Preseason Sweet 16: Meet the top football players on defense in Butler County in 2024
Offense gets more of the attention, but a defense’s importance becomes more and more evident as the air becomes crisper. The Butler County area returns a good amount of talent as the new football season draws closer.
Some teams, such as Slippery Rock, will field mostly young, unproven talent. Teams like Mars, on the other hand, return more than half their defensive starters. Butler might offer different looks as it tries to put its personnel in position to thrive.
The Butler Eagle traditionally publishes its Sweet 16 all-stars at the end of each football season. This preseason, ahead of opening kickoff, meet our Preseason Sweet 16 defense — 16 defenders you don’t want to miss on Friday nights:
Bell doesn’t have the build you’d expect from his position, but Gremlins coach Joe Sherwin said he makes it work nonetheless. Bell had 58 total stops as a sophomore, including 13 for a loss. His 7.5 sacks tied for the team lead.
The Rockets don’t have many returners back on their unit. Reich, Slippery Rock coach Larry Wendereusz said, has been there, done that. He has gotten stronger, faster and has paid closer attention to technique. He also brings leadership his teammates have gravitated to.
As one of the strongest and most experienced players on the Knights’ roster, Foster figures to be a disruptive force in the middle.
Opposite Bell last fall, Nagel also sacked the quarterback 7.5 times. He recorded 51 tackles, 11 of which were in the backfield. Sherwin lauded Nagel’s quickness, technique and intelligence, as well.
Good defense starts up front, Mars coach Eric Kasperowicz said. With Budzilek, the Planets are in good hands. The two-way lineman will try to make sure Mars keeps the same attitude from a successful 2023 season.
Also a boxer, Anderson brings a certain sort of toughness to the Golden Tornado’s defensive front. His teammates rely on his tenacity, which will be an asset as he eats up space.
Gallagher is the type of player who seeks out more work. More production should show up, too, with the Falcon Knights’ leading tackler, Luke Wilson, from last year having moved on. Gallagher had 63 tackles and four sacks as a sophomore.
Knights coach Tim Burchett stressed outside linebacker is the most important position on his squad’s defense. Pinkerton steps back in after racking up more than 100 takedowns as a junior.
With all-time sacks leader Colton Otterman now graduated, Selinger should step up as Freeport’s peskiest force in the offensive backfield. He had five sacks last year, and coach John Gaillot lauded his leadership.
Gaillot enters this season as the Yellowjackets’ leading returning tackler, having registered 69 stops, including six for a loss, in eight games in 2023.
Klemz had a good deal of playing time for the Golden Tornado last season, and coach Eric Christy noticed his dedication to offseason workouts this past winter and spring. Klemz will be a reliable tackler for a Butler defense full of athletes.
Falcon Knights coach Dan Reed said he hasn’t seen a better defensive back than Bish, who will also start at quarterback. His length, speed and instincts contributed to three picks as a junior.
As a former quarterback, Mullen has a full grasp on route combinations. As such, he has impressive instincts on where the football is going. He relocates to the last line of defense after playing cornerback the past few seasons.
Price, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 190 pounds, brings an unusual frame to his position. Combine that with his ball skills, and the University of Toledo pledge made it tough for receivers to get any separation as a cornerback, although now he’s converting to safety. He was a first-team all-conference performer as a junior.
As part of a Warriors defensive backfield that doesn’t have any turnover this campaign, Jamison had 39 tackles and an impressive six interceptions as a sophomore. He’ll help patrol the air for Moniteau again this time around.
Kasperowicz, who has Division III offers from Hampden-Sydney College and Waynesburg University, has seen a lot of the field since arriving at Mars as a sophomore. He contributed in different ways last season after offseason shoulder surgery prevented him from lining up at quarterback. Kasperowicz’s experience will be valuable in a secondary that returns three of four starters.
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