Defensive Prospect Guide: Central IL
This article previews small school players, who have the potential to play division II or III college football. Each player is coming from a small high school and is most likely not drawing the attention of players in the Northern…
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Continue ReadingThis article previews small school players, who have the potential to play division II or III college football. Each player is coming from a small high school and is most likely not drawing the attention of players in the Northern and Southern parts of the state.
Senior DL: FJ Simpson (Williamsville HS)- Adequate height and solid weight, stout, proportioned with definition. Good get off, leverage, and punch on the snap. He gets into OL quickly, and establishes hand positioning to the chest plate. Good UOH throughout play in order to disengage, while pursuing. Vs. Run, solid play strength and leverage at the POA to hole ground, and continue driving legs to create penetration. Good straight line and lateral burst in order to run down ball carriers once breaking the LOS. Good body control, has a low center of gravity allowing for good COD. He is able to settle in the hole or as he is pursuing and make a tackle. Shows hash to hash range, when lined up in the B gap. Vs. Pass, maintains good get off and leverage, while also showing very good UOH and quickness in order to get around outside shoulder of G. He’s a hit and disengage guy now, as he doesn’t possess a particular go to pass rush arsenal. Very good closing burst, once disengaged to go and get the QB. Reliable tackler in both the Run and Pass games, will consistently get guys on the ground. Overall, an undersized interior DL who plays with passion and a relentless motor. His speed, and agility make it hard to consistently keep him out of the backfield, and he is a tough matchup for a G or C.
Senior DL: Grant Foes (Princeton HS)- Good height and solid weight, trim, proportioned with some definition. Solid get off and UOH at the LOS. Strikes quickly and to the chest plate of OL. Good play strength, uses lower half in order to be effective creating penetration Vs. Pass and Run. Vs. Run, good play strength in order to hold ground coupled with UOH to disengage. Shows hash to hash range, and displays good competitive toughness. Vs. Pass, strictly a Bull Rusher, uses lower half strength and leverage to create push, and shows good UOH to get hands inside OL and disengage. Solid closing quickness, when getting into the backfield, good body control to breakdown and is a reliable tackler. He lacks lateral quickness, and agility to be consistently effective Vs. Zone, and is limited as a pass rusher until he develops a pass rush arsenal. Overall, a solid player who has room to continue growing.
Senior LB: Mitchell Gore (Dunlap HS)- Solid height and good weight, buff, trim, proportioned with definition. Good read and react ability post snap, quickly diagnoses and trusts eyes. Good burst and acceleration, can play inside out and shows sideline to sideline range. Displays good COD and agility in order to be effective when RB bounces. Solid tackler, will wrap and bring legs. Vs. Pass, possesses the agility, COD, and mental awareness to be effective in Zone. Maintains good downhill acceleration to drive on the football. Overall a good prospect who has a lot of potential, his biggest limitation is his height, and how he will disengage against larger OL at the next level. Possesses lots of potential and has a chance to be a solid player at the next level.
Senior LB: McKade Brooks (Astoria HS)- Solid height and weight, slender, trim, proportioned with some definition. Good acceleration and burst off the snap, along with showing good vision to read and react with little wasted movements. Good foot quickness both when flowing to a hole or shooting the A or B gaps. Displayed the ability to chase ball carriers down from the backside. Good body control in order to settle and square to ball carrier. Good tackler, can wrap and finish along with showing knock back tackling ability. Good blitzing ability, wins with burst and acceleration to get home. Overall, an athletic guy who has good speed and sideline to sideline ability. He still has room to grow, but has good traits.
Senior DB: Kesean Hobson (Illinois Valley Central HS)- Solid height and adequate weight, slender, trim, proportioned with some definition. A very athletic DB who has the ability to play Man, Off, and Zone. Possesses good feet and COD at the LOS to stick off the snap, combined with good foot quickness showing the ability to get and keep back hip positioning in Man. In Off and Zone good ability to plaster, maintains foot quickness to stick across the field. Solid transition in order to drive on the football post throw. Displays good ball skills, aggressive, and will go get the ball when it’s in the air. Good hands in order to turn the ball over, and possesses good catch to run transition in order to be effective after the turnover. He also possesses dynamic return ability, shows good foot quickness, agility, COD, and vision. Overall, a very good athlete who has room to grow in both filling out his body and also continuing to develop as a DB. A lot of potential, and could be an under the radar player who could contribute if developed properly.