PRZNE 2025 Defensive Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Looking further at the 2025 class, here are a few defensive players that have started to make waves and should have a huge season in 2023. You do NOT want to miss out on these guys!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='319557' first='Rocky' last='Chavez'] | LB | Millard North | 6'0" 210 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16155407/Rocky-Chavez" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/rockychavez5" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you didn't know by now, we're pretty big on the Millard North 2025 class. Inside LB [player_tooltip player_id='319557' first='Rocky' last='Chavez'] had a great season in his first year starting on varsity, racking up 46 tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass breakups, a safety, and a forced fumble. What stands out about Rocky is that he likes to make himself felt and he uses his 6'0" 210 lb frame to do that. He is a thumper that excels in playing downhill and meeting backs in the hole. Rocky is explosive when he hits his gap and is strong enough to overpower blocking RBs in the backfield. He has great pursuit and can track down the ball carriers downfield. Check this guy out!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16155407/6358a481d45e0606544b4785' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c1025ca2723"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":326858,"width":420,"height":328,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/04/Ant-e1673583033744.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-326858" width="420" height="328" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='305110' first='Anthony' last='Liggins'] | DB | Omaha Benson | 5'10"</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16592607/Anthony-Liggins" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/AnthonyLiggin15" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the more underrated DBs in the Metro, [player_tooltip player_id='305110' first='Anthony' last='Liggins'], continues to shine in the Benson secondary. I couldn't find his full-season stats, but I did get to watch Anthony and the Bunnies a couple of times this year and was impressed by his ability in coverage. Liggins' biggest attribute is how sticky and shifty he is in coverage. He does a great job sticking to a receiver's hip pocket and shadowing them for the entire rep. He has quick feet and loose hips that allow him to change direction on a dime. Despite being a smaller DB, he shows plenty of fight and aggressiveness when the ball is in the air. Anthony uses his hands very well, whether hand fighting or trying to pry a ball loose, he doesn't mind getting scrappy. Liggins is a great athlete with two years of varsity experience that can also contribute on offense and is emerging as a great returner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16592607/635aa3d35ef73a0cacaa96ff' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c1025ca2754"} /--> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":534968,"width":423,"height":282,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/83_Luke-Van-Dyke.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-534968" width="423" height="282" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='350336' first='Luke' last='Van Dyke'] | LB | Skutt Catholic | 6'1" 195 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16215829/Luke-Van-Dyke" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/LukeVanDyke2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Skutt Catholic LB [player_tooltip player_id='350336' first='Luke' last='Van Dyke'] is a player who I believe will step into a bigger role in 2023. He played sparingly on varsity in his sophomore year but still gave us lots to be excited about for next year. When I look at Luke's tape, I notice how quick his first step is and his timing on blitzes. When he squares up for his tackles, he does a great job shooting from his hips and driving through his tackle. Luke was an attendee at the Stock Up Showcase and looked very good in LB drills. I noticed that he also looked bulkier and had added muscle to his frame, which will be great going into his junior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16215829/6369b8f4ff0cda04f43145cd' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c1025ca2777"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='319568' first='Brant' last='Gulizia'] | DB | Auburn | 6'0" 175 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16130502/Brant-Gulizia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/brant_gulizia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dont' sleep on the small-town guys, they can ball too! Auburn's DB [player_tooltip player_id='319568' first='Brant' last='Gulizia'] had a breakout season as a two-way player. Gulizia played the role of an all-purpose back on offense, with 301 rushing yards, 121 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. Brant really shined on the defensive side of the ball with 90 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four interceptions, and two fumble recoveries. Gulizia does a great job at reading the QB's eyes and putting himself in a position to make a play. When you watch his interceptions, you notice that he used his play recognition, closing speed, and a little bit of lulling the QB to create the turnover. You can also drop him into the box to help in run support. Swoop this guy up ASAP!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16130502/635c0d32ff0d18133c0bd230' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c1025ca2794"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='518059' first='Dillon' last='Ginter'] | LB | Bellevue East | 5'9" 160 lbs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16336410/Dillon-Ginter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/DillonGinter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a></em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chieftains had several young players step into big roles this season which allowed for LB [player_tooltip player_id='518059' first='Dillon' last='Ginter'] to show out. Dillon is part of a very underrated Bellevue East LB group that can fly around the field. In his sophomore season, Dillon racked up 49 tackles, five tackles for loss, and two pass defended. Dillon isn't the biggest 'backer out there, but he plays way bigger than his size and with a great motor. He gets good leverage on his tackles and does a great job wrapping up when he makes contact. He has solid range to him and can zip across the field to make a tackle. We could also see Dillon play a bigger role as a receiver in 2023. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16336410/635d7cf20dcb0d0b680d074d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c1025ca27b3"} /--> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Make sure to follow @PrepRedzoneNE on Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date with all your Nebraska prep recruiting news.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->