BRINGING THE BOOM: Meet the 2021 Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns Football All-Area Defense

The top offensive players in Volusia, Flagler and St. Johns counties got their shine yesterday. Now, it's time to recognize the best defenders around.

And it's no easy feat cracking this squad.

Thirteen local players surpassed the 100-tackle threshold. Nine posted double-digit sack totals. Sixteen snagged at least three interceptions.

To adapt with the times of modern football defense, the All-Area team will account for edge rushers (EDGE), interior defensive linemen (IDL), linebackers (LB), defensive backs (DB) and multi-positional athletes (ATH), often those who contribute on both sides of the ball.

All 24 Nominees are under consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year award. The winner will be announced at the Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns High School Sports Awards in the spring.

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During the live show, these nominees will be honored, along with the top three finalists and the Player of the Year. All official nominees can receive a free ticket. More details about the program are coming soon.

The Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns High School Sports Awards is part of the USA TODAY, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.

Let's meet the team.

Nominees

EDGE: Jared Lloyd, Mainland: The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder produced a breakout senior season, leading the tri-county area with 44 tackles for loss. Lloyd, who claims offers from both Bethune-Cookman and Charleston Southern, added 90 total tackles and a team-high 10 sacks.

EDGE: Sam Rizzo, Spruce Creek: The senior moved around the Hawks' formation, putting a hand in the dirt or standing up as a linebacker, and wreaked havoc wherever deployed. Rizzo finished fourth in the area with 12 sacks, making 57 total tackles (23 solo) with eight in the backfield.

EDGE: Jeremy West, Seabreeze: A late bloomer and first-year starter for the district champion Sandcrabs, the senior tallied 12½ sacks — four alone in a September win over Forest. West claims NCAA Division I offers from Stetson and Valparaiso, in addition to a handful of D-II programs.

EDGE: Christian Yousefzadeh, Creekside: The Army West Point commit ended the season as the Knights' second-leading tackler with 90 stops, including 66 solos and 15 TFLs. Yousefzadeh had nine sacks and served as the team's punter, averaging 31.7 yards per kick with six downed inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

IDL: Ian Calhoun, Creekside: A force up front at 6-foot-3 and 280 pounds, the senior had 32 solo tackles and eight TFLs in addition to occupying space for the Knights' talented edge-setters to operate. Calhoun remains committed to Lafayette, and will visit again this month to meet the Leopards' new head coach, John Troxell.

IDL: Isaiah Morrison, Mainland: The senior provided the Bucs' defense with a huge lift upon his return from a knee injury sustained in a preseason jamboree in Jacksonville. Morrison recorded five sacks and 20 TFLs to help Mainland reach the playoffs for the 28th consecutive fall.

IDL: Joel Vargas, University: One of the Titans' emotional leaders, the senior bullied plenty of blockers, finished second locally with 13 sacks and added 26 TFLs. Vargas kicked off 2022 with an offer from Davenport University, a D-II program in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

LB: Maverick Baranowski, Spruce Creek: The senior, who committed to Minnesota the weekend before the December signing period began, notched his second consecutive triple-digit-tackle season. Baranowski hit 100 on the nose with 51 solos, 10 TFLs and 4½ sacks for a defense that did not allow a single point in district competition.

LB: Ben Bogle, Nease: Switching from nose guard to middle linebacker, the Southern Illinois signee turned in a truly staggering stat line — 202 total tackles, 129 solo tackles, 33 TFLs, 19 sacks, eight QB hurries, six forced fumbles, two interceptions and one touchdown.

LB: Dylan Chiedo, Bartram Trail: Another St. Johns standout heading to the FCS ranks (Furman), Chiedo was one of the Bears' most consistent difference-makers. He made 86 tackles with five TFLs, three sacks and two fumble recoveries.

LB: Zach Harmon, Nease: Partnering Bogle in the heart of the Panthers' defense, the senior ranked second in the area with 150 total tackles (94 solo) — an average of 11.5 per game. He added a pair of sacks and a couple of interceptions, and tallied multiple TFLs in six separate contests.

LB: Micah Pollard, Bartram Trail: The Michigan commit delivered team-highs with seven sacks and 16 TFLs, playing a pivotal role in the Bears' District 1-8A championship campaign. Pollard had a hand in 68 total tackles, forced two fumbles and recovered two as well.

LB: Elias Velasquez, University: Once again the Titans' top tackler, senior Velasquez topped Volusia County with 119 total stops. Eighteen of those tackles happened behind the line of scrimmage, and the three-year starter also caused two fumbles and snagged an interception.

DB: Eli Campbell, Seabreeze: Things came in threes for the versatile junior this year — interceptions, forced fumbles, fumble recoveries and, somewhat surprisingly, defensive touchdowns. Campbell was in on 96 total tackles, just four off the team lead, and 13 TFLs.

DB: Sharif Denson, Bartram Trail: One of Florida's most talented junior cornerbacks, Denson secured two interceptions this season — including a big one near the goal line against Creekside which led to Liam Padron's winning field goal. According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Denson is the No. 159 overall recruit in the country for the 2023 graduating class.

DB: Creed McClafferty, Nease: No one picked off more passes in Volusia, Flagler or St. Johns than the 5-foot-9, 177-pound senior and his six interceptions — three alone against Westside in the regular season finale. McClafferty, who had one career INT in 12 varsity games prior to 2021 combined, made 35 tackles in the secondary.

DB: Carter McEachean, Creekside: Locked in a four-way tie for second place with four interceptions, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound senior corner broke up a further eight passes and collected 14 solo tackles.

DB: Jordan Porter, Mainland: Returning to Daytona Beach after a year in South Carolina, the senior was extremely active at the back end for the Bucs. Porter broke up 11 passes, intercepted three and scored twice.

DB: Noble Thomas Jr., University: Teams were much more cautious throwing the way of Oregon State signee Thomas, but the senior still managed to pull down two interceptions and bat away another four passes. Thomas caught two touchdowns in the Titans' first playoff win, a 35-14 triumph against Fletcher.

P: Mac Chiumento, Seabreeze: The 6-foot-4 senior has a booming right leg, leading the expanded area in punting average at 41.6 yards per kick with a long of 58 and 11 downed inside the 20. Alabama, Florida and Florida State offered Chiumento spots as a preferred walk-on.

ATH: Dimitri Campbell, Seabreeze: The senior grabbed a pair of picks while embracing a larger role in the Sandcrabs' improved offense. Campbell caught 30 balls for 342 yards and three touchdowns.

ATH: Jonathan Campbell, Mainland: The senior slotted in at quarterback for the Bucs' stretch run, throwing for 748 yards and nine touchdowns and running for 197 yards with three scores. Campbell is being recruited as a safety, though — and for good reason. He had a team-high 13 PBUs, two interceptions and eight TFLs.

ATH: Luke Pirris, Ponte Vedra: Playing the hybrid linebacker/safety role for the Sharks, Navy signee Pirris made 85 total tackles — highlighted by a 12-solo performance in the finale versus Creekside. The basketball standout blocked four kicks (two field goals, two punts) and added three PBUs and an interceptions.

ATH: Donavan Wilson, Nease: The Robert Morris signee made plays on the perimeter on both sides of the ball. Wilson caught 38 passes for 545 yards and five touchdowns on offense, and contributed 52 tackles, eight TFLs, two sacks and three interceptions to the Panthers' defense.

Other athletes of note

EDGE: Vincent Approbato, Creekside: The senior, who picked up an offer from Presbyterian in September, hounded opposing quarterbacks with five sacks and 11 pressures, and even sprung a few blocks for Preston Strope at tight end.

EDGE: Marcello Bernardi, St. Augustine: One of the Yellow Jackets' co-captains, senior Bernardi posted team-high marks in sacks (three) and TFLs (five) while recording 35 total tackles at defensive end.

EDGE: Xavier Martinez, Deltona: Sharing Deltona's lead with 65 total tackles, the senior linebacker stood alone in the sack and TFL categories with 10 and 20, respectively.

EDGE: Mason Mozo, Bartram Trail: The physically imposing Colgate commit — at 6-5, 260 pounds — had 54 total tackles and four TFLs while also being responsible for one of the Bears' two safeties this season.

IDL: Segree Graham, Bartram Trail: The consensus three-star recruit had three sacks and three TFLs in 10 games, finishing with 34 total tackles. Graham has caught the attention of Florida Atlantic, Memphis and others since de-committing from Cincinnati.

IDL: MJ Smokes, DeLand: Part of the Bulldogs' talented crop of sophomores, Smokes generated five sacks and 16 TFLs in just seven outings on the field.

IDL: Seth Stamps, Menendez: The senior led the Falcons with nine TFLs, chipping in two sacks, two fumble recoveries and 41 total tackles.

LB: Jake Battillo, Spruce Creek: In his second year starting for the Hawks, the junior racked up 71 tackles with 34 solos and four TFLs.

LB: Jason Browning Jr., Flagler Palm Coast: The senior started the season on fire with 17 tackles and three sacks against Mainland; he ended it with 81 tackles, 13 TFLs and five sacks.

LB: Zeke Cromwell, Bartram Trail: The hard-nosed junior linebacker paced the Bears with 115 total tackles, good for fourth locally, along with six TFLs and three forced fumbles.

LB: Trooper Price, Ponte Vedra: The junior, who garnered all-state honors in 2020, had 98 total tackles for the Sharks with 60 solos and one interception.

LB: Cole Stratton, New Smyrna Beach: The senior swept up the second level with 105 total tackles — 33 more than any other player on the Barracudas' roster — with seven games topping double digits.

LB: Steven Taylor, Seabreeze: An anchor of the Sandcrabs' defense, the junior made 72 of his 100 tackles solo, led his team with 21 TFLs and chipped in five sacks and two forced fumbles for good measure.

DB: AJ DeSousa, University: An unsung hero in the Titans' playoff run, the senior safety broke up 13 passes and grabbed four interceptions, averaging 30.3 yards per return with the ball in his hands.

DB: Kalyb Evans, Mainland: The senior was a big play waiting to happen for the Bucs, including a highlight-reel hit, scoop and score on a kickoff return against Lake Minneola. Evans finished with 46 tackles, seven PBUs, seven forced fumbles, six TFLs, three blocked kicks and one interception.

DB: Elyjah Gilyard, Flagler Palm Coast: The 5-foot-9, 150-pound sophomore made huge strides in the Bulldogs' secondary with nine PBUs and three interceptions on the boundary.

DB: Bryce Johnson, Bartram Trail: The senior safety, who committed to Pittsburg State on Christmas, registered 34 solo tackles and two interceptions.

DB: Zavier Mincey, Mainland: The touted sophomore, who claimed offers from Louisville and South Florida over the summer, had nine PBUs and two interceptions without allowing a TD pass in coverage.

DB: Julian Quintero, Menendez: Asked to wear several hats for the Falcons, including emergency QB in September, the sophomore had 74 tackles, two interceptions and a team-high 283 receiving yards on 13 catches.

P: Evan Crenshaw, Nease: Set to take part in Saturday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, the Coastal Carolina signee pinned 15 of his 36 punts inside the 20 with an average of 39.4 yards.

ATH: Tyshawn Campbell, St. Augustine: The senior was second among Yellow Jackets with 51 tackles and was occasionally a crunch-time cog in the run game, averaging 4.8 yards per carry with five touchdowns.

ATH: Rodney Hill, Flagler Palm Coast: Pegged by FPC coach Robert Paxia to one day become the school's first Power Five signee, the sophomore was responsible for 62 tackles and six TFLs in addition to two rushing touchdowns.

ATH: Antwan Scott, Father Lopez: An All-Area fixture in his four years with the Green Wave, the senior was credited with 88 tackles, 31 TFLs and 10 sacks. Scott, who is being recruited by D-II Wingate (N.C.), rushed for 258 yards and three touchdowns in a part-time offensive role.

ATH: Eddie Whipple, Mainland: Arriving at the start of fall camp from Ridgeview, the senior batted away five passes, picked off another pair and racked up 545 yards from scrimmage with three touchdowns.

Top coach

Collin Drafts, Nease: Few could have predicted the type of turnaround Drafts, his staff and his players engineered at Nease this season. The Panthers went 9-4 — following back-to-back, one-win campaigns — with their first playoff win since 2008 and a trip to the Region 1-7A final.

Honorable mention

Atlantic: IDL Angelo De La Pena

Bartram Trail: DB Elo Modozie, LB Ezekiel Romero

Creekside: LB Ryan Brumell, LB Ian Mooney, DB Walter Stovall, LB Alex Thompson

DeLand: LB Lamont Harding, DB Josh Thomas

Deltona: ATH Deiondre Hamilton, LB Branden Johnson, EDGE Carson Nichols, LB Emmanuel White

Father Lopez: ATH Cayden Allen, LB Ja'ven Griffin, IDL Corvin Johnson, DB Adam Utter

Flagler Palm Coast: DB Ashton Bracewell, IDL Logan Ramadan, EDGE Garrick Schwartz

Mainland: IDL Jkwon Mitchell, LB Marquel Williams

Matanzas: LB Ezekiel Flores, ATH Cole Hash, DB Jordan Mills

Menendez: LB Kani Harris, DB Terrell Newsome Jr., LB Ryon Pickles, LB Joseph Soto

Nease: DB Sterling Grimes, DB Ke'Veon Hodges, IDL Chase Warner

New Smyrna Beach: LB Cayden Baker, DB Thomas Evans, P Evan Putnam, LB Braden Sullivan

Ponte Vedra: DB Corey Bloss, EDGE Evan Fleischer, LB Aiden McCabe

Seabreeze: EDGE Laron Killins, IDL Michael Shropshire

Spruce Creek: DB Connor Barie, IDL Isaiah Derrick, DB Corey Epps, EDGE Jesse Smith, DB Ben Soard

St. Augustine: EDGE Michael Koliner, IDL Raidon Olores-Maeda, DB Ja'ki Singleton

Taylor: P Joel Gutierrez, LB Josiah Smith

Tocoi Creek: LB Charles Allsup, LB Antonio Juarez

Trinity Christian: ATH Jakin Hawkins, LB Jakiryn Hawkins, IDL Bobby Munn Jr., DB Braden Meadows

University: DB Cooper Braden, IDL Julio Hernandez, LB Jacob Lowe, EDGE Tanner Strittmatter, DB Travont West

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 2021 Volusia-Flagler-St. Johns All-Area Football Defensive Team