2025 Rankings Update: Defense & Specialist Stock Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The WV 2025 Rankings have been updated and there are now 125 players in the class ranked! There were many players who saw their stock rise in the rankings so let's break down which players saw their ranking increase. Here are the defensive players that made a jump in the 2025 Rankings update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["909090"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eNew Ranking: 30u003c/liu003eu003cliu003ePrevious Ranking: 66u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eSpots Raised: +36u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbru003eThe highest stock riser out of the defense and specialist group was Hampshire K/P [player_tooltip player_id='909090' first='Bryson' last='Richardson'] who jumped up 36 spots to #30 overall and the #2 ranked specialist in the 2025 class. Richardson just keeps growing and is up to 6'6 190 now which makes him a very intriguing specialist prospect. He handles all kicking and punting duties for the Trojans and has proved to be a quality performer in all phases of them. I didn't see any field goal attempts on his highlights, but Richardson gets good ball height on PATs with a smooth swing. He also has good hangtime on kickoffs and consistently placed the ball near the goal line. His punts were also quality and that may just be where his ceiling is highest with how long of a swing he has with his height. I would confidently say he's a D1 specialist prospect and should bring in some offers from that level in time.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["864582"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eNew Ranking: 17u003c/liu003eu003cliu003ePrevious Ranking: 46u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eSpots Raised: +29u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbru003eAnother big mover in our 2025 Rankings in the specialist group was Morgantown K/P [player_tooltip player_id='864582' first='Aidan' last='Stire'] who is now considered a Top 20 player in the state and the #1 ranked specialist in the class. Stire is a no-doubt D1 prospect in my opinion and had a very good season in all phases of special teams for the Mohigans. He converted on 34/35 PATs and had a touchback on 39/50 kickoffs during his junior season. Stire is also a very good punter who averaged just under 42 yards per punt in 2023. He has by far the strongest leg I've seen in the 2025 class and is as well-rounded of a specialist as you're going to find in WV.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["450997"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003culu003ern tu003cliu003eNew Ranking: 9u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003ePrevious Ranking: 72u003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eSpots Raised: +24u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernGeorge Washington linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='450997' first='Hunter' last='Giacomo'] makes a big jump in our 2025 Rankings and is now considered a Top 10 player in the class and the #1 ranked LB. Giacomo was previously ranked as a DB but played mostly outside linebacker this season where he led the Patriots in tackles with 104 along with two sacks and two interceptions. He's gotten bigger and has maintained the athleticism that he had when he was a DB making him an intriguing prospect. While he may not have prototypical linebacker size at 6'0 190, Giacomo could potentially play a hybrid LB/Safety role at the next level as he has quality traits for both positions. That versatility of being able to play in the box or drop into coverage makes him a D1 caliber prospect in our eyes and Giacomo should see some offers from that level in time.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["908619"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eNew Ranking: 56u003c/liu003eu003cliu003ePrevious Ranking: 69u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eSpots Raised: +13u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbru003eAnother linebacker that saw his stock rise in the 2025 Rankings was Scott's [player_tooltip player_id='908619' first='Ty' last='Mitchell'] who jumped up 13 spots to #56 overall and the #7 linebacker in the class. Mitchell was previously ranked as a defensive lineman in our last update but made the move to middle linebacker this season and it paid off for him. He had big-time production as a junior for the Skyhawks totaling 109 tackles, 15 TFLs, and an interception. Mitchell has good size for the position at 6'2 215 and although he is a former defensive lineman, he has the athleticism to play the linebacker position effectively and moves around well. Physical downhill MLB who has the versatility and athleticism to tackle in space and also at the line of scrimmage. His stats and film show that he also gets good penetration at the line of scrimmage and makes plays in the backfield. Mitchell has good pursuit speed and quick reaction time when reading the play. The 2025 class has a strong linebacker group with Mitchell being one of the 10 best at the position.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["908990"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eNew Ranking: 65u003c/liu003eu003cliu003ePrevious Ranking: 74u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eSpots Raised: +9u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbru003eWheeling Park linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='908990' first='Jameson' last='Maynard'] moves up 9 spots to #65 overall in the 2025 Rankings and is the #9 ranked linebacker in the class. The 6'1 185 junior was the leading tackler for the Patriots this season totaling 87 in 10 games played. Maynard has a very good wrestling background which aids him on the football field and just earned his 100th match win days ago. Really quality athlete who's a rangy linebacker who doubles as a WR/TE on offense where he totaled 300 yards and was the third-leading receiver on the team. Wrestling background has dictated smaller size for him but he has gotten bigger since his sophomore season and made a 10-pound weight class jump to 175 as a junior. Would like to see more production from him behind the line of scrimmage but Maynard's athleticism allows him to drop into coverage and be a quality cover linebacker.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["872712"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eNew Ranking: 28u003c/liu003eu003cliu003ePrevious Ranking: 35u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eSpots Raised: +7u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbru003eGeorge Washington defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='872712' first='Solomon' last='Ferrell'] increased his state ranking by 7 spots but made a big jump in the position rankings from the #6 DB to the #2 ranked DB in the class. We wanted to see how he handled the move from South Charleston to George Washington for his junior season and Ferrell performed very well. He led the Patriots in passes defended with 9 and picked off two passes this season. Ferrell is a long corner at 6'2 and that great size for the position showed up on film when making plays on the ball which led to his team-leading 9 PDs. Ferrell is a good man-to-man coverage corner whose size gives him a high ceiling at the position and the versatility to potentially play safety at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id='370477' first='Zah' last='Jackson'] has the #1 spot locked down but our #2 ranked DB has a lot of upside and should see some D1 interest in the future.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["450992"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eNew Ranking: 19u003c/liu003eu003cliu003ePrevious Ranking: 22u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eSpots Raised: +3u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbru003eBridgeport defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='450992' first='Wes' last='Brown Jr'] made a small jump in the state rankings but is now considered a Top 20 player in the 2025 class and also moved up three spots in the DL rankings to the #3 ranked DL. He plays defensive tackle the way it's meant to be played and is as tenacious and as powerful of a defensive lineman as you're going to find in the 2025 class. Brown Jr also has very good short-area quickness and moves well for an athlete his size. His hands are violent and being a bit undersized aids his game with the leverage that he plays with. He demands double teams and is dominant at the point of attack. Brown Jr can break doubles and wins at the line of scrimmage often. I just got to see him in person at the Winter Exposure Showcase where he was dominant and earned MVP honors further cementing him as a Top 20 player in the class and a Top 3 defensive lineman. Size limits his ceiling a bit but he's someone who FCS schools should be looking at and a lock for considerable D2 interest.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["487106"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"u003culu003eu003cliu003eNew Ranking: 6u003c/liu003eu003cliu003ePrevious Ranking: 8u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eSpots Raised: +2u003c/liu003eu003c/ulu003eu003cbru003eFairmont Senior defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='487106' first='Trevor' last='Bigelow'] remains the #1 ranked DL in the 2025 class but jumps up two spots in the state ranking to #6 overall now. The 6'4 250 defensive end was a unanimous First Team All-State selection by three different publications this season including PRZ WV. Bigelow's great length coupled with upper-level athleticism makes him a near lock to maintain the #1 defensive line ranking along with his play on the field. He also made a big jump this season as an offensive tackle which has many people believing he could develop into a high-level player at that position potentially as well. Bigelow should see some D1 offers come in before his senior season and I believe his floor is the G5 level.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658e0b99217b2"} /-->