We originally had Balcerzak ranked as a quarterback, but it’s become apparent that his future is at defensive back. In just two seasons, he’s contributed nine takeaways from his free safety position, six interceptions and three fumble recoveries. This offseason, he blew up on the recruiting trail and we love his upside and athletic ability.

After playing some quarterback in the past, Balcerzak is completely locked in at safety. His speed is the first thing that jumps out, as he’s a sub-4.5 guy who can really go. He works well at safety because he has great anticipation to jump routes. That comes from a feel for the bigger picture. He’s one of those rare underclassmen who understands route concepts and not just the single route in front of him, which puts him in a position to make plays.

John Balcerzak John Balcerzak 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB/ATH SouthLake Christian Academy | 2028 State NC is the definition of a do-it-all playmaker for SouthLake Christian. The versatile standout made his presence felt on both sides of the ball, playing high safety defensively while also producing big plays on offense. His highlight of the day came on a deep post route, where he got behind the defense and hauled in a long touchdown reception.

Balcerzak has the speed to cover a tremendous amount of ground as a safety, giving him excellent range on the back end of the defense. Offensively, that same speed allows him to separate from defenders and become a dangerous vertical threat. His versatility and playmaking ability make him one of SouthLake Christian’s most valuable weapons heading into the season.

Balcerzak’s evaluation became a bit easier once we decided (a bit later than necessary, to be honest) to move him to defensive back in our system. Instead of looking at this defensive back tape and extrapolating that to other positions, we can evaluate him as a true safety prospect. He has excellent range, and his background playing quarterback helps him anticipate where throws are going.

Balcerzak had his share of freshman moments last season, but the positive far outweighed the negative. A dual-threat guy, he can pick up yardage on the ground in a hurry. He displays great upside with his accuracy and arm strength and has a feel for avoiding the rush.