2026 Spring Stock Risers: Defense

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">In-depth analysis of some of the 2026 defensive prospects who have seen their recruiting stock on the rise this spring. </h2>    <p>Wilder is seeing his recruiting stock on the rise with recent offers coming in from Nebraska, Kansas, Arizona, Fresno State, Oregon State, and Tennessee. Led all sophomores in the state with 14 sacks in 2023 with 75 total tackles, 29 hurries, and 15 TFL. Major D1 skillset with his combination of size, length, and athleticism at 6'4” 250 lbs. Shows excellent initial quickness off the ball with an explosive first step gaining quick penetration as the play is developing. Like his lateral agility and short area speed to avoid blockers and redirect to the ball carrier. Violent with his hands, he's got a powerful initial strike with good extension to maintain separation from blockers and then shed. High ceiling prospect that will continue to see more offers come in from top programs nationally. Voted First Team All Mission league.</p>   <p>12 Offers: Utah, USC, UNLV, Nebraska, Colorado State, Arizona, San Jose State, Purdue, Tennessee, Oregon State, Fresno State, Kansas</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/WilderKhary/status/1728891340220703133 </div></figure>     <p>Holland kicked off his recruiting with early offers as freshman from USC, Washington, Oklahoma, and Charlotte but has launched himself into an elite national recruit with eight major offers this spring from top programs such as Ole Miss, Missouri, Georgia, and LSU. Possesses ideal physical skillset for a CB with a long 6'2” 175 lb. frame and the speed to stay in phase at all three levels. He's got natural coverage instincts and route recognition to anticipate and close off throwing lanes. Good timing to understand when his cushion is broken and transition out of his back pedal. He accelerates out of his break to recover and close space with the ball in the air. Plus ball skills and uses his length well to break up passes at the catch point. Will continue to climb the rankings and be one of the top 2026 DB prospects in the state.</p>   <p>12 Offers: USC, Washington, Oklahoma, Charlotte, Ole Miss, Georgia, LSU, San Diego State, SMU, West Virginia, Utah, Missouri</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/j_wii_/status/1742043874779185637 </div></figure>     <p>Strong edge prospect that picked up his first offer from Idaho State at the start of May and has since added three more with Arkansas State, Nevada, and Colorado State coming in. He's a plus athlete at 6'2” 230 lbs. Uses his speed, quickness, and bend to beat blockers and collapse the pocket off the edge. Strong at the POA, he plays with leverage and is able to initiate heavy contact and then disengage to free himself up and locate the ball. Showed he can fight through double teams while maintaining his positional leverage to contain the edge on outside runs. Does a good job keeping his shoulders square to the line to move laterally and make plays to the perimeter. Chases hard in pursuit and is an aggressive body tackler to the ground. Transferred from JSerra to Crean Lutheran to play out his junior season.</p>   <p>4 Offers: Idaho State, Arkansas State, Nevada, Colorado State</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Ryder1Barnes/status/1726053954310828087 </div></figure>     <p>Phillips recruiting stock is currently skyrocketing with big time offers coming in from Auburn, Wisconsin, Washington, and Notre Dame this spring bringing his total to 13. He's a three sport athlete (football/basketball/track) with excellent size, length, and growth potential in his frame at 6'4” 220 lbs. He's an impressive athlete at his size that is natural and fluid with his movement with great burst to close in the short area. Athleticism and versatility allows him to be effective playing multiple positions in the front seven including both inside and outside backer or DE. Extremely violent at the POA, he explodes through contact accelerating his feet and hips to finish opponents aggressively to the ground. Flashes great anticipation skills to quickly read and react as the play develops and then put himself in position to make game changing plays. Expect him to be the near the top of 2026 LB prospects in the state when the updated rankings are released.</p>   <p>13 Offers: Minnesota, Cal, Kansas, Auburn, Oregon State, Wisconsin, Arizona, Washington, Notre Dame, San Jose State, Arizona State, Cal Poly, San Diego State</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/t_phillips11/status/1722471031284384243 </div></figure>     <p>The 6'1” 250 lb. interior DL prospect out of St. John Bosco kicked off his recruiting in a big way this month pulling in four D1 offers. UNLV came in first then followed by San Jose State, New Mexico, and most recently his first P4 offer from Arizona. Possesses outstanding natural strength in both his upper and lower halves with a low center of gravity. Shows great variety and timing of different moves to beat opponents. Powerful wrong arm technique to force blockers off his line, flashes the athleticism/movement skill to swim or spin off, and can execute push pull with good hand usage. He's tough to move playing with good balance and leverage at the contact point to anchor down and hold his gap. Performed well as a sophomore in one of the top programs in the country and will continue to rise up rankings and recruiting boards.</p>   <p>4 Offers: UNLV, San Jose State, New Mexico, Arizona</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Laneselota_35/status/1729767090041602297 </div></figure>