5A – 2026 Defensive Studs To Keep Your Eye On

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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. Here are some defensive studs to keep an eye on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Caplyn Reed","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"UMS-Wright Prep","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"From the snap to the whistle, Reed shows that he always puts 100% into every play. On run plays, he shows that he has the aggression needed to shed blocks and clog lanes. If the ball is run to the opposite side of the line, he shows he can chase down the ball carrier and make a play. On passing plays, Reed does a good job of fighting off the blocker's hands. This allows him to maintain leverage throughout his rush and apply pressure on the QB. He will also not stop chasing down the QB until the ball is released or the whistle is blown.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1115961"],"_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":"One of the first things that stood out to me about [player_tooltip player_id='1115961' first='Hezekyah' last='Avery']'s game is how violent his hands are. When engaging in contact, Avery does a good job of fighting off the blocker's hands. This allows him to gain and maintain leverage throughout his rush. It also allows him to use a variety of moves to apply pressure on the QB. Avery is also very good at disengaging blocks when he needs to. If the ball carrier is coming his way, he uses his power to move the opposing lineman and clog a run lane. His long arms also allow him to get his hand on the ball carrier when engaged in a block. Then, he can disengage and bring them down for a loss of yardage.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1115964"],"_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":"In the run game, [player_tooltip player_id='1115964' first='Landon' last='Everett'] shows incredible vision to diagnose the run prior to the snap. When the ball is snapped, he does a good job of quickly engaging in contact. This allows him to get in the right position to make a stop if the ball comes to him. If the ball is run in the opposite direction, he has an incredibly high motor to chase after the ball carrier.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Perry Hand","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"UMS-Wright Prep","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"As I have mentioned several times already, Perry Hand has very good vision and awareness. Prior to the snap, he does a good job of diagnosing the offense and communicating with his team what he sees. After the ball is snapped, he can quickly react to the offensive play and make a stop. Hand also has good instincts when covering a tight end in zone coverage. When the tight end is stemming his route, Hand does a good job of backpedaling quickly. Then at the top of the stem, he can mirror the TE's movements and stay with them throughout their route.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1590056' first='Marshall' last='Teofilo']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Moody","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"When lined up in the box, Teofilo does a good job of stopping the run shortly past the line of scrimmage. This is due to him having good field vision which allows him to clog inside lanes as well as quickly get to the outside. When lined up on the line of scrimmage, he does a good job of taking on blocks. Although this often takes him out of plays, he is opening up a lane for a teammate to make a play.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b0998b5192b"} /-->