FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
Noah Spence, Bishop McDevitt
Photo by Richard Rector
Noah Spence, DL, 6-4, 245, Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pa.), Ohio StateSpence was dominant for state finalist Bishop McDevitt. He made 84 tackles (23 for loss) and 10 sacks, and also blocked three punts, then committed to Ohio State.
VideosJonathan Bullard, DL, 6-4, 240, Crest (Shelby, N.C.), Florida
Channing Ward, Aberdeen
Photo by Chris Evans
An all-state selection and an All-Observer choice, Bullard racked up 82 tackles and 16 sacks in leading the Crest defense during a 12-4 season. Played in the U.S. Army All-American Game.
Channing Ward, DL, 6-4, 255, Aberdeen (Miss.), UndecidedA blue-chip recruit, Ward registered 116 tackles and 16 sacks. He was a first team all-state selection for the second year in a row and made the Jackson Clarion-Ledger Dandy Dozen team.
Adolphus Washington, DL, 6-4, 260, Taft (Cincinnati), Ohio StateAlso a basketball star, Washington made 90 tackles and 23.5 sacks, earning Division III Lineman of the Year honors.
Videos
Reuben Foster, LB, 6-2, 228, Troup County (LaGrange, Ga.), Junior, AlabamaThe Class AAA Defensive Player of the Year was all over the field. He made 185 tackles and 14 sacks.
Michael Grant, LB, 6-1, 210, Bluffton (S.C.), UndecidedNamed
the South Carolina Defensive Player of the Year by the High School
Sports Report, Grant led Bluffton to a 14-1 record while accumulating
141 tackles, 24 for loss, seven sacks and five interceptions.
James Ross, LB, 6-0, 220, St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.), Michigan
Grady Redding, Cocoa
Photo by Jim Redman
A
member of the Detroit News Dream Team for the second year in a row,
Ross helped lead St. Mary Prep to the Michigan Division 3 state
championship after finishing second the previous two seasons. Ross had
118 unassisted tackles, 5.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and two fumble
recoveries.
Grady Redding, LB, 5-11, 185, Cocoa (Fla.), UndecidedThe two-time Florida Today Defensive Player of the Year led Cocoa to a state title as a junior and the semifinals of the Class 4A playoffs as a senior. He posted 119 tackles with four sacks, a blocked punt and three fumble recoveries.
Aaron Porter, LB, 6-2, 235, La Habra (Calif.), UCLAPorter earned Defensive Player of the Year honors from the Orange County Register after collecting 388 career tackles. As a senior he had 11.5 sacks, forced five fumbles and had two interceptions.
Geno Smith, DB, 6-0, 170, St. Pius Catholic (Atlanta), AlabamaA Class AAA all-state pick, Smith helped lead Pius X Catholic to a 12-1 record. Also named to the All-DeKalb County team.
Devin Fuller, 6-1, 190, Northern Valley (Old Tappan, N.J.), Undecided
William Likely, Glades Central
Photo by Stuart Browning
An
outstanding offensive player who threw for 2,247 yards (127 of 195) and
rushed 120 times for 1,326 yards and 17 touchdowns, Fuller earned
all-state honors in New Jersey on defense after providing outstanding
coverage and making 40 tackles with two interceptions.
William Likely, DB, 5-7, 170, Glades Central (Belle Glade, Fla.), JuniorThe PBGameTime Small School Defensive Player of the Year and winner of the Lou Grazo Award for the county's top player, Likely was nearly unstoppable in all facets of the game. He made seven interceptions, rushed for 11 touchdowns and caught six touchdown passes.
Tyler Hasty, DB, 5-11, 185, Bellevue (Wash.), UndecidedThe News Tribune Player of the Year was the top player in the state of Washington and the leader of one of the nation's top teams. Hasty made four interceptions on defense and added more than 1,700 yards of offense.
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Bradley Pinion, P, 6-5, 220, Northwest Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.), ClemsonPinion earned all-state honors and backed up his reputation with outstanding punting at the Shrine Bowl.