Blitz and Outside the Huddle are counting down who they feel are the top 50 individual players in northeast Indiana heading into the 2025 season.
Today, we continue with positions No. 45-41.
No. 45: LB Detrick Smith, junior, South Side
Smith was arguably the Archers’ top defender as a sophomore in 2024, leading the team in tackles (60) and tackles for loss (eight) while finishing second on the team with 2.5 sacks.
A natural athlete, Smith has the ability to play at all three levels of a defense, with his length giving him an advantage if he wants to sneak down from his outside linebacker spot.
As South Side looks to build off of the strides it took last year, which included a monumental victory over Bishop Luers, Smith will be front and center on defense and may see an increased role on offense this fall as well.
COACH’S QUOTE ON DETRICK SMITH
“Detrick is a very talented young man that has the potential to be a great player in the state. He just has to enjoy and stick to the process of working hard and getting better every day in every way and the sky is the limit for him. And he is only a junior!” – South Side coach Andre Goodwell
No. 44: TE/OLB Wes Summersett, junior, South Adams
After fighting back from an off-season injury last summer, it was astounding to see Summersett on the field in any capacity as a sophomore. Yet he still hauled in 33 catches for 525 yards and six touchdowns. He was equally as effective on defense, finishing with 66 tackles, six tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.
Well above 6-feet tall while continuing to add bulk, Summersett sometimes looks like a man amongst boys out on the gridiron. He is deceptively quick, does not shy away from being physical and his pursuit on defense is impressive, whether he is coming around the edge or tracking down a ball carrier from a linebacker spot.
A seasoned veteran of two varsity seasons, Summersett is primed to truly explode onto the scene in 2025.
COACH’S QUOTE ON WES SUMMERSETT
“Wes is a great athlete. He has the strength, speed and size to play at the next level. He will be essential to our success on both sides of the ball this season and we are excited to see what he can do.” – South Adams coach Grant Moser
No. 43: RB Alex Guzman, junior, Garrett
Sometimes lost in the offensive accolades of Cam Ruble and Calder Hefty a season ago was Guzman, who as a sophomore rushed for 703 yards and six touchdowns for the Railroaders. He was so good with his touches, in fact, that he averaged a first down every carry in 2024.
Small but shifty with a great sense of field awareness, Guzman is very anticipatory with the ball in his hands, whether it is via hand-off or in the return game. While he only had five receptions a season ago, three of them went for touchdowns, including a pivotal 64-yard score in the 41-40 victory over Knox in regionals.
On defense, Guzman is one of the top returning contributors, amassing 56 tackles, two tackles for loss and a pair of INTs last fall.
COACH’S QUOTE ON ALEX GUZMAN
“Alex is a central piece of both our offense and defense. He always plays with great energy and provides our offense and special teams with big-play ability.” – Garrett coach Chris Albertin
No. 42: RB Cooper Craig, junior, Bluffton
Craig’s 22 rushing touchdowns through the first two years of his prep career may only be a precursor to what he does the final two years at Bluffton.
No matter the size of an opponent, Craig goes full tilt on every play. Whether he has the ball in his hands or not, Craig doesn’t let up. That is something that cannot be coached, and when you combine that attribute with the talent that the running back has, you are in for something special.
Sharing the backfield with classmate Axton Beste at quarterback, Craig rushed for 422 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore. He also hauled in eight receptions for 218 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown against Jay County.
Craig also sees action on defense, where he had 18 tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception a year ago.
COACH’S QUOTE ON COOPER CRAIG
“Cooper Craig is the player that every coach dreams of having on his team. No player that I have ever coached loves football more than Cooper Craig. He is the ultimate competitor, he backs down from no one and when the times get harder, he plays better. An absolute privilege to get to coach him.” – Bluffton coach Brent Kunkel
No. 41: WR Derek McKean, senior, South Adams
When glancing at the 5-10, 145-pound (maybe) McKean, many don’t think too much about having to find a way to contain him. He isn’t overly tall or powerful, how tough can it be to shut him down?
Turns out, the answer is much harder than it looks.
McKean is as clinically precise of a route runner as you will find in the area. He uses smarts and a tacit understanding of schemes and principles to find ways to get open. And when the ball comes his way, he plays bigger than his frame indicates. Once he has the ball in his hand, he is incredibly difficult to corral.
In 2024, McKean led South Adams with 954 yards receiving and six touchdowns on 65 receptions. Now in his senior campaign, he should eclipse the 1,000-yard mark receiving, with him and Summersett being a dynamic one-two punch downfield.
COACH’S QUOTE ON DEREK MCKEAN
“Derek is one of the smartest players I have coached. He understands spacing and concepts so well in the pass game, which makes him so hard to defend. He also has great hands and has taken pride in the last year of being a great blocker as well.” – South Adams coach Derek McKean
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