1A – 2026 Defensive Studs To Keep Your Eye On
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As of 2026, there are several high school football defensive players who have shown exceptional talent and potential. These players have garnered attention from college scouts and are expected to make a significant impact at the collegiate level and beyond.…
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Continue ReadingAs of 2026, there are several high school football defensive players who have shown exceptional talent and potential. These players have garnered attention from college scouts and are expected to make a significant impact at the collegiate level and beyond. Here are some defensive studs to keep an eye on.
Tristan Lyles Tristan Lyles 6’1″ | 220 lbs | DL Central | 2026 State AL is a tough defender in the ground game. He is very stout at the point of attack. When runs come downhill at Lyles, he is able to anchor and hold his ground. He also shows the strength to shed and tackle. Routinely, Lyles pushes his way into the backfield to disrupt runs and also resets the line of scrimmage. His lateral anchor is advanced for a high school player, as he is tough to move at the point of attack. Lyles is very solid at taking on double-team bump blocks and holding his ground when getting hit from the side.
Highlights
Jamarion Matthews Jamarion Matthews 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL Sparkman | 2026 State AL
Jamarion Matthews Jamarion Matthews 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL Sparkman | 2026 State AL
The first thing that stands out about his game is his ability to stop the run at the line of scrimmage. He does a very good job of diagnosing the run directly off the snap and immediately clogging the inside lane. His ability to gain leverage directly off the snap is due to his ability to keep his pad level low and his lower body strength. If he is not able to penetrate the line and get in the backfield, he does a great job of using his play strength to overpower the opposing lineman and force them to close the gap.
Devin Bragg
Devin Bragg
Devin Bragg has amazing competitive toughness and can perform regardless of the competition. His aggressiveness allows him to win directly off the snap and gain the necessary leverage. His consistency is also very impressive to watch. From game to game, he showed his ability to perform against a variety of offensive linemen. This kind of motor and competitiveness will allow him to be very successful at the next level.
Another way that Shadarius Toodle Shadarius Toodle 6’1″ | 195 lbs | DL AL can use his play strength is against the run. He does a good job of diagnosing the run directly off the snap. Then, he uses his pad level, strength, and hand placement to leverage gaps and clog lanes. Against inside zone runs, the ball carrier is often forced to work back to the outside. This often leads to his teammates to make a play on the ball. When he is lined up directly across from an offensive lineman, he is amazing at neutralizing their block and not allowing them to steer him out of the way.
Jamichael Garret upper body strength is very impressive. This directly correlates to him having a powerful punch at the point of attack. Against both pass and run blocking, Garret does a good job of delivering a powerful and accurate punch on the offensive lineman. Then he latches onto the breastplate and drives them back into the backfield. Once he closes out on the ball carrier, he can effortlessly disengage and bring down the ball carrier.