2024: Defensive Show Stoppers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These defensive backs thrive on the outside and can make timely plays when their teams need them most.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='681355' first='Caleb' last='Peterson'] || DB || 6'1 || 190 || American Fork High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peterson impresses with his ability to quickly close on balls and take them back for six. He has excellent instincts he uses to break up and make big plays for the Cavemen in the defensive backfield. Peterson does a great job watching quarterback's eyes and can make them pay if they aren't careful. He has good body control and always manages to get a foot in bounds when intercepting passes down the sideline. In addition, Peterson has an impressive vertical he uses to high-point passes and bat them away at the last second. He should be in for a big senior season with the Cavemen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='681356' first='Nick' last='Johnson'] || DB || 6'1 || 170 || Davis High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson devastated offenses with timely pass breakups for the Darts. The Davis high safety doesn't let receivers get behind him and does a great job watching both sides of the field. He provides sticky coverage when tasked with coming down to cover pass catchers. Johnson can also take passes away with exceptional hands that help him bring in improbable interceptions. He also does a great job as the last line of defense for Davis, where he is a strong tackler. Johnson does a good job wrapping up and is skilled at bringing down pass catchers and running backs in the open field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='681361' first='Avyn' last='Gore'] || DB || 6'0 || 165 || Ridgeline High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gore a physical safety who flies in off the edge to shut down an offense-rushing attack. He can come down and play in the box or can sit back and fly into the trenches after lining up in the defensive backfield. Gore also does a great job getting back into the secondary on pass plays, and he quickly turns his hips and flies to the outside to lock down the perimeter. He quickly reads and reacts to what an offense is trying to do and has a tremendous Football IQ. Gore does a great job getting past offensive linemen and receivers trying to block him before decimating ball carriers with hard hits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='681739' first='Bransen' last='Thatcher'] || DB || 6'1 || 175 || DB || Copper Hills High School || 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thatcher provided exceptional coverage on the outside for the Grizzlies in 2022. He was lockdown in the red zone, where he does a great job reading and reacting to receivers moves. Thatcher has long arms he uses to bat balls away and fights for every ball in the air. He can play any type of coverage and does a great job mirroring his man even when the play breaks down. Thatcher has good hips, and speed he uses to allow little to no separation on the outside. His closing speed is impressive, and it helps him break up passes or make tackles in the open field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->