Grayslake North 6’1, 185 lb. safety Carter Barenbaum Carter Barenbaum 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Grayslake North | 2024 State IL was recently named to our PRzIL list of the 2024 classes hardest hitters, a prestigious selection that was hard to earn, as there were a ton of potential of nominations from hard hitting 2024s all around the state of Illinois. We broke his down his expertise into contact in that previous feature here, but we’ll get more in-depth in regards to his overall skillset and strengths for this Ballhawking feature here. Barenbaum posted 71 total tackles (57 defensive, 14 on special teams), 9 PBUs, 5 INTs (tied school record, took one back to the house), and a forced fumble, and was a strong representation of a ballhawk, as he did a great job of naturally being around the football at the right times and capitalizing on offensive mistakes and miscommunications. As a MOF defender, his range was impressive, as he was able to defend the sidelines and hashes with ease, as well as get downhill and cover ground in run support as well. I also really like how he fires out of his breaks with burst, and he’s athletic enough to high point and play the ball well in the air. As mentioned in the hardest hitters article, Barenbaum also will smack the crap out of WRs and RBs, and laid a couple of the bigger hits I saw while grinding tape for the update, and especially amongst his DB peers. Right now, he’s got offers from UW-Eau Claire, UW-Platteville, Carthage College, Judson, UW-Oshkosh, and MSU-Mankato. Rangy, physical, and instinctive is a good mix for a DB. I like how he projects to the next level and am excited to check him out as a senior.

Don’t come over the middle on Carter Barenbaum Carter Barenbaum 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Grayslake North | 2024 State IL . The Grayslake North 6’1, 185 lber. owns two of the harder hits I saw from DBs while grinding tape for the PRzIL 2024 rankings update and hardest hitters selections, which included him absolutely wrecking a Grant Community WR running down the seam with an outstretched hand, where the poor kid hit the turf like concrete hitting water, whereafter he stays on the turf wondering who let a pickup truck onto the field. There’s also a great hit on a Mundelein wideout that is so clean that Barenbaum sends him more than five yards and hard into the turf without looking like he even hit anything. The rest of his highlights are reminiscent of a projectile, as when he locks on and sets his sights on a target they are in for a world of hurt. It’s exactly what you want from a safety, which will aid him greatly at the college level, and additionally the 185 lber. is a total ballhawk with great range in both run support and pass defense and can cover a ton of ground from the MOF to make plays to either hash or sideline. Barenbaum is long, always around the football, is conscious of the football and looks to force fumbles in a tackle, and possesses good speed and length. He’s an asset in both the run and pass game and holds offers from heavyweight DII and DIII programs at this point. If he goes that route, he’s going to be a baller at the next level, he’s got a complete skillset and like everyone else on this list, is a total thumper.