2027 Rankings: Ball Hawks and Turnover Machines

When stats look off, we go to the film.   When we watch the film and it backs up the numbers, our ears perk up a good bit.   The Class of 2027's story has yet to be full told. Yet, we're smart enough to recognized when high-impact defensive players are able to change a game's trajectory with a huge play.   Forced fumbles and sacks, tackles for loss and picks.   Those and more are what cut this crop of defensive players out of the rest of the cloth of the rising sophomore class.    Let's take a look at some of what we've noticed.   [player_tooltip player_id='1127312' first='Hayden' last='Schwab'] LB, Florence Christian    Schwab is his team's top returning tackler for next year, and we're about to tell you why he probably won't ever be No. 1. He's developing into a dynamic edge who will also put up plenty of stops. However, that also means his worth to the team will include more and more tackles for loss, sacks and quarterback hurries. His role on the defense is disrupting the offense. He's done that in relatively small doses, but that's where his impact will grow.     [player_tooltip player_id='262172' first='Bubba' last='Alexander'] LB, Hammond   There wasn't much reason why Alexander needed to be on the Skyhawks' varsity roster last fall other than the staff sees the same type of potential out of him that we have. At 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, Alexander is faster and stronger than you might guess and capable of making things happen in a flash (See: Playoff game vs. Cardinal Newman last fall). Alexander is going to keep adding to his high-impact stats year after year.    [player_tooltip player_id='1036752' first='Owen' last='Bex'] LB, Trinity Collegiate   We're going to save the best part on Bex for a moment. Because while he was third on the team in tackles (56) this last fall, he was doing it in a system that featured teammates [player_tooltip player_id='1165123' first='Mac' last='Burch'] and [player_tooltip player_id='272703' first='James' last='Herbert'] also playing more traditional linebacker sets. Still, he finished with 14 tackles for loss, three sacks and three fumble recoveries while mostly playing along the edge. With Herbert likely moving up to the line, Bex's numbers might shoot through the roof.     [player_tooltip player_id='1172365' first='Crawford' last='Poole'] LB, Cheraw   To average one tackle for loss per game is saying something. Tack on three sacks, 49 total tackles and three blocked field goals and Poole is exactly the type of disruptor we're looking for. The fact that he did all that as a freshman playing against a highly respectable schedule for a Class 2A team makes it even more impressive. Poole isn't huge; he's 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds. But playmakers are playmakers.     [player_tooltip player_id='1036731' first='Dennis' last='Glenn Jr'] DL, Boiling Springs (pictured)   If defensive tackles are already a different breed, we're not really sure how to measure up Glenn. He's got an explosiveness off the line that allows him to bull-rush and slip between interior offensive linemen. Last fall in eight games, he used that skill set to six tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hurries, a sack and a fumble recovery - numbers that nicely complemented hid 28 total tackles. Glenn isn't sitting in our top five in the class by default.    [player_tooltip player_id='779428' first='Tajeh' last='Watson-Martin'] DB, Belton-Honea Path   You want numbers? Cool. Watson-Martin was second on BHP's roster last fall with 57 total tackles while mostly playing the type of corner position that very few can pull off the right way. He also had six picks, 10 pass break-ups and a fumble recovery. His closing speed is legit, he turns on a dime and he's playing for a team that often has opposing teams throwing the kitchen sink at the Bears while trying to erase deficits. Advantage Watson-Martin.    [player_tooltip player_id='378969' first='Jaiden' last='Kelly-Murray'] DB, Summerville   You don't put up 110 total tackles by accident, even in a 14-game season. To do so as a freshman as a Class 5A school is downright ludicrous. When you start considering his 10 tackles for loss and four picks, you see that the Green Wave safety isn't just messing around out there. He's chosen a path that is taking him places. Now, factor in that he's going to likely get plenty of run on offense, too, and there's no telling what happens next.

When stats look off, we go to the film.