Emerging 2025 Defensive Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the high school football off-season brings about college camp visits and seven-on-seven events, Prep Redzone will look at some stock riser prospects that deserve recognition in their respective positions and classifications. This week, redzone scout Drew Johnson will highlight some of the instrumental recruits that have consistently produced and seen an uptick in their recent recruitments. This list features the emerging three-headed defensive monster for Newberry High and a few playmaking defenders from around the state. As noted frequently, <strong>Prep Redzone Florida</strong> aims to provide adequate coverage on all athletes for college coaches and readers to evaluate. Let's get into some of the stats, Hudl films, and recent offers from some of the rising recruits in the state of Florida. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='606142' first='Jarquez' last='Carter'] | 2025 | DT | Newberry | @JarquezCarter | 3.6 GPA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px"><strong>6'3, 270</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter is beginning to emerge as one of the premier defensive tackle prospects in the class of 2025 since landing as a top standout in the <strong>Prep Redzone Showcase</strong> in Bradenton, FL. Carter can set the edge really well for a player of his stature and be an anchor in the tackle spot. He continues to develop and will be one of the top names in the area before his senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 78 total tackles, *23.0 TFL, 10.0 sacks, 3.0 FF, 1.0 FR</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hudl: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16402641/Jarquez-Carter"><strong>https://www.hudl.com/profile/16402641/Jarquez-Carter</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recent offers: UCF | Visits: Florida, Ole Miss </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px"><strong>Robert Lee | 2025 | LB | Osceola (Kissimmee) | @RobertMikalLee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px"><strong>6'0, 205</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lee is someone I've had the opportunity to closely watch develop since seeing him perform in various Power Five college camps last summer. Since then, Lee has only added more weight and strength to his frame, with more agility to be even more of a tackling threat. Lee is someone all linebacker coaches in the state of Florida need to become familiar with before missing out on a true gem. Plays with sideline-to-sideline effort and has plenty of time to develop his overall skills. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stats: </strong>*82 total tackles, *19.0 TFL</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hudl: </strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13506466/Robert-Lee"><strong>https://www.hudl.com/profile/13506466/Robert-Lee</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recent Offers: UCF, Kentucky </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px"><strong>Donta Jenkins | 2025 | DE | Plant City | @dontaLjenkins | </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px"><strong>6'3, 241</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The talented defensive end product led Plant City in sacks during his sophomore season and was listed on the 4M All-State Team. Jenkins has developed into one of the top defensive prospects in the hot bead Polk County region because of his versatility to be plug-and-play on the defensive line. Jenkins has decent strength combined with a quick first step which he uses to cause havoc in the backfield. Look out for him to continue to develop and see an uptick in his recruitment. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 53 total tackles, 16.9 TFL, *13.0 sacks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hudl: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16347606/Donta-Jenkins"><strong>https://www.hudl.com/profile/16347606/Donta-Jenkins</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recent offers: UCF, Winter Haven, Louisville </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='606158' first='Mykah' last='Newton'] | 2025 | Newberry | @MykahNewton1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px"><strong>6'3, 245</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newton has dominated the offseason circuit since the <strong>Prep Redzone Showcase</strong> in January and had another standout performance recently in the Under Armour Next camp. Newton is a part of the developing three-headed monster at Newberry High consisting of Carter, Newton, and [player_tooltip player_id='606153' first='Logan' last='Mccloud']. Newton is a big presence with great length at 6-foot-3 with plenty of time to add more muscle to his frame. He is a technician with his hands and understands pad leverage. Newton will be another top prospect in the area by his senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 58 total tackles, 15,0 TFLk, 2.0 FR, 1.0 FF</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hudl: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16402580/Mykah-Newton">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16402580/Mykah-Newton</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recent Visits: UCF, Florida</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px"><strong>Jalen Wiggins | 2025 | DE | Rickards | @WigginsJalen06 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px"><strong>6'5, 250</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wiggins is a dual-sport athlete that led his team in sacks as a sophomore while displaying incredible athleticism and football IQ for the defensive end position. He was recently rated a five-star recruit by RecruitCertified and has developed into one of the top names in the Tallahassee area. Wiggins has really good speed for someone his size combined with violent hands to set the edge or set the tone in the tackle position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 70 total tackles, 19.0 TFL, *14.0 sacks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hudl: <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16329618/Jalen-Wiggins">https://www.hudl.com/profile/16329618/Jalen-Wiggins</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recent offers: UCF, Florida, Georgia </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='606153' first='Logan' last='Mccloud'] | 2025 | Newberry | @theloganmccloud | 3.5 GPA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"17px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:17px"><strong>6'2, 225</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McCloud continues to develop his overall game this offseason and is set to be one of the interesting prospects on the Newberry big three. McCloud is a versatile athlete that can play multiple positions on the defensive side because of his athleticism and agility skills. He's a dynamic playmaker that finished second on Newberry's defensive in tackles for loss and I expect his recruitment to begin shaking up heading into spring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stats: 76 total tackles, 17.0 TFL, *18.0 sacks</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hudl<strong>: </strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16402570/Logan-Mccloud"><strong>https://www.hudl.com/profile/16402570/Logan-Mccloud</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recent Visits: Ole Miss, Florida, UCF </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->