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WSN Spring Football Awards: Defensive Player Finalists

05/14/2021, 4:30pm CDT
By Travis Wilson

Fond du Lac defensive standout Braelon Allen

Wisconsin Sports Network will be recognizing spring football players in this unique season with WSN Spring Football Awards. Similar to our normal WSN Senior Football Awards, the spring awards will recognize the outstanding players around the state. However, these awards are open to players from all grades, not just seniors.

Over the course of the season we will provide watch lists, semi-finalists, finalists, and winners for the following categories: Offensive Skill player, Offensive Lineman, Defensive Player. The lists have been trimmed down to five finalists, with winners announced next week.

Preseason Watch List
Semi-Finalists

WISSPORTS.NET SPRING FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE Player FINALISTS

Braelon Allen, Fond du Lac

Fond du Lac's Braelon Allen was a man-child in what was only his third year in high school, as he'll graduate a year early and head to the University of Wisconsin. Allen led the Cardinals to a perfect 7-0 mark, capped off by a 71-47 win over Kimberly. He finished first on the team with 57 tackles, adding five tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception, playing mostly at safety but also at linebacker and even defensive end. You have to mention his offensive numbers also, where he ran for 1,047 yards and 21 touchdowns with two more scores through the air.

Kyle Dietzen, Omro

Omro opened the year with a win over Saint Mary's Springs and just kept on winning, going a perfect 7-0 en route to a number one ranking in the final WSN Small Schools Coaches Poll. Kyle Dietzen easily led the team in tackles with 99, recording 11 tackles for loss, a sack, and a pair of forced fumbles. He added 661 rushing yards and nine scores on the ground.

Brooks Empey, Stoughton

Stoughton had several players put up some strong numbers on the defensive side of the ball this spring, including senior outside linebacker Brooks Empey. A multi-year All-Conference player, he recorded 66 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks as the Vikings finished 5-2 overall and second in the WSN Medium Schools Coaches Poll.

Isaac Hamm, Sun Prairie

Junior defensive lineman Isaac Hamm was a monster up front for a Sun Prairie defense that was as good as any that head coach Brian Kaminski has had. The 6'5", 270-pounder lineman has offers from a host of schools, including Wisconsin, and wreaked havoc up front for the Cardinals to the tune of 29 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks, five forced fumbles, and an incredible 13 pass breakups, as his lengthy frame and long arms allowed him to get into passing lanes over and over.

Avery Johnson, Lomira

Lomira finished the 2021 spring season unbeaten, and Avery Johnson was a dominating figure up front on both sides of the ball. The senior defensive lineman spent so much time in the opposing backfield that he should have had to pay rent, recording 63 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and four sacks for the Lions.


About the Author

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.

Tag(s): News Archive  News  Travis Wilson  Senior FB Awards