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We’re past the halfway point of the high school regular season. With that, here’s the pecking order thus far for our Defensive Player of the Year in the Williamson County Area.
5. Michael Burdick, defensive back, Page
Burdick has made many big plays for the Patriots during their 4-2 start. He was our Defensive Player of the Week for Week 1 after scoring a pair of touchdowns on interceptions, and has four picks and 157 return hards off those for the season. He has 32 total tackles (12 solo), a half-stop for loss and a pair of fumble recoveries.
4. C.J. Grissim, linebacker, Brentwood
Grissim has been the same steadying force for Brentwood’s defense that he was a year ago when he was his region’s Defensive Player of the Year. His stats don’t jump off the page–50 tackles, 17 solo, one interception–but those have been limited by running clocks as Brentwood built huge leads in several games. He’s the leader of a defense that’s giving up 12.7 points and 228 yards per game.
3. Anthony McCarthy, linebacker, Ravenwood
McCarthy has come out of nowhere to have a fantastic year for the Raptors after transferring from South Carolina’s T.L. Hanna High. Ravenwood’s linebacker has been a monster, with 79 tackles (13 for loss), two sacks, four hurries, a pair of fumble recoveries, a blocked kick and a pass break-up. The Raptors are 4-2 this season. Here are video highlights of McCarthy.
2. Kane Patterson, linebacker, Christ Presbyterian Academy
Patterson is showing why he has scholarship offers from schools like LSU and Vanderbilt, even though he’s just a junior. CPA’s best defensive player has 45 stops (39 solo) with six stops for loss and a sack and a half as the Lions allow just over 20 points per game.
1. Jackson Sirmon, linebacker, Brentwood Academy
Picking the top defensive player is tough, but it’s hard to go wrong with naming the best player perhaps on the area’s best defense. Sirmon is that guy. The senior Washington commitment has 13 solo tackles, 27 assists, seven stops for loss, a sack and a half, and a pass break-up as BA allows 12.4 points per game.
Disclaimer:In compiling this list, we considered players from our entire coverage area, which includes the following schools: Brentwood Academy, Battle Ground Academy, Brentwood High School, Centennial High School, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Ensworth, Fairview High School, Father Ryan High School, Franklin High School, Franklin Road Academy, Grace Christian Academy, Independence High School, Nolensville High School, Page High School, Ravenwood High School, Spring Hill High School, Summit High School. Although not all of these schools are within the boundaries of Williamson County, we know many of our parents have children at those schools and are interested in their sports programs; therefore, we consider all football players at these schools.
