4 Future Defensive Stars In The 2026 Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're taking a look at 4 recruits in the 2026 class coming off of big seasons defensively. While this is a defensive labeled piece, all 4 of these guys are incredibly versatile and have more roles than just on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='751292' first='Jarritt' last='Bolz'] - Andrean - LB/RB - 6'0" 205lbs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bolz is a fantastic athlete with great size, range, and physicality. He got a ton of burn last year on Varsity and was always up to the challenge. Hopefully, he also had time to pick the brain of Bowen some before he heads off to South Bend. While this is a defensive piece, it'd be a slight to Bolz to not mention his ability at RB. He's got incredibly quick feet and an ability to accelerate that most don't have. He's able to run through tackles and make guys miss. He's got a future there as well. He's set to be the starting back for Andrean this upcoming season, and for good reason. He's able to explode through holes and be a big play back. Soft hands with the ability to catch also helps his case. Defensively, he also just has traits that other guys don't. His ability to sense play development, run down a ball carrier, and willingness to stick his nose into the heart of the offensive line is arguably special. He's able to string plays out East/West, get the angle, and make the tackle in the backfield. I do a lot of pieces, cover a lot of guys, but there aren't many guys I wish I could put a big red Arrow over saying "RIGHT HERE," however, Bolz would be one of those very few guys. With the season he's set to have, he's could easily become a guy that everyone in the state gets to know. He won't be hidden for long, so it's best to get acclimated with Bolz before another university does. My best recommendation is to head to 5959 Broadway, Merrillville, IN 46410.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: <strong>@JJBolz3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='560136' first='Garrett' last='Boling'] - Scottsburg - LB/WR - 6'2" 200lbs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boling is a versatile 2-way player that has a ton of potential waiting to be unleashed. First off, he's got a big lengthy frame that allows him to play physical. He's thick, fairly well built for his age, and can play in the box as well as drop back into coverage. He's a very good athlete, which I don't want to get lost in all of this. His range is fantastic and he's able to run down ball carriers in the second level. He's great around the LOS and has a tendency to force guys to try bouncing it outside where he gets a TFL. His Freshman season saw him put up a fairly respectable 54 tackles, 45 of those being solo, 7 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks while forcing a pair of turnovers. All of that being said, and his offensive skills are still worth mentioning. If you're 6'2", can get behind defenders, and throw DBs off of you, you can become quite the problem. Boling showed some of that last season as well. While not having a big stat-line, it's not about that. It's about how good you look and what you can do. Boling is a physical WR who can go on the outside and not struggle with the 1 on 1 physicality is huge. As he develops and gets more reps, he's going to get better. Either way, Boling is going to be a guy schools get familiar with because he's not going anywhere anytime soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: <strong>@GarrettBoling9</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='560085' first='Alex' last='Cravens'] - Sheridan - RB/DB - 5'11" 150lbs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cravens is a speedy player with seemingly unlimited range, yet isn't afraid to throw his body into a tackle. He'll come up to the LOS and get penetration and find a way to make the tackle. His hips are decent in transition and he's actually best when he's in the backend. He's able to diagnose, come downhill, and make the play. While I do think there's room to grow in terms of strength, it's good to remember he's just a freshman, yet still managed to put up 88 tackles on the year. There are times it felt like he was everywhere just with his ability to close and make the tackle. He trusts what he sees in front of him and plays confidently. I think that's one thing that gets underestimated is a DBs confidence. Cravens has the speed and athleticism to hang with guys now in coverage. As he develops and gets more mechanical, he'll round out his game on the backend. Cravens is right where he should be, and is only going to get better over the next few years, which puts him on this list for good reason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: <strong>@Alex32Cravens</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='751293' first='Logan' last='Peters'] - Hobart - LS/DE - 6'2" 190lbs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peters is coming off of an overall fantastic season and should only improve on that next year. He played for Wheeler last season, but I believe has since transferred to Hobart. Either way, what he did on the field was more than what they likely anticipated heading in. A fairly explosive Edge rusher for his age, he bends well, and can get around the corner from a few different way. He's lengthy, able to close gaps, and can shed blocks while maintaining his gap integrity. While he is a bit light, and it comes through at moments, he's been in the weight room working to fix that. He's incredibly young so it's a good time for him to work on those types of things. Peters is also a fantastic Long Snapper. Something he works hard at and is mastering the craft of. He's not only got fantastic snap speed and consistency, but then he's got the athletic ability to get downfield and cover the kick. On the season, he put up 23 tackles, 8 of them for loss, and 3 sacks. Peters is a young player who has a very bright future at Long Snapping as well as defense, which gives him a leg up over a lot of other guys.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: <strong>@Logan_Peters91</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->