Border Battle Dakotas All-Star Game Selections 2023 (SD Defense)
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The final story rounding off this series comes back to the defensive side for South Dakota. I feel like this group was pretty cut-and-dry to pull straight from the rankings, with a few minor changes. This group could fit a…
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Continue ReadingThe final story rounding off this series comes back to the defensive side for South Dakota. I feel like this group was pretty cut-and-dry to pull straight from the rankings, with a few minor changes. This group could fit a few different schemes and can switch defensive fronts without changing personnel. I again looked to fill a 4-3 roster, but the athletes on the roster could also fit a 3-4 or 5-2 look, and for run support defenses a 4-4 or 5-3 even. My thoughts as a defensive coach likes that kind of versatility, knowing that a group can roll with anything that presents itself at any given moment. Check it out below!
DL- Ty Naaktgeboren Ty Naaktgeboren 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL SF Roosevelt | 2023 State , Sioux Falls Roosevelt: I like his explosion off the edge when the ball is snapped, he doesn’t fly far up the field and lays a nice hit when he finds the ballcarrier.
DL- Reis Kirschenman Reis Kirschenman 6'4" | 245 lbs | DL Tea Area | 2023 State , Tea Area: I like his aggression coming off the snap with both the blocker and the ballcarrier. His motor runs high enough to finish every play through the whistle.
DL- Patrick Kastning Patrick Kastning 6'9" | 365 lbs | DL Elk Point-Jefferson | 2023 State , Elk Point-Jefferson: I like how he takes the Center back on each play. He disrupts the opponents run game each play by doing so, also helps open gaps for blitzing LB’s as well to put more pressure on the offense.
DL- Damon Wilkinson Damon Wilkinson 6'9" | 260 lbs | DL De Smet | 2023 State , DeSmet: He uses his size to his advantage and knows where to position himself to make a play. He breaks down really well and makes a good form tackle when the time comes.
LB- Richard Benenge Richard Benenge 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Harrisburg | 2023 State , Harrisburg: I like his motor, instincts, and technique. He gets his reads and flies around to where he needs to be to make a play.
LB- Gabe Gutierrez Gabe Gutierrez 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State , Sioux Falls Lincoln: He also has the same attributes at LB as Benenge. Also add a pretty impressive form to his tackling as well.
LB- Jaxton Eck Jaxton Eck 6'0" | 215 lbs | LB Brookings | 2023 State , Brookings: He fills his position well, guards the perimeter on both pass and run plays. He can also walk-up and play at the DE spot as well. He has a lot of speed and is a very good open-field tackler.
DB- London Kolb London Kolb DB SF Jefferson | 2023 State , Sioux Falls Jefferson: Kolb is the run support Safety, a good tackler and reads his keys to fill the gap. He can also do very well in pass coverage as well with good speed to run with the WR.
DB- Beau Giblin Beau Giblin 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State , Sioux Falls Jefferson: He is your pass-first Safety, sits back and reads the QB and flows to where he reads and makes the play. He plays the last-line-of-defense perfectly, is the deepest guy on the field at all times, and makes a sure-handed tackle when a play breaks loose.
DB- Jayden Wiebe Jayden Wiebe 6'1" | 170 lbs | DB Pierre | 2023 State , Pierre: He is your Man-to-Man CB, runs with the best of them and attacks the football and breaks up many passes. He is also a sure-handed tackler in the open field on the perimeter plays.
DB- Hayden Gebhart Hayden Gebhart 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Rapid City Stevens | 2023 State , Rapid City Stevens: Gebhart is another Nickel type Safety that can roll up and defend the flats. He loves to bring a hit on run support as well, he also can run pretty well with receivers in coverage as well.