We are celebrating the new year in style, unveiling our Outside the Huddle All-Area teams for the 2023 football season.
We will release our All-Area squads, in addition to our individual award winners, over the next week or so.
Next up, the Big School Defense.
DL: Will Kelso, senior, Snider – Working inside or out, Kelso was difficult to handle for any offensive line. While not the tallest or the biggest, Kelso’s high skill saw him consistently went battles to get to quarterbacks or bottle up the run game. He finished the season with 46 tackles, a pair of sacks a fumble recovery.
DL: Lucas Sheron, senior, Leo – Part of what allowed other players to feast in the trenches for the Lions was the impact of Sheron, who at 6-foot-1, 275 pounds commanded a lot of attention at defensive tackle. He also created plenty of havoc himself, notching 46 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks from his interior line spot.
DL: Ashton Pesetski, senior, Carroll – Pesetski’s measurables and freakish athletic ability made him a menace for multiple seasons in Huntertown. His swan song as a senior was tremendous, coming from the edge to get to quarterbacks, running backs and kickers alike. He never took a play off, bringing max energy to every snap. He led the Chargers in tackles (79), tackles for loss (nine) and sacks (two) and blocked a punt against Bishop Dwenger.
DL: Brock Schott, junior, Leo – Is he a tight end or a defensive end? Either way, Schott is a high-major prospect in the Class of 2025. Scholarship offers include Miami, Louisville, Iowa and Michigan State, and for good reason as he had 67 tackles, 32 tackles for loss and 19 sacks for the Lions. Offensively, he was Leo’s top receiver in yardage with 743 yards to go with six touchdowns. One of the top two-way prospects in his class in the entire country.
LB: Lukas Rohrbacher, senior, Snider – The word “solid” best describes Rohrbacher not because there aren’t other adjectives, but because it truly defines what he was for the Panthers. When Rohrbacher was around the ballcarrier, you knew there would be a sure tackle. He was not flashy or intimidating, but he didn’t need to be. Rohrbacher had 116 tackles for Snider to go with a pair of sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and an interception.
LB: Sam Steward, junior, Homestead – Steward’s unique ability to appear out of nowhere in an opponent’s backfield never ceased to amaze in 2023. Homestead used the junior to penetrate the line and cause major chaos behind the line, a role in which he shined in a breakout campaign. He led Homestead in tackles with 93, tackles for loss with 25 and sacks with 11, cementing himself as one of the best linebackers in the area.
LB: Kimar Nelson, junior, Wayne – Similar to Steward, Nelson became a household name throughout the SAC with his prowess at linebacker, although he definitely made an impact on offense as well. With the ability to play at middle ‘backer or on the outside, Nelson was utilized as a stabilizing presence at the second level. He could attack, evidenced by his 22.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks, and he could also be a pest downfield as he led the Generals in tackles. The junior also rushed for 529 yards and six touchdowns.
LB: Christian Lozada, senior, Bishop Dwenger – Truly skilled linebackers can do a little bit of everything on defense, which is exactly what Lozada was able to do in 2023. From his outside spot, Lozada was so good at keeping eyes to the backfield and staying square, then attacking wherever the ball was going. He amassed 71 tackles, 12 TFL, nine sacks and an interception on the year, the latter of which he returned for a touchdown in sectionals against DeKalb.
DB: Brandon Logan, junior, Snider – People continue to pester Logan about playing football at the next level, and for good reason. The Vanderbilt baseball commitment is exceptional on the back end of the defense. His ability to anticipate and close is largely unrivaled in the area. Big plays always seem to happen around a player like Logan, who led the Panthers in interceptions with six, four of which he returned for touchdowns. He also had 95 tackles.
DB: Adrian Wooten, junior, Wayne – Another junior defensive talent off Winchester Road, Wooten’s five INTs were second most in the SAC. He was able to run with any receiver in the league and his instincts allowed him to break on the ball nearly as fast as receivers. His ability to high point throws in the air has helped him emerge as one of the best cover corners in the region.
DB: Braden Steely, senior, Carroll – Steely made a name for himself over the last few years on the back end of the Carroll defense for his ability to disrupt an offense in a variety of ways – from pass defense to laying out big hits. Steely missed a few games this season but was still a fearsome safety, evidenced by his 52 tackles and propensity of saving his most impactful plays for when it mattered most.
DB: Ajani Washington, senior, New Haven – Washington was once known as a basketball player who was giving football a try. Now, he is a legitimate top player at his position on the football field. Washington used his quickness and instinct to be a tough defensive back for receivers to beat. He finished with a pair of interceptions to go along with his offensive prowess, which including leading the Bulldogs in all major receiving categories, including receptions (44), yards (674) and touchdowns (11).
AT-LARGE: Jamarion Kolagbodi, junior, Snider – Another breakout junior in northeast Indiana, Kolagbodi’s abilities at corner were exceptional. He was second on the team in interceptions with five to go with 40 tackles. The junior also had three returns for touchdowns on special teams – a pair of kickoffs and a punt. With a couple of MAC offers on the table, expect Kolagbodi to continue to emerge as one of the top defensive talents around.
AT-LARGE: Landin Hoeppner, junior, Leo – Another corner with the ability to stay with receivers for a substantial amount of time, Hoeppner gave the Lions someone they could trust on the back end. Always eager to match up with a team’s top receiver, the junior shined the bigger the stage. He picked off four passes in 2023 to go with 43 tackles and 10 passes defensed.
P: Chase Winnemar, senior, Snider – How steady was Winnemar this season? Well, he handled everything for the Panthers. He hit 11 of 14 field goals and nailed all but five of his PAT attempts. He also averaged 34.7 yards per punt, half of which were downed inside an opponent’s 20-yard line.
Be the first to comment