PRZVA Exposure Series: Top Performing Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moving along in our Prep Redzone Virginia Exposure Series with our Top Performing Defenders. The Linebackers had some impressive results and the Defensive backs were outnumbered but they battled all afternoon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Linebackers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP- </strong>DJ Butler</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loved everything I saw from Butler, the 2029 prospect out of St John's College looked like a Big Ten linebacker this past weekend. Between his impressive testing numbers to his performance in the 1vs1s Butler was awesome. The soon to be sophomore was flying around during the individual drills, I wish he was closer to Virginia so I could cover him more often, he is the real deal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/DakotaButlerJr/status/2053253907489382854?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DakotaButlerJr/status/2053253907489382854?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Performers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>player_tooltip player_id='2005343' first='Ari' last='Hirsch']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Was happy to see Woodson product Ari Hirsh really shine last Saturday, he has good testing numbers and moved very well going against the running backs in the 1v1s. I have been bullish on Hirsh for a minute and I truly believe he will help guide the Cavaliers back the playoffs in 2026. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2198229' first='Jonah' last='Hardesty']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loving that Hardesty is healthy now and ready lead South County to the state playoffs. He looked good in multiple positions and tested well with a solid 40 and Pro Shuttle times. We put him with the linebackers, running backs and defensive backs and he made plays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1744254' first='Zaire' last='Joseph']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Strong candidate to have a breakout senior season is Osbourn's [player_tooltip player_id='1744254' first='Zaire' last='Joseph']. He was a beast in the individual drills and 1v1, as I said in the preview Osbourn got him by the transfer bug and need playmakers like Joseph to step up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1692697' first='Benjamin' last='Vanterve']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vanterve was close to winning the MVP, he is excellent in the open field, it shows on tape and in person. Cannot wait to see him strap up the pads for Loudoun Sports Academy next year, he will shine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2138394' first='Jackson' last='Ledford']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ledford is a stud and he looked the part up close, really good testing numbers. He is stout 5'10 linebacker who ran 4.93 Laser Time 40, he is due for a stock boost in our next rankings update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Backs: </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MVP-</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2198321' first='Isaiah' last='Ballard']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ballard was good running with the linebackers but he earned MVP honors for the Defensive Backs! He was outstanding in the individual drills you can see the potential he has on each rep. What really stood out the most were his testing numbers. Ballard's Broad Jump over 9 Feet was amongst the best and for his size it is even more impressive. He surely looks like he is following in big brother's footsteps and I would expect him to gain a few offers before his junior season begins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/YooBallard/status/2053277337492332673?s=20","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/YooBallard/status/2053277337492332673?s=20 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Performers:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2200009' first='Desmond' last='Ware']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ware had some very impressive reps in the 1vs1s and was close to earning DB MVP. He is a part of a very bright future for Manchester, that is a school that doesn't rebuild the reload.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1350391' first='Elijah' last='White']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->