2023 Rankings Risers: Defense

<em>An inside look into some of the 2023 defensive prospects rising up the Prep Redzone Rankings.</em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110110" first="Demari" last="Washington"], DB, Centennial</strong> Washington is a versatile athlete that’s a big-time playmaker in the Centennial secondary. He’s rangy, flashing fluid hips, quick feet, and plus COD. He’s quick out of his transition showing a strong burst and good leg drive to break on the ball and quickly close space. Love his natural ball skills and ability to track, time out, and attack the ball in the air without drawing a penalty. Good route recognition and ability to read the QB’s eyes to anticipate and put himself in position to makes plays. Strong and reliable one on one open field tackler, he flies up in run support and doesn’t shy away from contact. Picked up his first offer from Colorado in late March. <strong><img class=" wp-image-155914 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/06/PrzIcon3.png" alt="" width="224" height="229" />[player_tooltip player_id="42912" first="Mykeil" last="Gardner"], DL, Liberty</strong> At 6’3” 295 lbs. Gardner possesses ideal size for a major D1 defensive lineman. He’s a great athlete for his size that can run and redirect to chase down ball carriers sideline to sideline. Can even line up as TE or split end and make impressive acrobatic catches using that athleticism and coordination. Great bend and flexibility in the hips, knees, and ankles that shows in his balance and body control. Picked up offers from Arizona and Northern Arizona in the middle of June but is surprisingly under recruited for his size and natural talent. Extremely high ceiling and we expect his recruiting to blow up with a big junior season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="110146" first="Aiden" last="Herring"], DL, Perry</strong> Herring is a tough block coming from his DE position. He’s a plus athlete with good length at 6’3” with room to add weight to his frame. Consistently makes plays at or behind the LOS showing great initial quickness and explosion off the ball that allows him to work around blockers and quickly gain penetration. Great motor and nose for the football, he’s strong at the POA and does a good job wrapping up through contact. He’s a natural defensive football player with a good foundational skillset. Has the versatility and athleticism to transition to LB depending on how his body develops. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="165890" first="Antonio" last="Bentley"], LB, Casteel</strong> Projects as a LB at the college level but at 6’2” 235 lbs. Bentley is a disruptive force on the Casteel defensive line. He’s a plus athlete that can run and shows a great burst in pursuit to close space on the ball carrier. He’s explosive off the ball firing off hard and fast to blow up plays behind the LOS or at the exchange point. He’s a violent tackler that plays with good leverage and pad level to deliver strong contact to the ball carrier. Colleges will love his competitive, physical, and always attacking playing style. Great upside and potential as he continues to develop and showcase his ability. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="165882" first="A’Mauri" last="Washington"], DL, Chandler </strong> Transferred into Chandler from Detroit before picking up in-state offers from Arizona and Northern Arizona. Possesses great size, frame, and build for a college level interior defensive lineman at 6’5” 295 lbs. In combination with his size, he shows great natural strength in his hands and lower body to overpower opponents and push them off the ball. He’s a good athlete for his size that can move laterally and bend to redirect and pursue. Shows good all-around technique and fundamentals with his hand usage and ability to disengage blockers. Good command and variation of different moves to beat blocks. Another prospect that could skyrocket up recruiting boards and rankings with a big junior season.