New 2026 Defenders On The Rise

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who are some new 2026 defenders to keep an eye on this fall?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Read the details on Prep Redzone...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chris Campbell - North Gwinnett</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A two-way standout with plenty of length and natural athleticism, Campbell is a sleeper defensive back on the rise with the potential to play both safety and cornerback this upcoming season as a junior. He has a future Power Four frame already at 6-foot-3 180-pounds and grew up a lot as a player last year as a sophomore. He's a talented prospect who will only get better and better this off-season. He's a sure tackler who wraps up well and runs well for his size. He can fight off blocks and has enough length to cover bigger, longer receivers on the perimeter and down the field. He's a 2026 prospect on the rise who recently earned his first offer from Miami (OH). If he continues to develop and improve, look for more to come his way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/Brooks4K"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1323161' first='Khamari' last='Brooks']</strong></a><strong> - North Oconee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strong two-way prospect on the rise with an excellent 6-foot-4 220-pound frame, this Athens-area defender out of North Oconee showed last year as a sophomore that he has enough size and power to dominate opposing offensive linemen both in the run game and when attacking the quarterback. His length and power allows him to shed blocks and get down the line to help set the edge. He plays well in space and has the ability to react quickly and chase down the ball carrier. He runs well for his size and was active all year long. If he continues to improve as an overall three-down defender while adding more good muscle, Brooks has a chance to have an outstanding junior season in 2024. His recruitment is on the rise, and he's earned recent offers from Florida Atlantic, South Florida, Western Kentucky, and Cincinnati, among others.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401558' first='Tim' last='Sims'] - Lovejoy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A versatile defender who can play both safety and linebacker, Sims is a tough, physical, instinctive defender who has no problem delivering a giant hit on the ball-carrier. He's a max-effort player who understands his role and knows how to attack. He's coming off a strong sophomore season where he made 86 tackles, three INTs, five pass-breakups, 11 TFLs, three sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one touchdown. He's disruptive and makes his presence known no matter where he's lined up. He's a weapon defensively who covers a lot of ground in coverage with the ability to run down the back on the perimeter. He brings Power Four size at 6-foot-1 185-pounds and already holds offers from Cincinnati, Central Michigan, Georgia Tech, South Florida, among others. Look for him to see a boost in his next Prep Redzone ranking</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->