2026 Defensive Prospects to Watch Through This Summer

As the 2024 season approaches, there's a plethora of athletes making a name for themselves with their offseason work. This is a prime time to get in front of coaches' eyes and end up on the radar of certain programs. These prospects are all players on the defensive end who are fully taking advantage of their offseason, working to better their game so they can help their teams on Thursdays and Fridays this fall.    [player_tooltip player_id='739444' first='Jameson' last='Wade'] is a really aggressive linebacker out of Red Mountain. With impressive instincts in the run game, he does a great job of following the flow of the play and letting it carry him to the ball. It doesn't seem to matter who the offense tries to throw at Wade, he's got the strength to hold his own when at a size disadvantage. What truly stands out most about his game is how good he is when up at the line of scrimmage. Whether it's attacking the quarterback or not over pursuing against the run, he's got a nose for the ball. Coming off a sophomore season where he notched double-digit tackles in four games while adding on six and a half sacks, Wade could really take off after another offseason of work.      At 6'0" 290 lbs going into just his junior year, [player_tooltip player_id='283580' first='Noah' last='Banhie'] is a force to be reckoned with on Salpointe's defensive line. His sheer strength is hard to handle on its own, but then you mix that with his legs that never seem to stop driving offensive linemen back and you're left with a scary combination. With his power, he just seems to overpower his opponent more times than not. At his size, he has some surprising speed that sprouts from his quick feet. Banhie's active hands make it incredibly difficult for the offensive line to stay engaged and it allows him to push his way to the quarterback. Finishing the year with two and a half sacks and a whopping nine hurries as a sophomore, Banhie is a player who coaches should be watching closely as the 2024 season begins.      Playing in the defensive backfield, [player_tooltip player_id='992791' first='Cannon' last='Garday'] plays so aggressively and physically in run support that it's like having an extra linebacker on the field for Liberty's defense. His athleticism allows him to provide some extra help in the run game while still being an integral part of the pass defense. When he is playing against the pass, Garday has some impressive lateral quickness that becomes a real advantage in zone defenses. Able to switch off a receiver and quickly recover to a receiver on the opposite side of his coverage area, he moves very smoothly across the field. Stepping into a bigger role as the Lions try to defend their Open Division state title, Garday is a player to watch closely through his junior season.      At 6'3" and 200 lbs, [player_tooltip player_id='992767' first='Apaiata' last='Tengei'] is a physical specimen coming off the edge for Westwood. He has such quick twitch that he ends up winning most reps on his initial burst alone. If somehow that doesn't work, he'll just use that quickness and agility to move around linemen and attack the ball carrier. Making matters worse for his opponents, Tengei has some surprising strength in his lean frame that can be incredibly disruptive in the backfield. His high motor is something not often seen from defensive linemen and has him chasing down plays down the sideline. It's rare to see a defensive end chasing down running backs from behind, but he does just that. Tengei, who's a threat on both sides of the ball, is a player who should be on coaches' big boards going into the 2024 season.

As the 2024 season approaches, there's a plethora of athletes making a name for themselves with their offseason work. This is a prime time to get in front of coaches' eyes and end up on the radar of certain programs. These prospects are all players on the defensive end who are fully taking advantage of their offseason, working to better their game so they can help their teams on Thursdays and Fridays this fall.