10 Greater Taunton area defensive players to watch this fall
TAUNTON — The official kickoff of the high school football season in the Greater Taunton area is now just days away.
With anticipation for the season continuing to grow, the Taunton Daily Gazette is taking a look at 10 Greater Taunton area defensive players who will look to lead their teams to gridiron glory this fall.
Taunton and Dighton-Rehoboth both possess strong linebacking cores while Bristol-Plymouth has an experienced secondary and Bridgewater-Raynham have a balanced, experienced defensive unit.
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Ethan Harris, Taunton
The senior linebacker is the Tigers' top-rated defensive player heading into the fall after recording 103 tackles, including nine for a loss, three interceptions and a sack last season. The leader of a strong linebacker core, Harris is a tough tackler with great field vision and hands who should once again prove to be a gamechanger.
Ryan Keenan, Taunton
The senior is another experienced member of the Tiger linebacker core and has also looked strong on the line. Good at blocking and marking his man, Keenan has strong field vision that should see him force his way into many opposing backfields this fall while his pass catching abilities as a fullback should make him an interception threat for passes down the middle.
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Elijah Prophete, Taunton
The junior linebacker had a breakout sophomore season last fall, recording several sacks, tackles for losses and a key interception against Attleboro. Combining speed with strong field vision and hard hitting, Prophete excels in marking his man and can quickly switch targets when needed. A strong pass blocker, Prophete also has the speed and hands to make some dangerous picks and should be considered as one of the Tigers' biggest interception threats when out on the field.
Amin Abbassi, Bridgewater-Raynham
The senior linebacker is one of the most talented and experienced players on the Trojans defense, having led B-R in tackles and tackles for losses as a junior. With strong field vision and good speed, Abbassi can quickly track down and take down opposing players with ease while helping to lead his fellow linebackers and defense with his strong football IQ. Also the team's primary tight end, opposing quarterbacks should think twice about targeting a receiver in Abbassi's direction.
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Caleb Tripp, Bridgewater-Raynham
The junior linebacker was described as a "Swiss Army knife" by coach Lou Pacheco for his array of key skills that he brings to the table. Quick with solid field vision and good hitting power, Tripp looks set to establish himself as a key member of the Trojan linebacker core this fall and should be a threat to opposing backfields.
Joshua Pierre, Bristol-Plymouth
The senior cornerback returns as both a secondary and overall defensive leader, possessing great speed, great hands, good field vision and a strong football IQ. Great at marking his man, Pierre should prove a nuisance to opposing quarterbacks and receivers alike and is a top interception threat for the Craftsmen. Additionally, his speed and vision make him capable of taking out a player almost anywhere on the field, including those on long, deep runs downfield.
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Thomas Thayer, Bristol-Plymouth
The senior center is set to lead the line on both sides of the ball for the Craftsmen this season as its oldest and most experienced member. A strong leader with a solid skillset, coach John Parris praised Thayer for "driving the bus" on the line throughout practices and he should help to ensure the strength of the line for B-P this fall.
Kevin Gousie Jr., Dighton-Rehoboth
Though primarily a running back, the senior linebacker's defensive abilities shouldn't be overlooked. With strong field vision, Gousie has the ability to make some keen picks, such as when he recorded a pick six against Austin Prep last season. Also good at closing down gaps down the middle, Gousie should once again be a leader on both sides of the ball for the Falcons this fall.
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Xavier Landry, Dighton-Rehoboth
The sophomore defensive end is a newcomer looking to make a name for himself this fall. One of the strongest prospects coming up from junior varsity, coach Kevin Gousie Sr. said while he may be a bit undersized being an underclassmen, he possesses a great motor and love for the game of football, always willing to do what it takes to learn and improve. Expect to hear Landry's name over the PA system several times at D-R games this fall.
Cam Newman, Dighton-Rehoboth
The senior linebacker returns as the defensive leader up the middle for the Falcons. Combining excellent field vision with hard hitting, Newman can force fumbles and quickly stop runners both up the middle and in the backfield. He'll certainly look to continue to be a nuisance to opposing quarterbacks and running backs alike this fall with his abilities to stifle the ground game and should be one of the top defensive players in the South Coast Conference.
Taunton Daily Gazette sports reporter Cameron Merritt can be reached at cmerritt@tauntongazette.com. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @CamMerritt_News. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Taunton Daily Gazette today.
This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Greater Taunton area defensive football players to watch in 2023
