Sac-Joaquin Section’s Top 5 Returning Interception Leaders
As offenses have become more advanced in recent years, defenses are employing the “bend but don’t break” philosophy more frequently than ever before. However, getting turnovers is necessary to successfully execute that type of scheme. Luckily, the Sac-Joaquin Section has…
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Continue ReadingAs offenses have become more advanced in recent years, defenses are employing the “bend but don’t break” philosophy more frequently than ever before. However, getting turnovers is necessary to successfully execute that type of scheme. Luckily, the Sac-Joaquin Section has plenty of ballhawks, and below is a snapshot of what the area’s top five returning interception leaders bring to the table.
Isaiah Dunn – Free Safety – Capital Christian – Class of 2022
2019 Stats: 7 INTs, 29 total tackles, 26 solo tackles
Dunn is a junior whose football IQ is just as impressive as his athletic ability. When dropping in coverage, he displays good speed on his backpedal to keep wide receivers in front of him and takes good angles to get to the correct spot when responsible for the deep half in cover two. The Capital Christian product has very good mental processing to read the offense’s play and anticipate the quarterback’s throw, allowing him to undercut routes and be in a position to make a play on the ball. When the ball is in the air, he has good hands to get interceptions, as evidence by his seven picks in 12 games, and he has very good speed to pick up extra yards. Against the run, Dunn takes good angles to be in a position to make tackles in space. If he can improve on his vertical leaping ability to be able to high point the ball in the air, and add some size to his lean frame the junior will become one of the best defensive backs in the area for the next couple of years.
Amarion York – Cornerback – Vanden – Class of 2022
2019 Stats: 6 INTs, 14 total tackles, 10 solo tackles
Another member from the class of 2022, York is best as an off the ball man-to-man cornerback. He has good hip mobility to open his hips towards the sideline to turn the other direction and stay in-phase when wide receivers run in-breaking routes. When playing off coverage, he has good speed to turn and run with the receiver on deep routes and is good at sinking his hips with good acceleration and change of direction skills to cover short routes as well. The Viking turns his head to locate the ball when playing with his back to the quarterback and has good timing with his hands to get pass breakups and interceptions. Against the run, York displays good effort and angles in pursuit and uses good pad level when tackling running backs. In press coverage, he needs to be more physical and accurate with his hands to hold receivers at the line of scrimmage, but that will come as he gets older and more comfortable with the technique.
Jacob Vencer – Cornerback – Vista del Lago – Class of 2021
2019 Stats: 5 INTs, 42 total tackles, 30 solo tackles
Vencer is another player whose intelligence is on par with his athletic ability. In zone coverage, he has good eye discipline and mental processing combined with good hip mobility and change of direction to recognize when he can leave his area and go make a play on the ball. The Folsom native is also quick to recognize screens with good acceleration to come up and make the play at or near the line of scrimmage. In man coverage, he has good speed to turn and run to stay in-phase with wide receivers on deep routes. That speed combined with some good vision also allows him to be an effective punt returner. If Vencer can add some more strength during the offseason to affect receivers at and within the five-yard window of the line of scrimmage, he should have no problem garnering attention from coaches at the next level.
Dylan Overstreet – Free Safety – Casa Roble – Class of 2021
2019 Stats: 5 INTs, 90 total tackles, 42 solo tackles
Instincts are what separates the good safeties from the great ones and Overstreet certainly isn’t lacking in that category. In coverage, he’s good at reading the quarterback’s eyes with very good acceleration to make contact with the wide receiver at the catch point when covering the middle of the field, or undercut the route and get interceptions outside of the hash marks. Against the run, the Orangevale native is quick to diagnose the play and his speed allows him to come up and make plays within four to five yards of the line of scrimmage from a true free safety position. He’s also an athletic freak with the ball in his hands, making him a threat to score from anywhere on the field when he gets interceptions. At 5’9″ and 168 pounds, Overstreet may not possess the ideal size but his athletic ability and football IQ are something that any college coach would be happy to work with. He’s also impressive on offense and special teams as he racked up nearly 1,500 all-purpose yards and 20 total touchdowns last season.
Daniel De La Rosa – Strong Safety – Atwater – Class of 2021
2019 Stats: 5 INTs, 79 total tackles, 49 solo tackles
De La Rosa is a defensive back who projects best as a strong safety at the next level due to his good eye discipline and ability to be a factor against the run. When lined up at strong safety, he’s quick to diagnose plays with good acceleration to limit yards on short routes and make plays near the line of scrimmage against the run. Also, he takes good angles in pursuit and has good tackling form by wrapping up and using good pad level. From a two-high alignment, the Atwater product has good eye discipline to read the quarterback, find wide receivers coming into his area, and jump routes to make a play on the ball. If he can improve his agility and change of direction skills, he’ll be able to get more interceptions and pass breakups, but his sure tackling and instincts are more than enough to prevent big plays. De La Rosa is also a solid deep threat as a receiver and a solid kick returner.