#TN2026 Early Look: Athletes/Defensive Standouts
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Prior to our new sophomore rankings, here we give you an early look at who the top in-state prospects from the defensive side of the ball are from the #TN2026 class (Top Athletes mentioned inside as well) This coming Fall…
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Continue ReadingPrior to our new sophomore rankings, here we give you an early look at who the top in-state prospects from the defensive side of the ball are from the #TN2026 class (Top Athletes mentioned inside as well)
This coming Fall football season will be the first time many of the prospects talked about below will be placed into starting roles and these sophomores are expected to not only contribute but become game changers and the future of their respective programs.
Diving into the process of our #TN2026 rankings, what we found are some definite warriors from the defensive side of the ball with P5, D1 traits that already have collegiate coaches in pursuit and others that will soon become household names.
Defensive Line
Our current #1 ranked D-lineman in McMinn Co. sophomore Camden Goforth Camden Goforth 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL McMinn Co. | 2026 State TN very well could be among our top ranked offensive linemen as well and that may be where he ends up but right now we like this East Tennessee product on defense. The Cherokees big man sports an active motor along with natural power that allows him to bully opponents. Goforth is a good athlete too that will only get better the more he grows and matures.
The next great D-lineman to come out of Lipscomb Academy could be Danny Brown Danny Brown 6'4" | 230 lbs | DL Lipscomb Academy | 2026 State TN . Standing 6’4 220 pounds plus, Brown has the look of a college edge rusher that already has the physical size you look for and three years of high school ball remaining to develop and grow.
Ensworth rising sophomore Andrew Hogan Andrew Hogan 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Ensworth | 2026 State TN should step into a bigger role this Fall and maybe even compete for a starting spot. The Tigers young D-lineman has already started to generate some college interest but that should pick up even further after Hogan gets on the field next month and starts to put together some film.
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Linebackers
– Potential and upside are two key words that you immediately think about when going through the sophomore crop of linebackers and every guy mentioned here will eventually make it into the college ranks. Holding an offer from TCU already, Crockett Co. linebacker Dre Walker Dre Walker 6'2" | 205 lbs | LB Crockett Co. | 2026 State TN is a stud in the making as he sports the size, length and wide radius along with the athleticism and speed that will generate tons of college interest over the next few years.
Mt. Pleasant sophomore Jayden McClure Jayden McClure 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB Mt. Pleasant | 2026 State TN is a well put together young man that has the look of a future inside linebacker on the next level and college coaches have already recognized those traits. The Tigers stud backer already has the physical size to compete in the college game but he must continue to hone his craft while increasing his speed but the upside is definitely there to become a highly recruited prospect.
There is another Gentle in the pipeline coming out of McCallie and he is already positioning himself as a top guy at the linebacker position for his recruiting class. Rising sophomore Cooper Gentle Cooper Gentle 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB McCallie | 2026 State TN is still developing and growing into his body but the traits and physical tools are there to either line up at inside linebacker or on the edge as a pass rusher.
One guy who intrigues me when it comes to natural physical size and traits that translate well to the next level is Jackson South-Side sophomore Simeon Graham Simeon Graham 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Jackson-Central Merry | 2026 State TN . Coming out of a school that hasn’t put a lot of kids in college over the past several years, Graham will change that narrative as long as he continues to develop on the proper path and stays healthy. This guy is tall, long and can run along with versatility to rush the edge or work inside.
Another tall and athletic backer to know about is Ensworth sophomore Jayden Pyant Jayden Pyant 6'3" | 200 lbs | LB Ensworth | 2026 State TN . This 6’3 sophomore sports the physical size and traits that will attract college coaches, so it’s all about getting him on the field this Fall to begin showing off the upside that landed him in this article.
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Defensive Backs
– Way early into the process, our crop of sophomore defensive backs looks like it could be the deepest position group of all once we get to their senior years. Multiple players have already established themselves as college prospects with others coming down the pipeline. While four guys will be mentioned here, the defensive backs will be deeper by this time next year, full of up and coming defenders.
The top defensive back on the board at the moment is Bearden sophomore Chaston Smith Chaston Smith 6'1" | 165 lbs | DB Bearden | 2026 State TN . The 6’0 long and agile defender had an excellent off-season, showing off his athleticism and upside to play cover corner on the Power Five level. He needs more refinement and added weight but Smith sports tremendous potential. Another possible island defender in college could be Riverdale rising cornerback T.O. Otey T.O. Otey 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Riverdale | 2026 State TN .
The Murfreesboro native has nice physical traits and the skill set that presents upside to college coaches as a potential cover corner but at worst can fall back to safety and become a ball hawk, so there could be a lot of secondary value as Otey matures.
One guy who isn’t getting as much buzz right now as others is Knox. Central sophomore Torin McAfee Torin McAfee 6'1" | 145 lbs | DB Knox. Central | 2026 State TN . This 6’0 defensive back is a straight ball hawk that has a nose for the ball and will only get better the more he continues to grow. He had one of the better freshmen season’s I have seen in some time last year, so expectations are large for the Bobcats sophomore to continue delivering.
Another East Tennessee defender to watch for this Fall is Alcoa two-way talent Kolby Barrett Kolby Barrett 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Maryville | 2026 State TN . Sporting great physical size, Barrett is a good athlete that will contribute in a big way on offense but his future in college looks to be on defense at safety. He has the look, the size and the skill set to develop nicely on the back end.
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Athletes
This category of prospects is always in-flux throughout the process as guys develop in certain ways but have the athleticism to possibly play multiple positions on the next level. We have tons of the those guys here within our #TN2026 class and a few of them are some of the best overall prospects.
The top guy to talk about here is recent Brentwood Academy transfer Shavar Young, Jr Shavar Young, Jr 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Knox. Webb | 2026 State TN . A definite two-way talent with natural athletic abilities, Young, Jr is a playmaker with a great feel for the game, who may a top five in-state talent from the #TN2026 class. Many may like him on offense but I personally love his upside on defense as a potential lockdown cover corner.
East Robertson sophomore Zach Groves Zach Groves 6'4" | 230 lbs | DL East Robertson | 2026 State TN is a well built young man that has good size (6’4 220) and an athletic skill set that could develop at either tight end or edge linebacker/defensive end. This coming Fall will show me and others where this Mid-Tennessee product is with his growth and progression.
Jumping on the scene this off-season with multiple D1 offers, Haywood sophomore Caden Harris Caden Harris 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Haywood | 2026 State TN looks to be the next great prospect to come out of the Tomcats program and someone that could become a highly recruited prospect down the line due to his upside in the defensive secondary.
Trinity Chrst. Academy running back/linebacker LeKhy Thompkins LeKhy Thompkins 6'2" | 205 lbs | ATH Trinity Christian Academy | 2026 State TN and Baylor two-way talent Judah Smith Judah Smith 6'0" | 190 lbs | ATH Baylor | 2026 State TN are two prospects that I feel are suited best for offense, especially in the backfield but have the abilities to excel on defense as well. Thompkins in particular has picked up a few offers thus far with a couple of them coming in at linebacker.
All three of Keshawn Mills Keshawn Mills 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Bearden | 2026 State TN (Knox. West), Justin Hopkins Justin Hopkins 6'0" | 165 lbs | DB Ensworth | 2026 State TN (Ensworth) and Colton Nabors Colton Nabors 6'0" | 185 lbs | ATH Lausanne | 2026 State TN (Lausanne) are true “athletes” as all three could develop on either side of the ball due to their natural athletic abilities.
Mills is still growing but shows a skill set that could work at running back, receiver or defensive back. Hopkins has landed a few early offers due to his playmaking ability and natural feel for the game. I personally like him best at defensive back but could develop at receiver as well.
Nabors is a guy who I am very intrigued with as he already sports a nice physical look along with good speed that translates well to the next level. He should step into a bigger role this Fall with the Lynx with I feel his biggest upside coming in the secondary at safety.