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Preseason Sweet 16: Meet the top football players on defense in Butler County in 2024

Butler lineman Leland Anderson runs through a drill during practice Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024 at Butler High School. Brendan Howe/Butler Eagle

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:

Related Article: Preseason Sweet 16: Meet the top football players on defense in Butler County in 2024 Related Article: PA high school football 2024: Butler County team previews, top players and fall sports breakdowns
Mason Bell, jr., DE, Karns City
Karns City football defensive end Mason Bell at practice Aug. 12, 2024.Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle

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.

Jacob Reich, jr., DT/OL, Slippery Rock
Slippery Rock football player Jacob Reich poses for a portrait during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

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.

Related Article: Slippery Rock football’s Jacob Reich stepping into leadership role: ‘He’s an even-keel kid’
Wyatt Foster, sr., DT/OL, Knoch
Knoch football player Wyatt Foster poses for portrait during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

As one of the strongest and most experienced players on the Knights’ roster, Foster figures to be a disruptive force in the middle.

Troy Nagel, sr., DE, Karns City
Karns City football defensive end Troy Nagel at practice Aug. 12, 2024.Holly Mead/Special to the Butler Eagle

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.

Adam Budzilek, jr., DL/OL, Mars

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.

Related Article: See all the photos from Football Media Day 2024 and podcast live show at Butler High School
Leland Anderson, sr., DL/OL, Butler

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.

Max Gallagher, jr., LB/RB, Union/A-C Valley

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.

Dylan Pinkerton, sr., LB, Knoch
2023 Knoch Knights Football #9 Dylan Pinkerton on Monday August 7 , 2023. Justin Guido/ Butler Eagle 08/07/23

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.

Sean Selinger, sr., LB/TE, Freeport
Freeport football player Sean Selinger poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

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.

Dawson Gaillot, jr., LB/RB, Freeport

Gaillot enters this season as the Yellowjackets’ leading returning tackler, having registered 69 stops, including six for a loss, in eight games in 2023.

Mark Klemz, jr., LB/RB, Butler
Butlers Mark Klemz (35) scores the first touch down for the Golden Tornado's at Friday's game against Erie. Ralph LoVuolo/Special to the Butler Eagle 9/22/2023

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.

Owen Bish, sr., CB/QB, Union/A-C Valley

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.

Related Article: Why Union/A-C Valley football is high on dual-threat QB Owen Bish heading into 2024
Codi Mullen, sr., S/WR, Knoch
Knoch Football Player Codi Mullen poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

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.

Jayden Price, sr., S/WR, Seneca Valley
Seneca Valley football player Jayden Price poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

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.

Related Article: Seneca Valley football’s Jayden Price, a Toledo commit, back to anchor Raiders’ secondary
Blaine Jamison, jr., DB, Moniteau
Moniteau's Blaine Jamison (7) gets a pass for a touchdown in their game against Brookville on Friday night, Sept. 15, 2023. Brookville won 47-28. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

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.

Eric Kasperowicz Jr., sr., S/RB, Mars
Mars football player Eric Kasperowicz poses for a headshot during the Butler Eagle Football Media Day at Butler High School on Friday, August 9. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (8/9/2024)

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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