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Jim Leonhard Award Finalists for top senior defensive back

10/26/2023, 12:00pm CDT
By Travis Wilson

Noah Hait of Kettle Moraine

The Jim Leonhard Award is given annually to the top senior defensive back as part of the WSN Senior Football Awards. The award is named after former Flambeau High School and University of Wisconsin athlete Jim Leonhard, who went on to great success in the NFL with the Bills, Ravens, Jets, Broncos, and Saints.

The pre-season watch list was trimmed down to 20 semi-finalists, and six finalists for the award have now been selected. Winners will be announced the week of the state finals.


Jamire Davis, Kenosha St. Joseph

Jamire Davis was a First Team All-Conference defensive back in the Midwest Classic Conference last season and was even better this year for Kenosha St. Joseph. In ten games he recorded 33 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns. "Overall, Jamire is the epitome of a shutdown corner, and is hardly thrown at," said head coach Matt Rizzo. "He has great feet, and excellent ball skills for a high-end high school football player."

Noah Hait, Kettle Moraine

Noah Hait was our top-ranked senior defensive back before the season and has certainly lived up to the hype. After helping the Lasers to a Division 2 state title last year as a Second Team All-Conference pick, he's been outstanding in his senior season with 64 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, and an interception. "We put him on the team's best slot receiver, often with no help, and he shuts them down," said head coach Matt McDonnell. "He is also great in the run game and making tackles."

Keagen Jirschele, Mosinee

Keagen Jirschele of Mosinee leads the state in interceptions, as his 14 this season are just one away from tying the state record. He's recorded 48 tackles along the way with two interception returns for touchdown. Jirschele is also one of the top receivers in the state with 37 career touchdowns. 

Paul Kim, Janesville Parker

Paul Kim is a ballhawk in the Janesville Parker secondary, earning back-to-back First Team All-Conference recognition in the Big Eight. In his senior season he has 45 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, and five interceptions, including two interception return tuouchdowns. "Paul always follows the opposing team's leading receiver," said Parker head coach Clayton Kreger. "With his ability to read a defense, come down hill quickly, very physical at the point of attack, and his football IQ, he may end up playing safety at the collegiate level. However, for us, his ability to be a lockdown one-on-one corner against the best wide receivers in the state completely changed our ability to scheme defensively."

Sam Ostrenga, Sun Prairie East

Sam Ostrenga is a three-year varsity regular for Sun Prairie East, though he was sidelined a good portion of his junior campaign. He's certainly made up for it as a senior, putting up big numbers for the Cardinals. Ostrenga had 91 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, two fumble recoveries, and three interceptions this season. "Sam can do it all on defense," said head coach Brian Kaminski. "We have him in the box to help with the run and other times he is lined up with a wide receiver one-on-one."

Carson Van Dinter, Kaukauna

Carson Van Dinter earned unanimous First Team All-Conference and FVA Defensive Back of the Year honors this season for Kaukauna. An Iowa State commit, Van Dinter recorded 64 tackles, three tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions in his senior season. "He just moves differently than the typical high school defensive back," said head coach Matt Binsfeld. "We played him all over the field and he is involved in nearly every tackle."


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.

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