2026 Class Breakdown: Leading Freshman Tacklers
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We’ve seen a lot of different freshmen playing this fall in their first high school season. The 2026 class is loaded with talent and a lot of it is on the defensive side of the ball. Which freshmen are making…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve seen a lot of different freshmen playing this fall in their first high school season. The 2026 class is loaded with talent and a lot of it is on the defensive side of the ball.
Which freshmen are making a massive impact on defense? Let’s take a look…
Tyler Atkinson Tyler Atkinson 6'3" | 185 lbs | LB Grayson | 2026 State GA – Grayson
If you haven’t heard about Grayson’s superstar freshman just yet, you may have been living under a rock so far this fall. An outstanding outside linebacker with length, explosiveness, and a natural ability to get after the quarterback, Atkinson is a dynamic defender having a phenomenal season for the might 7A powerhouse. The Rams produce as much talent as anyone, and Atkinson has been playing like a guy who should be a 5-star prospect sooner than later. The 6-foot-3 190-pounder is long, athletic, and has been tough to block all season long. The impressive freshman has made 66 tackles this year along with 14 TFLs and five sacks. He’s playing like a veteran and it’s easy to see why he already holds multiple impressive D1 offers at the moment. Look for him to be one of the top-ranked 2026 prospects in the country sooner than later.
Brysen Davies – The Heritage School
A tough, physical middle linebacker having an excellent season, Davies is a hard-hitting down-hill linebacker who already plays like an upperclassmen. He has great size for his age at 6-foot-0 205-pounds and shows strong instincts as well for the position. He runs well, gets off blocks with ease, and gets to the ball-carrier in a hurry. When he gets there, he knows how to deliver a strong hit. He’s already tossing kids aside like he’s been playing at this level for years. He times the snap well, finds his way into the backfield, and knows how to make a secure tackle. As a freshman, Davies is averaging an impressive 7 tackles per game with his best game so far coming against Calvary Christian where he secured 12 tackles with one blocked field goal. In total, the impressive middle linebacker has made 56 tackles, 5 TFLs, forced two fumbles, and recovered two more. He’s an impressive freshman defender to know about for the next several seasons.
Deuce Geralds – Collins Hill
Another freshman defender with easy 5-star potential, Geralds has made a BIG impact already for the reigning 7A champion Collins Hill Eagles. There was a lot of hype around Geralds coming into the season and he’s more than lived up to the hype. He’s an elite pass-rusher with big, strong hands who knows how to beat opposing tackles with both speed and power. He’s so advanced for his age and has had no problem finding the QB in year one. At 6-foot-2 240-pounds, he’s put together well physically and will only get bigger and stronger over the next several years. He already has a handful of impressive offers so far and might have them all by the time he leaves high school. So far this season, Geralds has made 51 tackles, 14.5 TFLs and has found the QB nine times, proving to be one of the top young pass rushers not only in Georgia, but across the South for the 2026 class.