2026 Defensive Players Looking To Have Breakout Seasons

Jared Luginbill July 31, 2023 @ 11:22 AM

DB [player_tooltip player_id='573482' first='Kaden' last='Gebhardt'] (Olentangy) 6'1 195- Kaden is the definition of a "Ball Hawk". If the ball is there, he's there. That goes for the run game or the pass game. Lining up at the safety position Gebhardt is comfortable playing in space. He takes good angles to the ball and is patient in his reads. Once he diagnoses, he fires and accelerates quickly. In the run game he plays downhill and attacks. As he continues to get stronger, I think he'll really start to be a physical piece in Olentangy's defense. I think Kaden has the versatility to play either the free safety or strong safety position at the next level. With a strong sophomore campaign for the Braves I expect Gebhardt to burst onto the D1 recruiting scene.   DB [player_tooltip player_id='402331' first='Elbert' last='Hill'] (Archbishop Hoban) 5'10 160- Hill is a player who really blew up this offseason, starting with the Best of the Midwest Combine. He put together some great 40 times running in the 4.4's. In coverage he was athletic and technically sound. Trusting his technique and athleticism he mirrored well and showed a strong break. He has fluid hips, so he doesn't lose much speed in his transition from back pedal to turn and run. He then has the speed to run with pretty much any receiver. Hill definitely caught the attention of the Power 5 world earning offers from the likes of Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. High Power 5 interest and offers aside it's time for Hill to back it up with varsity film. I expect Elbert to have a big sophomore season of lockdown cornerback play.   DB [player_tooltip player_id='826040' first='James' last='Brewer III'] (Walsh) 6'0 160- Brewer is an athletic corner with exceptional length. With his length and strength, he will be able to put hands on receivers at the line of scrimmage and be able to play a physical style of bump and run man coverage. He should match up very well against bigger receivers. Into the route he has the speed and athleticism to run with receivers. He has the body control and the hand eye coordination to play the ball rather than the receiver. In the run game he's a willing tackler. James played JV as a freshman, but I expect him to work his way onto the varsity field as a sophomore. If he can do that, he'll be able to start to adapt to the speed of the varsity game and continue to develop as a player. James has D1 interest with an offer from UMASS.   DB [player_tooltip player_id='402309' first='Amar'e' last='Miller'] (Pickerington North) 5'11 170- Pickerington North has a lot of skill talent they're able to line up on both sides of the ball. Hill is a young player that played on the Freshman team last year. He plays the cornerback position with a swagger, which is something that I look for in players at that position. Amar'e's not afraid to line up in man coverage and play a physical brand of football with opposing receivers. He's patient and fundamentally sound in his coverage of the route. He's explosive in his break when he turns to find the ball. I'll be interested to see if Miller is able to force his way into varsity playing time as a sophomore.   LB [player_tooltip player_id='647593' first='Joshua' last='Smith'] (Afrocentric) 6'3 180- Smith is a long, long defensive back. I wouldn't rule out that in time he won't grow into a linebacker, but for now I love his length at the safety position. Right now, he looks like a strong safety. He plays well in the box and loves to come up and hit people. He plays downhill. You can tell he's still growing into his body. As he continues to mature, I expect him to become more explosive in his fire and change of direction. In the pass game he has the speed and the length to play in space. As he gets more comfortable in his reads, he should be a playmaker in the pass game as well. That being said he was a freshman getting varsity reps and experience. All of this is to say there's work left to be done here, but I think Smith has a chance to develop into a really good college prospect.

DB Kaden Gebhardt Kaden Gebhardt 6'1" | 195 lbs | DB Olentangy | 2026 State OH (Olentangy) 6'1 195- Kaden is the definition of a "Ball Hawk". If the ball is there, he's there. That goes for the run game or the pass game. Lining up at the safety position Gebhardt is comfortable playing in space. He takes good angles to the ball and is patient in his reads. Once he diagnoses, he fires and accelerates quickly. In the run game he plays downhill and attacks. As he continues to get stronger, I think he'll really start to be a physical piece in Olentangy's defense. I think Kaden has the versatility to play either the free safety or strong safety position at the next level. With a strong sophomore campaign for the Braves I expect Gebhardt to burst onto the D1 recruiting scene.