New to the 2025 Rankings: Defense (100-125)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The WV 2025 Rankings have been updated and there are now 125 players in the class ranked! There were many new additions to the Top 125 so let's break down which players were added in this update. Here are the defensive players that were added in the 2025 Rankings update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["852274"],"_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":"Musselman WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='897594' first='Brayden' last='Miller'] debuts in our 2025 Rankings for the first time coming in at #106 overall and the #9 ranked defensive back in the class. Miller is still a bit undersized right now but is a very quality athlete who can play a few different positions. He was a First Team All-Conference selection for his play this season in the loaded EPAC as a junior. Quick and speedy athlete who plays safety for the Applemen and plays above his smaller size. Has the versatility to also play slot receiver and a returner on special teams being a quality player in all three phases of the game. Showed good ball skills on offense and defense while having the ability to go up and make a contested catch or break up a pass on defense. Playmaker with the ball in his hands regardless of which phase of the game it is. Has the potential to eventually be ranked as a WR but his upside as a DB is solid.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["908978"],"_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":"I really liked Lewis County defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='908978' first='Maddox' last='Gillespie']'s sophomore film from last year and he was on my radar coming into this season. Gillespie debuts in the 2025 Rankings at 109th overall and is the #13 defensive lineman in the class. He was a Class AA All-State Honorable Mention selection by PRZ WV and the WVSWA this season. A bit undersized at 6'1 230 for a defensive end and doesn't possess the ideal length that you would want for that position but the kid can play. Gillespie is a tenacious pass rusher and has good block shed in run defense as well. Has the athleticism to be a stand-up edge rusher too. Works some pass-rush moves and is not just a bull rusher off the end. Plays very hard and to the whistle not taking any plays off. If he were a bit longer he'd be ranked very highly.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1126817"],"_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":"Hurricane linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1126817' first='Jonah' last='Wilfong'] enters our rankings as the #110 player in the 2025 class and 15th ranked LB. He made the big jump up in competition this season going from Class A/AA Buffalo to Class AAA/AAAA Hurricane. Production took a hit in his first season at the big school level but still showed enough on tape to warrant a Top 125 ranking. He'll return for his senior season and could see a bigger role on defense and increased production similar to what he had as a sophomore at Buffalo. Big, physical linebacker at 6'1 220 that likes to get downhill and could grow into more of a DE/Edge player in the future like he was as a sophomore.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["908991"],"_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":"Another big physical linebacker who enters our Top 125 in the 2025 class is Keyser middle linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='908991' first='Jullian' last='Pattison']. 6'1 220 frame that loves getting downhill at the snap and gets great penetration at the line of scrimmage. Really tough player who saw time on the offensive line this season in their Wing-T offense and can even punt. Limited junior film but thought he was dominant against Class AAA/AAAA John Marshall who had some very big and talented offensive linemen. Class AA Second Team All-State selection by the WVSWA who returns as one of the top linebackers in the new Class AAA next season.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1126819"],"_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":"A high-ceiling player who could really make a big jump in the 2025 Rankings after next season is Cabell Midland's [player_tooltip player_id='1126819' first='Carson' last='Gue']. I'd love to see the 6'3 220 athlete bulk up and move to defensive end full-time next season where he has a ton of upside. Gue saw some time on the defensive line as a junior along with some OLB/Edge snaps and should see an increased role in 2024. For now, he'll be ranked as a linebacker and comes in at #113 overall and the 17th ranked player at that position. You saw flashes of his potential as a junior this season and Gue is a very intriguing prospect that you need to keep tabs on during his senior year.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["908992"],"_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":"One of the top linebackers in the new Class AA next season will be Bluefield's [player_tooltip player_id='908992' first='Ty' last='Patton'] who is another player that has the potential to make a jump in our rankings with a big senior year. He's just a touch undersized but you wouldn't know by his style of play. Patton is a physical player and tackler who has good hips through contact. He has very good form on his tackles and does a great job getting low and driving through the ball carrier while wrapping up. Patton also does a nice job sorting through the traffic in run defense and getting to the ball. The lack of pass coverage highlights hurts his ranking a bit, but he's one of the better run-stopping linebackers in the 2025 class.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["908621"],"_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":"Ethan Hill out of Hurricane could've been ranked as an offensive or defensive lineman but his ceiling on the DL is probably highest. Really athletic kid for his size in that 6'3 250 range who moves well on film. Hurricane had a lot of quality defensive line bodies this season so Chill's role and production should see an increase in 2024. He moves as well as a lot of linebackers in the state and showed that as an offensive tackle this year too. With continued development, Chill is another prospect in the 100-125 ranking range that can make a big jump in our final 2025 update after the 2024 season.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["908994"],"_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":"The only thing that was keeping Spring Valley linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='908994' first='Braeden' last='Booth'] out of our r2025 Rankings in the last update was his size and while he's still not the biggest kid he has gotten considerably bigger since last year. Now in the 5'11 185 range, we feel comfortable ranking him in the Top 125 because the talent and ability are there. Booth was an Honorable Mention All-State selection this season and a First Team All-Conference member in the MSAC. Mostly played as a 3-4/3-3-5 OLB that led to a lot of production with 68 tackles, 10 TFLs, and 4 sacks as a junior. has the athleticism to drop into coverage but mainly rushed the passer and crashed the edge in their system. Size limits his ceiling but he has the opportunity to increase his ranking even more.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["905329"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Unfortunately, Woodrow Wilson athlete [player_tooltip player_id='905329' first='Christian' last='Stewart'] missed most of his junior season due to an injury and played in just four games but will still debut in our 2025 Rankings as the #119 player and #10 DB. Very limited junior film due to his injury and mostly had running back highlights, but his sophomore tape showcased his defensive back play more to give you a better gauge of his talent. Undersized at 5'9 165, but a really quality overall athlete who can also play receiver and a low 11-second sprinter in the 100-meter dash. A healthy senior season could really bolster his ranking after taking a bit of a flyer on him right now.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["1126441"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"Another athlete that we're taking a bit of a flyer on right now for our Top 125 is Wheeling Park's [player_tooltip player_id='1126441' first='Cameron' last='Bryan']. He mostly played offensive tackle during his junior season for the Patriots but with his 6'3 225 frame and athleticism, he best translates as a defensive end. Very limited defensive line film but from the clips that he does have you can see the potential and upside that he has at that position. If he sees increased playing time on defense in 2024 he's a lock for some D2 offers in my opinion. Bryan is really quick off the line and has very good speed for his size. He could easily bulk up to 250 pounds and play defensive end in college and has a ton of upside.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["908980"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"The second smallest public school in West Virginia that plays football has a nice defensive line prospect in Van's [player_tooltip player_id='908980' first='Dalton' last='Kessinger'] who was an Honorable Mention All-State player this season for the Bulldogs. Limited junior film but was a very productive player as a sophomore. Good size at 6'2 265 with quality athleticism for his size which was evident when he got some carries on offense. Raw prospect with an intriguing upside who could play his way into being a D2 prospect next season. Strong athlete with good feet and has been playing on varsity since he was a freshman. Would love to see his junior film to better gauge his play from this year but I'm willing to take a flyer on him and consider him a Top 125 player at this current junction.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":11,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658dc984deb47"} /-->