2022 Rankings: Small-School Players To Watch (Defense)

Seven small-school defensive players have already done enough to warrant a spot in the Prep Red Zone class of 2022 rankings. From the Upstate to the coast, the Class 2A and 1A standouts have made their mark on their own programs and will be influential in their teams’ success in 2021. Along the way, they’ll open up their own chances for college ball. [player_tooltip player_id="91172" first="Hiram" last="Steady Jr."], CALHOUN COUNTY Watch a few minutes of the Calhoun County 6-foot-4, 270 pounder’s film and you’ll see that he’s equal parts power and sliver. He can pound with the best of his class’ interior linemen while also using his hands and footwork to navigate the gaps.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> [player_tooltip player_id="91180" first="Jeremiah" last="Lomax"], ABBEVILLE The prototypical college free safety does just enough of everything to attract his fair share of suitors. He can player centerfield, cover a receiver, float the middle, press tight ends at the line and occasionally blitz. Lomax is a big reason why the Abbeville defense was so dominant en route to another state championship in 2020. [player_tooltip player_id="91184" first="Jaden" last="McLeod"], SILVER BLUFF At 6 foot and 225 pounds, production is going to matter much more than his physical stats. But after another year of maturation, who knows what McLeod’s future will hold. He’s overpowered small-school offensive lineman for a full season both standing up and with his hand in the dirt. It gives him some flexibility moving forward. [player_tooltip player_id="91186" first="Michael" last="Kennedy"], SOUTHSIDE CHRISTIAN The definition of a “motor” guy, Kennedy never stops moving for SSC’s highly efficient offense when he’s on the field. Despite battling an injury, Kennedy racked up 53.5 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks this fall for the Class 1A state champion Sabres. He’ll be among the state’s best defenders next year. [player_tooltip player_id="91191" first="Hunter" last="Norton"], LAKE VIEW The Gators’ mike linebacker has a patient style that has paid dividends for Lake View already, and that should continue for another season. The 6-foot-1, 200 pounder seems to use a bait-and-switch style, allowing gaps to open before closing them in a hurry. It’s why he was such a tackle monster for his team, including the state title loss to Southside Christian. [player_tooltip player_id="91194" first="Jesus" last="Gutierrez"], GREEN SEA FLOYDS Like most small-school big guys, Gutierrez spends more than his fair share on the field. As a junior he started at left tackle and in the middle of the defensive line. And in both, he takes up a lot of room. At 6-foot-4 and 349 pounds, Gutierrez is a solid offseason away from getting into a few tight-knit recruiting circles.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> [player_tooltip player_id="91195" first="Chandler" last="McMaster"], CHRIST CHURCH The standup defensive end had a high-quality 2020 campaign, piling up 64 tackles (second on the team) along with a team-best 14 tackles for loss and five sacks. He also forced two fumbles and recovered another for Christ Church. Next year, his numbers should all improve, and possibly by leaps and bounds.