2023-24 PrepRedzoneWI Underclassmen All-State Team: Defense
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Yin and yang, peanut butter & jelly, seashore & a sunset, offense and defense. All of these are perfect pairings, and in the vain of a PrepRedzoneWI All-State Team, we have a star-studded defensive squad to follow up the recently…
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Continue ReadingYin and yang, peanut butter & jelly, seashore & a sunset, offense and defense. All of these are perfect pairings, and in the vain of a PrepRedzoneWI All-State Team, we have a star-studded defensive squad to follow up the recently publish offensive feature. If you missed the 2023-24 PRzWI Underclassmen All-State Offensive squad, make sure you check out the homepage of the site, as the days of research and grinding the tape helped put together the best, most comprehensive, current, and accurate underclassmen top-performer matchup anywhere on paper or the never-ending internet. Now, we’re onto the defensive side of the ball, as well as special teams, and boy are there some studs on this list. Taking into account age, production, competition level, versatility, and occasionally film, these are the undisputed best freshmen and sophomore defensive linemen, linebackers, defensive backs, athletes, and specialists the Great State of Wisconsin has to offer, and I think it’s safe to say the future of Wisconsin’s gridiron exploits and recruiting prowess is in good hands. If you think we missed any sophomore or freshmen worthy and deserving of an All-State defensive nod, please don’t hesitate to respectfully email me at: oliver@prepredzone.com ! Dig in!
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2023 Wisconsin Underclassmen Defensive Player of the Year: Max Matthias Max Matthias ATH Two Rivers | 2026 State WI (Two Rivers) Sophomore. Defensive Line/Athlete.
Defense
Defensive Line
First Team:
Ryan Westrich Ryan Westrich 6'6" | 235 lbs | ATH Bonduel | 2026 State WI (Bonduel) Sophomore. 6’6, 235 lbs.
Mason Black Mason Black 6'5" | 215 lbs | DL Waukesha West | 2026 State WI (Waukesha West) Sophomore. 6’5, 210 lbs.
Quinn Koepnick Quinn Koepnick 6'2" | 245 lbs | DL Union Grove | 2026 State WI (Union Grove) Sophomore. 6’1, 230 lbs.
Adam Anderson Adam Anderson 6'4" | 200 lbs | DL Lake Country Lutheran | 2026 State WI (Lake Country Lutheran) Sophomore. 6’4, 200 lbs.
Second Team:
Bryce Vanraalte Bryce Vanraalte DL Black Hawk | 2026 WI (Black Hawk) Sophomore. 6’5, 220 lbs.
Hawk Denor Hawk Denor 6'2" | 225 lbs | DL Kettle Moraine | 2026 State WI (Kettle Moraine) Sophomore. 6’2, 225 lbs.
Ashton Fickell (Edgewood) Sophomore. 6’3, 220 lbs.
McCoy Smith McCoy Smith LB Waunakee | 2026 WI (Waunakee) Sophomore. 5’9, 205 lbs.
Third Team:
Garett Kawczynski (Port Washington) Sophomore. 5’10, 220 lbs.
Vadim Misiura Vadim Misiura 6'1" | 290 lbs | DL Cedar Grove- Belgium | 2026 State WI (Cedar Grove-Belgium) Sophomore. 6’2, 290 lbs.
Eric Herzberg Eric Herzberg OL Melrose- Mindoro | 2026 WI (Melrose-Mindoro) Sophomore. 6′, 270 lbs.
Cody Slater Cody Slater 6'3" | 200 lbs | DL Janesville Parker | 2026 State WI (Parker) Sophomore. 6’3, 205 lbs.
Coltynn Muenchow (Wausau East) Sophomore. 5’10, 200 lbs.
Linebacker
First Team:
Ben Wenzel Ben Wenzel 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Appleton North | 2026 State WI (Appleton North) Sophomore. 6’3, 205 lbs.
Tyler Heinle (Grafton) Sophomore. 6’2, 190 lbs. – 92 tackles, 14 TFLs, 1 sack, 4 FF
Jack Murray (Brookfield East) Sophomore. 6’2, 200 lbs.
Brendan Foley Brendan Foley 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Arrowhead | 2026 State WI (Arrowhead) Sophomore. 6′, 205 lbs.
Second Team:
Finley Nelson Finley Nelson 5'11" | 205 lbs | LB Northwestern Highschool | 2026 WI (Northwestern) Sophomore. 6′, 200 lbs.
Erik Ynnocencio (Racine Lutheran) Freshman. 5’10, 190 lbs.
Chris Spencer (Turner) Sophomore. 6′, 200 lbs.
Jaxon Walenga (Turner) Sophomore. 6’1, 175 lbs.
Third Team:
Cam McTaggart (Sparta) Sophomore. 5’7, 185 lbs.
Kaydon Kennell (Lac Courte Oreilles) Sophomore. 5’10, 175 lbs.
Max Behnke (Lourdes Academy) Freshman.
Adam Brieske Adam Brieske 6'3" | 195 lbs | LB Tomas | 2027 State WI (Tomah) Freshman.
Owen Rydel (Boyceville) Sophomore. 6′, 165 lbs.
Tye Popp (Cochrane-Fountain City) Sophomore. 6′, 160 lbs.
Josh Duba (Kettle Moraine Lutheran) Sophomore. 5’10, 190 lbs.
Aaron Sturm Aaron Sturm 5'8" | 160 lbs | LB Stanley-Boyd | 2026 WI (Stanley-Boyd) Sophomore. 5’7, 150
Defensive Back
First Team:
Carson Hodowanic Carson Hodowanic 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Stanley- Boyd | 2026 State WI (Stanley-Boyd) Sophomore. 5’10, 170 lbs.
Dominick Walters Dominick Walters 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Franklin | 2026 State WI (Franklin) Sophomore. 6′, 185 lbs.
Oliver Wenning Oliver Wenning 5'10" | 185 lbs | DB Middleton | 2026 State WI (Middleton) Sophomore. 5’10, 185 lbs.
Brock Gauthier Brock Gauthier 6'2" | 210 lbs | ATH Bay Port | 2026 State WI (Bay Port) Sophomore. 6’2, 195 lbs.
Second Team:
Carson Roemhild (Boyceville) Sophomore. 5’10, 160 lbs.
Colton Struckman (Port Washington) Sophomore. 5’10, 165 lbs.
Joseph Shimek (Brillion) Sophomore. 6′, 165 lbs.
Tucker Streit Tucker Streit 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Edgar | 2026 State WI (Edgar) Sophomore. 6′, 165 lbs.
Third Team:
Eli Horak (Necedah) Freshman. 5’7, 155 lbs.
Reece Joten (Little Chute) Freshman. 5’9, 160 lbs.
Colton Waterman (Amery) Freshman.
Anthony Nolden (Brown Deer) Freshman. 6′, 180 lbs.
Kayden Schultz (Plymouth) Sophomore. 6’2, 165 lbs.
Derek Klinkner (Two Rivers) Sophomore. 5’10, 160 lbs.
Porter Leach (Milwaukee Ronald Reagan) Sophomore. 5’10, 175 lbs.
Max Jacobson (Marinette) Sophomore. 6’3, 170 lbs.
Emmitt Bourman (Westfield Area) Sophomore.
Athlete
First Team:
Gannon Schwartz (Winnebago Lutheran) Sophomore. 5’10, 145 lbs.
Max Matthias Max Matthias ATH Two Rivers | 2026 State WI (Two Rivers) Sophomore. 5’9, 195 lbs.
Zach Hellendrung Zach Hellendrung 6'4" | 225 lbs | ATH Boyceville | 2026 State WI (Boyceville) Sophomore. 6’3, 225 lbs.
Second Team:
Kolton Peters (Coleman) Freshman.
Brandon Walton Brandon Walton 6'2" | 155 lbs | ATH Kenosha Bradford | 2026 State WI (Kenosha Bradford) Sophomore. 6’2, 155 lbs.
Third Team:
Ely Kohlman (New Holstein) Freshman.
Carter Birdyshaw (Weyauwega-Fremont) Freshman.
Specialist
First Team:
Liam Fingerson Liam Fingerson 6'5" | 190 lbs | P Richland Center | 2026 WI (Richland Center) Sophomore. Punter.
Tommy Novotny Tommy Novotny 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Milwaukee Marquette | 2026 State WI (Marquette University) Sophomore. 5’9, 170 lbs. Returner.
Kobe Hendricks Kobe Hendricks 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Slinger | 2026 State WI (Slinger) Sophomore. 5’9, 165 lbs. Returner.
Chris Pohl (Marshfield) Sophomore. 6’6, 205 lbs. Punter.
Ethan Van Beek (Laconia) Sophomore. Kicker.
Second Team:
Vidal Spivey (Eisenhower) Sophomore. 5’7, 165 lbs. – Kick Returner.
Chase Beahm (Waupun) Sophomore. 6’1, 215 lbs. Punter.
Beau Veit Beau Veit 6'1" | 180 lbs | K Waterford Union | 2026 State WI (Waterford) Sophomore. 6′, 150 lbs. Kicker.
Third Team:
Andres Gamez Andres Gamez 5'9" | 135 lbs | K St. Joseph Catholic Academy | 2026 State WI (Kenosha St. Joseph) Sophomore. 5’9, 150 lbs. – 63 for 65 PATs
Matthew O’Grady Matthew O’Grady 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB Badger | 2026 State WI (Lake Geneva) Sophomore. 5’11, 155 lbs. Kicker/Punter
Cooper Lomas (Seneca-Wauzeka/Steuben) Sophomore. 6’2, 200 lbs. Punter.
Luke Schaning Luke Schaning 6'1" | 195 lbs | ATH Nathan Hale | 2026 State WI (Hale) Sophomore. Kick Returner.
Steven Kielpikowski (Denmark) Sophomore. Kick Returner.