Tough, shifty and electric are adjectives used when describing dynamic players.

This is the final story in a multi-part series where the Journal Star talked with high school football coaches and players about topics ranging from memorable moments, to the toughest players they've faced, to their favorite pre-game meal and program traditions.

As we head into Week 9, here is what Peoria-area large-school players have to say about who is the toughest player they have faced.

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Current teammates

• "From a defensive tackle standpoint, our left guard Kyler Meyer. He is a strong, tough guy that always gives me a challenge during practice that makes both of us great players. He is always willing to get better and has definitely been one of (the) most improved on the team." — Conner Wagner, Morton

• "Preston Berg because he is the hardest person to guard as a defensive back." — GB Kruzick, Morton

Opposing players

• "(Kankakee's) Tony Phillips because he was cooking our team." — Chance Smith, Manual

• "Some of the lineman on Dunlap because they were just really big, and it was tough weather conditions that game." — Andrew Kaufmann, East Peoria

• "Morton offensive line." — Hunter Grubb, Canton

• "(Peoria High's) Gary Rutherford. He gets some decent hits on me. Most players don't faze me." — Namolos Thompson, Manual

• "Javon Smith from Normal Community. He was a short, buff and fast defensive tackle that went 100% every play. Going up against that as a freshman was tough." — Deuce Thornton, Peoria High

• "(Pekin's) Brayden Beckham because he was the biggest and best player I have faced." — Ian Kosier, Canton

• "(Pekin's) Kanye Tyler because he always runs hard and not scared to make contact." — Joseph Clark, East Peoria

• "(Kankakee's) Jyaire Hill. He didn't really have any flaws and he's going to Michigan for a reason." — Sean Franklin, Peoria High

• "(Metamora's) Ben Wallace because he was a hard force to get past and always gave me a challenge." — Connor Pilgrim, Limestone

Former teammates

• "Brayden Beckham. He always gave full effort all the time." — Blayne Thomas, Pekin

• "James Hodgkins. He was a senior at PND when I was a sophomore on scout (team) defense. I thought I got through (and) about to get a tackle, then I got smoked by him pulling." — Tommy Meyer, Peoria Notre Dame

• "Landon Newby-Holesome because he gave me my first high school hit." — Gary Rutherford, Peoria High

• "Big Ben Wallace was a tough matchup for me on scout team my sophomore year when I would pass rush because if he found any flaw in my technique, I would end up in the dirt." — Sam Begole, Metamora

• "Kanye Tyler because he was on another level of athleticism and I played with him for so long." — Ramez Watson, Pekin

• "Jared Culberson. I never played him in a real game but he always went 100 percent in practice." — Terry Smith, Richwoods

Former POYs

• "(Morton's) Seth Glatz because he was real shifty and hard to tackle." — Izzy Aguilar-Nunez, Limestone

• "(Peoria High's) Malachi Washington was an animal at running back. Hole or no hole he would find a way to get into the endzone. Next to that, he was nearly impossible to tackle by yourself." — Kendrick Schaffrin, Metamora

• "Seth Glatz because of his crazy ability to run through tackles." — Noah Losey, Morton

• "Malachi Washington is the toughest football player I have ever faced. He had so many electric runs." — Gavin O'Laughlin, Metamora

• "Probably my sophomore year against Seth Glatz. He was so electric and fast. He was very, very good." — Jase Harlan, Washington

• "Seth Glatz or (Pekin's) Kanye Tyler. Very good, strong, fast running backs that can out and run." — Gabe Munoz, Dunlap

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Toughest football players picked by Peoria-area large-school players