The following are Dick Gallagher's picks for top defensive high school football players after week 1 of the regular season:
Nick Hafner, Hamburg
Miles Haynes, McKinley
Pat Gilhooly, Hamburg
Michael Nye, Allegany-Limestone
Brock Blecha, Franklinville/Ellicottville
Dylan Vincent, Olean
Jacob Peters, Franklinville/Ellicottville
Mike Ziegler, Niagara Wheatfield
Walter Woodarek, Franklinville/Ellicottville
Rodney Bailey, Hutch-Tech
Trevor Smith, Pioneer
Jacob Sarow, Akron
Ryan Majerowski, Cleveland Hill
Millard Young, Akron
Blair Priest, Medina
Tim Longwell, Akron
Icar Simon, Olean
Zach Hendrick, Maple Grove
Izaiah Rhim, Medina
Taige Jones, Maple Grove
Ian Joseph, Medina
Nick Fabrizio, Maple Grove
Jacob Reger, Clarence
Joe Andreessen, Lancaster
Collin O’Brien, Clarence
Jacob Michalski, Lancaster
Jarrett Eck, Eden/North Collins
Jemelle Jones, Williamsville South
Tyreese Jackson, Eden/North Collins
Alec Miller, Williamsville South
Jeremiah Sanders, South Park
Dominic Certo, Southwestern
Jayon Renfro, South Park
Colin Melquist, Southwestern
Troy Coble, McKinley
Nick Fratercangelo, Olean
Mike King, Iroquois
Malique Carter, Dunkirk
Logan Klice, Allegany-Limestone
Brandon Windnagle, Alden
Christian Snell, Alden
John William Milks, Kenmore West
Kyle Lighten, JFK
Sean McGee, JFK
Justin Bohrer, JFK
Darnell Butts, Dunkirk
Sam Wiggers, CSP
Derek Ecklund, CSP
Tom Delahoy, CSP
Mike Rigerman, Pioneer
Caleb Riordan, Pioneer
Faizon Munir, Southwestern
Zack Mazella, JFK
Qusar Hunt, Lockport
Malik Ward-Bratton, Lockport
Antone Henry, Lockport
Nick Costanzo, Maryvale
Donovan McCoy, Maryvale
Rushad Law, Maryvale
Synceir Middlebrooks, Maryvale
Cody Guiliani, Niagara Wheatfield
Josh Thibeault, Niagara Wheatfield
Michael Pataky, Orchard Park
Andrew Woltz, West Seneca East
Ray Moure III, West Seneca East
Parker Valvo, Iroquois
Spencer Slachetka, Iroquois
Noah turzillo, Jamestown
Manhattan King, Jamestown
Kanin Tanner, Jamestown
Sean Barry, Springville
Josh Steff, Springville
Dylan McDuffie, Sweet Home
Darrius Carter, Sweet Home
Sam Roby, Sweet Home
Rob Giancarlo, Sweet Home
Bryan Ball, West Seneca West
Josh Wilson, West Seneca West
Mike Glinski, West Seneca West
John Sweat, Cheektowaga
Taivaughn Roach, Cheektowaga
KeSean Anthony, Cheektowaga
Easton Speer, Grand Island
Adam Bellaus, Cheektowaga
Ken Jeffords, Lew-Port
Joe Powers, Lew-Port
Jadd Dolegala, St. Francis
Connor Miller, St. Francis
N. Anzalone, Grand Island
Frank Depalma, Grand Island
K. Yockey, Grand Island
DJae Perry, St. Mary's
Derek Johnson, St. Mary's
CJ Ozolins, St. Mary's
James Miller, St. Mary's
Adam Sisti, Gowanda/Pine Valley
Hunter Ring, Gowanda/Pine Valley
Nate Brawdy, Gowanda/Pine Valley
Scott Becht, Williamsville North
Cam Walters, Williamsville North
Scott Hopkins, Williamsville North
Jovanni Feccans, Burgard
Austin Watkins, Burgard
Cooper Fletcher, Burgard
Tony Maple, Burgard
Raymond Miranda, Canisius
Keenan Ollison, Canisius
Joel Nicholas, Canisius
Chris Loulsos, Canisius
Andrew Relosky, Orchard Park
Griffin Harrigan, Orchard Park
Kyle Schreader, Starpoint
John Brooks, Starpoint
Justin Mott, Starpoint
Dalton Zienkiewicz, Starpoint
Cody May, Lake Shore
Basil Valliere, Lake Shore
Ryan Utley, Lake Shore
Dylan McDuffie, Sweet Home
Zak Trim, Maple Grove
Roland Thompson, Portville
Savon Vansickle, Jamestown