Iowa7v7 Back to Ballin Day One: Defensive Dogs of the Day
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CEDAR FALLS, IA– We take a look at the top dogs on defense from Day One of the Back to Ballin Event at the UNI-Dome! Note: These are all players “as seen” or referred to us by all the coaches at the tournament!…
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Continue ReadingCEDAR FALLS, IA– We take a look at the top dogs on defense from Day One of the Back to Ballin Event at the UNI-Dome! Note: These are all players “as seen” or referred to us by all the coaches at the tournament!
Chris Day | DB, Louisa-Muscatine/Fire Dragons (IA) | (2023)
Every time I turned my head on Saturday morning at the UNI-Dome, Louisa-Muscatine’s Chris Day of the Fire Dragons was making plays on the ball, collecting multiple interceptions on the afternoon. He has a great close-in ability and made plays on one of the 2023 class watchlist quarterbacks in Iowa.
Skyler James | LB, Des Moines Roosevelt/Team Premier (IA) | (2022)
Another name I put pen to paper on the opposite of the field from the Fire Dragons was Skyler James of Des Moines Roosevelt. I became a big fan of this kid’s footwork on Saturday as I witnessed his sound vision when he brought in an interception against the Fire Dragons.
When I broke down James’s film, I saw a kid that is a versatile linebacker that can get in the backfield in multiple ways. James does well at building down in the backfield, whether it takes multiple levels of defenders to get by. James has a strong burst when he goes unblocked right at the quarterback and should be another young man to watch out of Des Moines Roosevelt in 2021.
Darius Sirleaf | DB, Des Moines East/Level Up (IA) | (2023)
Sirleaf was dynamite both days for the guys at Level Up, making play after play with his big bats and key interceptions.
One of the big reasons why I was so siked to get this kid on our radar is because he’s flying way under the radar out of Des Moines East & doesn’t have any sophomore tape as of yet. When you roll the film, Sirleaf has two things you want out of your DB: 1) a player that will put a pop on a guy 2) one that has an excellent vision (which he showed even more this weekend)
Sirleaf is super agile and can hit the gas and go 90 mph; when his competition is going 60 mph, it looks like. I fired up to see what this young man has in store in the coming years while finding a home on our 2023 rankings on the next update.
Derek Paup | LB, Creston/Level Up (IA) | (2022)
“Paup popped a guy” was a frequent statement made this weekend while not even trying to be a bully at linebacker even though he was fired up. Paup had one of the biggest motors I saw from linebackers this weekend and just crushed his smaller competition on Saturday quite literally (see the clip below). Paup made some plays that just sent kids to the ground without even trying due to his super-strong physicality.
When you roll his film, Paup is a DE prospect that uses all that motor we talked about and is super flexible at doing all he can to shed off blockers. He’s excellent at using his hands when he’s just about past the blocker to get his hands level to shove the blocker out of his way. Paup, from my eyes, could use slight development on a quicker step off the snap, but everything else he does is excellent, along with having next-level measurables as a 6’2 220 pounder. I am certainly surprised Paup wasn’t on our most recent 2022 rankings but is due on the next update. Paup logged 8 sacks as a junior. A relative of UNI defensive coordinator & NFL four-time pro bowler Bryce Paup.
— ✟ Derek Paup ✟ (@PaupDerek) March 28, 2021
Jeron Senters | DB, Cedar Rapids Kennedy/Level Up (IA) | (2022)
A big thing I liked about Senters this weekend is how he turns his hips when making a play on the ball. He made good reads, especially in Saturday’s session at the UNI-Dome.
When you break down his film, you have to love that he’s on the long end when it comes to DB measurables. He’s my definition of a sealer when it comes to the deep ball throws as he gives a good cushion but has an excellent backpedal to stay right with his WR.
Lonny Melvin | DB, Cedar Rapids/Level Up (IA) | (2022)
It is hard to believe, but Melvin turned maybe even a better day at DB on Saturday, which, as I stated, is his bread and butter when he gets an opportunity at the next level.
Because I dove into Melvin’s film yesterday, I chipped into another section of his film I didn’t see yesterday. Holy moly can do this kid have a great extension or what, as he also has loose hips and can make most tough catches with a wide turning radius from side to side.
Chase Hutchinson | DB, Valley/Level Up (IA) | (2023)
Hutchinson made his fair share of plays in the secondary and was one of Level Up’s best back there.
When you roll Hutchinson’s film, you see a DB prospect that makes quick adjustments on the fly in coverage. As a WR, he shows excellent feet on his stop/go routes and is a wideout you can go the distance with on the deep-ball. In my eyes, I see Hutchinson as a next-level slot receiver.
Eric Knies Jr. | LB, Forest Lake/My7on7 (MN) | (2023)
Knies could have been on either of my lists from Saturday, but I really like this kid at linebacker from what I saw on Saturday. Knies made several key plays to be one of the top dogs from the My7on7 squad this weekend.
Knies was a name I had circled frequently during the My7on7 Fall League, and when I roll his sophomore film, you can see his contribution chipping into the Rangers first 500. the season in a very long time. Knies is a finisher-type tackler that will do anything in his power to make sure the ball carrier stays put. He has a couple of years to develop more strength (6’1 180) as he shows a few plays of getting driven back a few yards with good leverage from the defenders he goes up against. I also think his ability to attack the backfield with a strong burst could be another asset he could add to this game.
Maddox Ward | DB, Ankeny/Team Premier (IA) | (2023)
Ward caught my eye as an under-the-radar new name prospect that was super physical at defensive back for Team Premier. Although he had some smaller measurables, he was super key in the game I watched for Team Premier. A very under-the-radar prospect for the powerhouse Ankeny Hawks, who were 12-1 last season.
Vicar Pyne Vicar Pyne 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Rosemount | 2022 State MN | DB, Rosemount/Potenza Sports (MN) | (2022)
Pyne is a well-known prospect to me that performed well at the Midwest Elite Showcase in late 2020 and Saturday in Cedar Falls. I loved Vicar’s ability to go press-man off the snap and stick like glue to his wide receiver and then broke up a big-time pass with a big bat on it.
I love how quick on film Vicar Pyne Vicar Pyne 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Rosemount | 2022 State MN ’s backpedal is from his 2020 film. He does an excellent job reading where the football is and hitting his spots wherever that is on the field. He shows that same DB physically I saw this weekend on his junior tape. The Irish had a shortened season in 2021, but Pyne’s 1 interception, he did show the good range on getting that ball. He has a good reach for an undersized DB.
Harrison Brun | DB, Rockford/Hitmen (MN) (2024)
Brun caught my eyes due to his speed at defensive back for the Hitmen from their freshman team. As just a freshman, this kid has a future at the defensive back due to not only his length (5’11) but has some solid speed he put to the test on Saturday.
Brun is super under the spotlight when it comes to his film. One word to describe his 15-second clip? Sneaky, as he uses his alert play to take the football literally out of the QBs hands and runs for 90 yards. I have a gut feeling that Brun will be a solid player for a significant number of years in the Rockford Rockets program.
Damon Green Damon Green 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Eastview | 2024 State MN |DB, Eastview/Potenza Sports (MN) | (2024)
Green came out as one of my favorite young players at the My7on7 Fall League back in October. At the UNI-Dome, Damon Green Damon Green 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Eastview | 2024 State MN kept up with that narrative make plenty of plays in the secondary for the Potenza Sports freshman team. Green played super explosive their game against their rivals, MN Hitmen, and came away with at least one clutch PBU.
When I watched Green’s freshmen tape, I saw a defensive back that was another sealer on this list as he moved well laterally to make a big play on the ball. Green also got a ton of reps at tailback, where he was super effective with his burst getting to the outside lanes and make some big runs for the Lightning. Green started on JV last football season with an absolutely dominant squad in 7on7 last fall, making me think the Lightning is a couple of years away from being more competitive than is years past. They also have a stud quarterback in Jonathan Dobis.
Eldon De Avila Eldon De Avila 5'10" | 180 lbs | P Edina | 2024 MN |DB, Edina/Potenza Sports (MN) (2024)
De Avila was one of the top players over the middle of the field, along with the next kid on our list. He did an excellent closing in on the small gaps the offense tried to drum up a pass into.
When you roll De Avila’s film, you see what a versatile athlete he is. He makes quality throws for the Hornets at quarterback and can also make some shifty plays with his legs. Not to mention he is a 4.5 star punting prospect by National Kicking rankings put him at the Divison I level just as a punter. De Avila has lots of potential wherever you line him up, and with more size, he can draw a bigger audience at his other positions too!
Ismael Kante Ismael Kante 6'1" | 195 lbs | LB Park Center | 2022 State MN | LB, Park Center/Potenza Sports (MN) (2022)
Another dominant linebacker prospect over the middle for Potenza Sports was Ismael Kante Ismael Kante 6'1" | 195 lbs | LB Park Center | 2022 State MN of Park Center. Ismael put his long reach and bursty steps to his advantage, especially from what I watched on Saturday in the UNI-Dome.
Kante has a swift get-off step off the snap for the Pirates and crashes into backfields with strong ease. Good & quick shedder off defenders. When he gets a hold of you, good luck getting by as this kid is so physical. Kante makes tackles turn into body slams. I will be candid; our 2022 rankings missed the mark on Kante as he slipped thru the cracks but should see a significant bump on the next update. One heck of a ballplayer for the Pirates that will play high-level football in the coming year, mark my words.
Nate Sullivan Nate Sullivan DB Cretin Derham Hall | 2022 MN | LB, Cretin-Derham Hall/Potenza Sports (MN) | (2022)
Sullivan was another linebacker for Potenza Sports that showed off some physical play in the UNI-Dome with one of his plays where he put a big bat on the ball.
I rolled the tape on Sullivan’s film, and even though there is not of tapes, there’s not a doubt in my mind that this kids motor and burst at a high rate of speed may get some more reps as a senior for the Raiders to go along with what I saw this weekend.
Aidan McDermott Aidan McDermott 6'2" | 185 lbs | DB Xavier | 2023 State IA | DB, Xavier (Cedar Rapids)/Fire Dragons (IA) | (2023)
McDermott was excellent on both sides of the ball for the Fire Dragons but at the defensive back looked to hold his own with his high physicality level.
McDermott’s tape shows a long defensive back with an excellent backpedal. His ability to turn his hips on a dime to make a play is another big asset to his game. McDermott is a hit stick on every opportunity he gets on film. He not only makes physical contact but does it at the right level where it’s the most effective.
More Standouts
Blake Janssen | Iowa Falls-Alden/Level Up (IA) | (2023)
Nate Schmidt | DB/LB, Mounds View/Potenza Sports (MN) | (2024)
Schmidt logged a very slick interception right in front of my eyes on late Saturday afternoon at the UNI-Dome. No film available anywhere under the Mounds View Mustangs, proving that this kid is flying under the radar.
Evan Hammonds | DB, Champlin Park/My7on7 (MN) | (2021)
Hammonds showed off some powerful footwork from what I had a glimpse of on Saturday. When I rolled his film, I was surprised he didn’t have a college football opportunity yet, as he made some excellent plays for the Rebels of Champlin Park!
Mohamed Mohamud | DB/LB, Coon Rapids/Potenza Sports (MN) | (2022)
Here are all my highlights from Day 1 in iowa this past weekend !! Check it out !💯 https://t.co/JwFOMqrJ2P
— Mohamed2️⃣ (@Real2Mohamed) March 31, 2021
Dylan Hanson Dylan Hanson 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Prior Lake | 2023 State MN | DB, Prior Lake/Hitmen (MN) | (2023)
Dylan was another stud over the middle this weekend at defensive back for the MN Hitmen. When I watched Dylan’s tape, you just have to love the versatility he brings to the Lakers. With watching him all over offense/defense, I would say my favorite position for him is right where the Hitmen had him, at defensive back. He has solid footwork to be a longer corner too!
Had a great time competing down in Iowa! @mnhitmen1 @Emoneyshow @TNTACADEMY1 @thebrickwahl87 @iowa7v7football pic.twitter.com/4uW0PaZBaf
— Dylan Hanson (@dylan_hanson16) March 31, 2021
Nash Kotar | DB, Solon/Fire Dragons (IA) | (2024)
Sam Allen | Riley County/785 Elite (KS) (2025)