Thursday Thumpers (Defensive Players To Know)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we take the time to look at some guys who are bringing the pain on defense. Whether it is with interceptions or big hits. You gotta have some guys willing to play defense nowadays. Offense wins games, defense wins championships. Let's check it out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401120' first='Khyree' last='Patrick'], 2026, DB, Anniston</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Patrick does not mind going up to get interceptions. He is a tall defensive back that has plenty of time to grow. This young man is going to be a big time division one prospect. I think he has a chance to play on the power five level. Patrick has a quick burst of speed when he attacks the football. You won't find many defensive backs like him at his age. He is a guy that you definitely want to keep up with. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='676572' first='Anthony' last='Jones'], Edge, Mobile, 2026</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones is a big boy who is going to be a power five player. There is no doubt about it. He already has the size to do so. He also has the skills. This young man is going to be a nationwide prospect. He already understands the game of keeping blockers off of his body. Jones is very aggressive with blockers. He gets them out of his way very fast. He can also make good open field tackles. Jones isn't the kind of player that finds himself out of position a lot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>Trey Pettway, Williamson, DT, 2025</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pettway is a monster in the trenches. He knows how to fight off defenders. His hand action is amazing. Pettway has great motion when he is in the trenches. He knows how to keep blockers off of his body. He is a 6-foot guy I would love to see grow about two more inches. With that growth, I think will come division one attention. He has the motor, he has the heart, but he does lack the height. We all know that doesn't mean much. Coaches he is a guy to keep up with. He also does a decent job in the open field. That says a lot about his size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2><strong>Ben Hall,</strong> Southeastern, DB, 2025</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hall is a guy that plays both ways. He has the ball skills that receivers have. He even has the stats to be a receiver, but I love what he does at defensive back. Hall takes away his side of the football field. There isn't any easy plays getting completed within his area. Hall can play the zone very well. He gives him a chance to just sit back and be a ball hawk. There aren't many guys that have the same skills on both sides of the ball. Hall has it. He can make it on the division one level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->