Super Early 2021 All-State Defensive Honors

Ian Guerin April 22, 2021 @ 11:24 AM

Eleven positions. Eleven players. Eleven honors. That’s it. Five months prior to the start of the 2021 football season, we’re ready to hand out some way early pre-season awards. Here are the 11 defensive players, regardless of grade or classification, we think are the best of the best going into Spring Football, the summer 7-on-7s and fall camp. DEFENSIVE END [player_tooltip player_id="59466" first="DJ" last="Aiken"], Bluffton Aiken isn’t a true edge rusher, but really more of a combo end-tackle based on the Bobcats’ scheme and how it utilizes the 6-foot-5, 265-pound nightmare. DEFENSVE TACKLE [player_tooltip player_id="89341" first="Eamon" last="Smalls"], Beaufort Already 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds, this Class of 2023 prospect chews up more than his share of space. He singlehandedly has opposing teams altering their run games. DEFENSIVE TACKLE [player_tooltip player_id="89338" first="Xzavier" last="McLeod"], Camden McLeod has the looks of the next great defensive lineman to come out of Camden. The 6-foot-4, 280 pounder is only going to get bigger and better over the next two years. DEFENSIVE END [player_tooltip player_id="89299" first="Hudson" last="Lee"], Dorman Lee routinely goes against some of the best offensive tackles in the state and makes it look easy. He’s 6-foot-5, can see where he needs to be and has a great first step. MIDDLE LINEBACKER [player_tooltip player_id="59491" first="Caleb" last="Edwards"], West Ashley Despite the pandemic-shortened season, Edwards put up crazy numbers during his junior year. It included 40 solo tackles and another 63 assisted stops. MIDDLE LINEBACKER [player_tooltip player_id="89333" first="Jalen" last="Rambert"], Powdersville Rambert is a prototypical Power Five linebacker. At 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds heading into his junior season, he moves better than you’d expect and crushes anything in his way. OUTSIDE LINEBACKER [player_tooltip player_id="59462" first="Jaylen" last="Sneed"], Hilton Head We’ve been looking for cracks in Sneed’s game for two years, and there isn’t anything we don’t love. He’s a form tackler, pursues perfectly and can get anywhere he needs to be. CORNERBACK [player_tooltip player_id="59459" first="Jeadyn" last="Lukus"], Mauldin A lockdown corner who can also light up a receiver coming across the middle is a rare trait. And it’s why the Clemson commitment was so highly coveted. FREE SAFETY [player_tooltip player_id="89335" first="Keith" last="Elmore"], Summerville At 6-foot and 180 pounds, the rising junior has the size, speed and vision to be the perfect centerfielder, especially against the Class 5A competition Summerville plays. STRONG SAFETY [player_tooltip player_id="59476" first="Randy" last="Caldwell"], Mauldin One of the most ferocious hitters in the entire state, Caldwell is getting serious traction on the recruiting circles. It’s only going to continue until the day he signs. CORNERBACK [player_tooltip player_id="59475" first="Zayveon" last="Wells"], Lakewood Wells became a starter as a freshman, led the team in interceptions as a sophomore and was the best defensive player overall as a junior.