Central Indiana 2024 Defensive Recruits With High Upside

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're heading to Central Indiana today to look at 5 defensive recruits and what they offer now, and what they could offer in the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='189085' first='Landon' last='Drennan'] - Plainfield - LB - 6'3" 215lbs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Drennan was absolutely phenomenal this past season for Plainfield in multiple areas on defense for them. He's got a really lengthy and thick frame that allows him to have success near the LOS, yet has the athleticism to drop back into coverage and have success on the backend. Coming off the edge is where he's been best to this point. He's got the length and strength to drive guys back and then has the speed to get around the corner when needed. He's flexible and can bend to help himself out. He's able to run down ball carriers from behind and make the play. One area he really thrives in is forcing guys back inside and allowing the reinforcements to come. He comes across as a smart player who knows how to use the field. He put up a total of 91 tackles, 42 solos, 10.5 TFLs, and 6 sacks. Across the board, he filled up the stat-sheet, but it was more about the way he looked doing it. A confident, strong, well-built player is a great way to describe him. Landon is a fantastic player and someone is going to get a steal when the 2024 class begins to put pen to paper.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: <strong>@DrennanLandon</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='555515' first='Cameron' last='Wilson'] - Noblesville - DB - 6'1" 195lbs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson was quietly one of the better pieces for Noblesville in the backend last year, yet was making plays all over the field. Silent but deadly is always a fun combination on the field. Wilson has elite range and speed which gives him a leg up over most of the competition. He's got some of the best closing speed in the class, and when he sees something, he trusts that he's diagnosing it correctly. More often than not, not only is he right, but he's a step ahead and prevents a bigger play. He's a bigger DB who is also more than capable of coming down into the box and playing the run. His coverage skills are decent, but the footwork and minor things are still a work in progress. As he develops, I think that's an area he'll improve on and it'll noticeably help him be able to make more plays and have even better range. On the year, he put up 52 total tackles, a pair of TFLs, caused a fumble, and then broke up 3 other passes. An overall stellar season across the board, but I still think Wilson is just scratching the surface of his upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: <strong>@CamWilson_24</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='425407' first='Collin' last='Jones'] - Heritage Christian - LB/DE - 5'10" 200lbs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jones really established himself as a force to be reckoned with moving forward during this past football season. He was incredible from the first game to the last. He showed promise and flash in the seasons heading into last year, but when the light clicks, everything can change for a player and that's what happened for Jones. He practically lived in the backfield, and he found multiple ways to get there. They moved him around, let him find the weak spot, and pick the offense apart. He was simply better than just about everyone he came across last season. He's able to get underneath and around some slower tackles. He's strong enough to take them on and bullrush if needed. On the year, Jones put up 84 tackles, an incredible 18 TFLs, 6 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. The numbers were great, yes, but it was how he looked doing it. Incredibly confident, knew what was going on, and capable of coming through in the clutch when they needed it. Jones is looking to duplicate that type of performance, and if he does, the list of schools hoping to snag his services is going to explode.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: <strong>@CollinJones2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='849642' first='JJ' last='Knight'] - Mooresville - DB - 5'11" 140lbs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knight is a versatile DB who can do a lot of good things in multiple phases of the game. Whether it be offense, defense, or special teams, he's made an impact and looked good for Mooresville. His most prominent position is DB, where he started all year. He's got great range, he's twitchy, and can go up and snag a ball in the air. He's got decent ball skills, likely his offensive game coming through, and can turn and run with ease. His footwork isn't perfect by any means, but it's also not bad for his age. He's got quick feet, knows how to backpedal, and doesn't lose any momentum when he flips his hips. On special teams, he's not just returned kicks, but he's gotten downfield fast enough to recover a kickoff that bounced and stole the possession for his team. At receiver, he's been in the slot and had success. While not a ton of usage, he's got the same athletic traits that shine through wherever he is on the field. On the year, Knight put up 49 total tackles, an interception, 2 recovered fumbles, and deflected a pass on defense. Then, he added 10 kick returns with his long being 40 yards. Not to mention, he's an excellent gunner. Knight is someone who can end up helping on special teams and make the bus as a freshman if he lands in the right spot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: <strong>@JJKnight3706</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='849643' first='Elijah' last='Tramil'] - Decatur Central - DB - 5'9" 160lbs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tramil is coming off of his best season yet. He broke into the Varsity role and held his own. He showed the athleticism you need in order to have success to play in the backend. He's able to run down ball carriers and takes good angles to get to the ball. He's not the biggest DB, but as he puts weight on and develops in the weight room, he'll have a nice build. Plus, he's still young and growing height-wise. He's really quick and shifty. He's able to change direction and get back into the play quicker than most DBs. He's not going to miss a tackle when it comes his way and he's willing to get low and play the running game. An overall solid year Tramil and I fully anticipate him building upon his success from last season. How far can he take it? That's what we'll see this fall, but if all goes according to plan, Tramil could put himself in a really good situation longterm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: <strong>@_EjWorld</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->