Basketball Prospect Football Team: Defense
This has become one of my favorite articles every winter. College football national signing day is among my favorite days of the year. Being a huge college football fan I believe this should be a national holiday! Each year we name our All Basketball Prospect Football Team. You have to be a ranked prospect to be considered. Without further ado here is our All-Basketball Prospect Football Team Defense!
DE AJ Epenesa (Edwardsville)
Easiest pick of this whole team. Epenesa is one of the best power forwards in the senior class, but it wasn’t even a consideration at the next level as he is the premier defensive end in the nation. The physical freak is headed to Iowa and then probably the first round of the NFL Draft.
DE Jackson Perkins (Barrington)
We were intrigued by Perkins as a hoops prospect when he was playing with the Wolves a couple summers ago. It became obvious he was going to go the football route with his strength and speed off the edge. Committed to Navy.
DT Jordan Morris (Proviso East)
Morris is a strong and athletic undersized post playing hoops. Honestly he could probably be a higher level football recruit as a pass rushing interior defensive lineman. His quickness and strength combo is off the charts.
DT Anthony Cameron (Hyde Park)
Cameron is a big boy in the paint! That will be his role on this team as well. Clog the middle opening pass rushing lanes for the other defensive lineman. Take on double teams in the run game to let the linebackers flow to the backs.
OLB Terry Smith (Curie)
Smith is a quick twitched athlete with superior strength. Would have the ability to rush the passer off the edge, but also drop in coverage.
MLB Malik Binns (Bolingbrook)
Binns would be a great thumper in the middle of our defense. The Bolingbrook 6’6” post has the strength to fight through blocks and speed to chase down running backs.
OLB Raekwon Drake (Orr)
Drake is a rangy and athletic forward that would be a D1 football prospect without question. He could play a number of different positions. We put him at outside linebacker to help cover tight ends and get after the QB in blitzing situations.
CB Jacob Keller (Fenwick)
Keller very well could have been our quarterback, but we put him at corner. At 6’3” he has size to cover bigger wide outs and the athleticism to contest them on jump balls. Crafty player that is smart on the hardwood and would be a good leader in the secondary.
CB Anthony Fairlee (Springfield Southeast)
I have said before I don’t know if there is a better pure “athlete” in the state playing hoops than Fairlee. He has strength to go with out of this world athleticism. Speed in the open floor translates to him being able to cover downfield and there aren’t going to be many wide outs that can out jump him.
S Demarius Jacobs (Uplift)
Jacobs has been a regular threat defensively this season blocking shots and getting steals. He will do that in the back end of our defense covering ground and making picks.
S Coreyoun Rushin (Westinghouse)
Rushin has the combination of strength, range, and athleticism to be a perfect fit at this spot. He will cover a lot of ground and will make plays downfield as a hitter coming across the field.