterback. It is clear that his understanding of coverage from an offensive perspective has given him a deeper insight and prowess at safety. Malcom can come up and high point or track a ball and run under it tallying pick after pick.
Ryan Crandall Ryan Crandall 6'3" | 200 lbs | DB Ankeny | 2022 State IA , Ankeny, hudl, Twitter
SS, 6’3, 200
Crandall is a prototypical Strong Safety that can align deep, in the box, or at the line of scrimmage and perform vast responsibilities at a very high level. Crandall is very twitchy when playing up: he attacks the run with speed, can blitz the edge applying serious pressure, and consistently makes text book tackles in close quarters. Crandall is equally impressive in coverage and the open field. He provides very strong run support from ten to twelve yards depth and can fill the alley to prevent a play from stretching or clean up a play when there’s a frenzy between the tackles. Crandall’s open field tackling abilities, especially in big space, are what stands out most in his toolbox. In coverage, Crandall does a spectacular job in a sky look taking away anything underneath to his side of the field. Crandall also excels when covering a deep half or third to make plays when an offense takes a shot downfield. He can make a play on the ball with finesse or make a play on the receiver with a brutal hit. Wherever the ball is, on any down, Crandall will be lurking and in close proximity.
Colby Calvert, Ballard, hudl, Twitter
CB, 5’8, 150
Calvert is an exceptional cover Corner who can play in reverse and is rangy in covering a lot of ground, which makes it very hard to throw at him whether he is in man or zone. In man coverage Calvert does a great job running with receivers as he positions his body in a way that makes it very difficult for his opponent to make a catch once the ball is in the air; this leads to a lot of his interceptions. Regardless of size, Calvert has the spatial awareness and ball skills to cancel out taller receivers and make big plays. His motor skills and hand-eye coordination are noticeable and impressive on film. Calvert also does a fine job of sticking with receivers through a change of direction in route running to prevent space and open targets. In zone, Calvert can tag a receiver, in the flat or deep half to third, and pick up a target as they enter his territory. Calvert is very feisty when the ball is thrown his way. He regularly knocks the ball away, separates the ball, or takes it away altogether when a receiver seems to think they are going to make the catch.
Trey Porter Trey Porter 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Ankeny Centennial | 2022 State IA , Centennial, hudl, Twitter
CB/FS, 6’2, 185
Porter has a very advanced understanding of and ability to execute coverage. He can line up at Free Safety and dominate zones in a one or two high look. He doesn’t let anything get behind him and he can break on a pass to contest a catch going for the ball or the body. Porter also shows off his elite athleticism when making very difficult plays tracking and taking advantage of poorly thrown balls. He can also absolutely lockdown an offense’s number one receiving threat lining up at Corner. Porter will get right up in the face of a receiver at the line of scrimmage and jam, which disrupts the receivers route or prevents them from getting into it at all. His press man abilities are as good, or better, than anyone at the high school level. If by chance the receiver manages to get off the line, or Porter is in bump and run or catch technique, he can stick to a route like glue and deter a quarterback from even considering throwing it his way. He shuts it down and shows a wide array of ability and technique in the defensive backfield. His poise, motor skills, and agility are second to none.
Blake Janssen, Iowa Falls-Alden, hudl, Twitter
FS, 6’0, 165
Janssen has a tremendous amount of poise and discipline from the Free Safety position and is a model of consistency as he takes his read steps and drops to cover the deep half of the field. Janssen has visibly good footwork and body control as he can change direction suddenly and in minimal time. He does a noticeably good job of keeping his feet moving within his zone while keeping his eyes focused through the receiver to the quarterback. He is comfortable in a sky look and does a great job of bracketing underneath a receiver when the ball is thrown to another deep zone. He is a smart and cerebral player who knows where his help is as he breaks on underneath receivers to intercept passes without risking the big play. Something many young defensive backs struggle with is what to do when a play breaks down, not Janssen. He makes sure receivers are not lost or unaccounted for, which forces a quarterback to make poor decisions and he capitalizes often with an interception or pass break up. Janssen can leap and time his jump well when contesting catches.