The big hits! The wow plays. The ones who get player and spectators alike talking the next day. One of the most exciting plays in football is “The Big Hit.” Nothing wows the crowd more. There are certain players who excel more than other with consistently providing such entertainment. Below is the BCP Nasty Nine Ranking. The nine nastiest hitters in the BCP coverage area. There is no real criteria other than the consistency at which these players nominated and selected blast their opponents whenever the pads are on in a full contact competition. With that stated, here are your 2015 Nasty Nine.
1. Kelvin Broome, Lakeland, ILB, 2016, 6-1/240
Helmets roll when Broome strikes ball carriers. Literally! The best way not to get your helmet knocked off by Broome is to not get off the bus. Any where on the field is not a safe location for those attempting to run between the hashes. When the target is acquired, Broome has no reservation unloading on minors or veteran varsity players. It has become his trademark. To rattle the protective gear of opposing players when contact is made.
2. Craig Watts, Admiral Farragut, S, 2016, 5-11/190
Know for his vicious hits from the safety position, Watts is a safe pick for the number two spot. Rarely does he stop his feet on contact. Rather runs through ball carriers attempting to disconnect ball from boy.
3. Marchalo Judge, Tampa Bay Tech, S, 2016, 5-9/175
The judge, jury and executioner as he’s been nicknamed by us here at BCP gets it done when it’s time to deliver pain to some wide receiving outlaws that think the field is their own personal romper room. His comparison to Bob Sanders should be taken seriously. Because if you don’t? Somebody smaller than you will make your world feel fuzzy for the next two days when he hits you.
4. Darius Williams, Northside Christian, S, 2016, 5-9/175
Another “undersized” guy that will oversize your need for Advil and a cold tub during post-games on Friday nights. Williams’ closing speed puts the laws of motion into work which also means if an object is resting in front of him, then be prepared to be anything-but-resting once he makes contact.
5. Steven Ogletree, Plant City, ILB, 2017, 6-0/225
Ogletree you say? Is that some sort of Oak? Or Cypress? How about a new species of tree that when it falls it delivers enough force to turn defenders into applesauce? Well, he’s got another TWO seasons to give us more of those hits he’s producing like he’s working in the studio for OVO and Drake so buckle up.
6. Thomas Roman, Countryside, LB, 2016, 5-10/215
Let’s not let facts get in the way of a perfectly good ranking, but if we wanted to apply “science” to this, Roman’s the U-18 Strongest Man in the Country so if RB’s and WR’s or even OL want to try and go toe-to-toe with this young man, be our guest. Just know that he’s already got the strength of a grown man and his ability to play LB is just icing on the cake.
7. Jake Hansen, East Lake, LB, 2016, 6-1/225
The recent commit to Iowa State should feel right at home in a region of the county that prides itself on swinging the heavy lumber and that’s just what he does every time he lights-up a ball carrier from the opposing team. Some of Hansen’s tackles through the seasons are migraine-inducing from just watching on the sidelines. Imagine how those ball carriers feel?
8. Johayward “Scoop” Bradshaw, Plant, S, 2016, 5-11/170
This young man has that frame that presents it’s own challenges in terms of strength. To the 6-footers and up, he can math their length and yet is small enough to get leverage on the sub-5′-10″ guys that are hard to get low on to deliver a hit. This player brings pain when he hits and has an “everyone can get some” mentality in doing so.
9. Malcolm Lanier, Kathleen, CB, 2016, 5-9/170
Shocking that a DB from Polk County that’s a little “undersized” would make this list of hardest-hitters. About as shocking as the sun coming up in the east and setting in the west. They grow ’em with a special touch of “that dawg” along with the confidence to show it out there in Polk and when this young man hits you, you now understand what it means when they say football is a collision sport.