2024 Rankings Newcomers: Defense

<em>Check out some of the top defensive newcomers to the 2024 Prep Redzone Rankings.</em> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158369" first="Jayden" last="Wells"], DL, Mount Si</strong> Wells has potential to be a big time recruit with his combination of size and athleticism. As a freshman, he’s already a great edge rusher that is explosive off the ball and shows great initial quickness at 6’2” 255 lbs. He’s a violent defensive football player that is strong and powerful at the POA. His speed off the edge allows him to disrupt a lot of plays behind the LOS and before they can develop. He’s a power 5 recruit that has potential to pull double digit offers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158374" first="Mario" last="Murphy"], DB, Chief Sealth</strong> Murphy is a strong athlete that can impact the game on both sides of the ball. Good overall speed, he’s quick to change directions and shows a great ability to close space using his burst and recovery speed. Loose hips and quick feet, he’s smooth out of his transition to break on the ball. Plus ball skills, he’s confident in his hands and attacks the ball in the air. Good young athlete that is just scratching the surface of his talent and ability. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158384" first="Isidore" last="Vaimauga"], DL, Life Christian</strong> A versatile lineman with a strong, sturdy, and compact frame at 5’10” 265 lbs. Good run stopping interior defensive lineman that can plug a gap using his good balance and low center of gravity that make him tough to move. Not bad movement skills, he shows good body control and coordination executing different moves to beat blockers. It will be interesting to see how he develops and matures, he has the ability to play either side of the line effectively. Another young prospect in the Life Christian program. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158379" first="Tanielu" last="Ah-Loe"], DL, Glacier Peak</strong> Big, strong, and well-balanced build at 6’2” 250 lbs. Shows good natural strength and power at the contact point with his ability to fight off blocks while working towards the ball carrier. Strong hands with a hard initial punch to keep blockers away from his body and disengage. Brings good contact and thud when he lines up a ball carrier and is able to drive his feet through. Shows he can move well enough to pursue in short areas. Also a good offensive lineman he possesses a lot of upside and potential. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158385" first="Kenji" last="Scanlan"], LB, Life Christian</strong> Good size and length to build on at 6’2” 215 lbs. with room to add weight. He’s a plus athlete that can run and move laterally to re-direct and pursue sideline to sideline. Shows flexibility in the hips and ankles to play with good balance and leverage when engaging. Good ability to weave thru traffic and avoid contact in pursuit. He plays physical and aggressive, never shying away from contact. He’s got a good foundational skillset that will help his recruiting as he develops and matures. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="158388" first="Nolan" last="Welch"], LB, Arlington</strong> Not the biggest guy but possesses great natural strength and power at the POA. He overpowers opponents by exploding his hips and feet through contact. High football IQ and also shows good eye discipline to read and diagnose plays quickly and decisively. Plays with good pad level and bend understanding how to use his leverage and strength to his advantage. He’s a throwback football player that is competitive, tough, and a team guy.