Top Defenders for the Class of 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are a mere couple weeks away from our updated Virginia Class of 2026 rankings. We will breaking down more names to know before the new rankings are posted.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1192166"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-665b79f3c22a9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Athletic enough to play both linebacker and on the defensive line for the Patriots, reclassified junior [player_tooltip player_id='1192166' first='Rashad' last='Fortune'] is coming at you quickly. Love his first step off the both particularly along the dline, when he gets his pads under you good luck trying to slow him down. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alongside an all-star squad of defenders in [player_tooltip player_id='295788' first='Kwalei' last='Carter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='853976' first='Tristan' last='Lux'] to name a few, Fortune is 6'3 and 245 lbs. you wont miss him. Depending on where the use him on defense I could see him having double digits sacks this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/rashadfortune9/status/1772645082782404916","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/rashadfortune9/status/1772645082782404916 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1297720' first='Avan' last='Fortner']","_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_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Colgan","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-665b79f3c2358"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We cannot miss this young man anymore, Colgan's [player_tooltip player_id='1297720' first='Avan' last='Fortner'] will be one of the best defensive backs in the Cardinal District this fall. He may already have been last year when started as a sophomore for a stingy Sharks defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is 6'0 with good size and length, Fortner went up against some of the best receivers in the state a year ago and more than held his own. Only allowing 2 touchdowns when targeted through his sophomore campaign, Fortner is set for a monster junior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"></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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1298291' first='Bryan' last='Urrutia']","_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":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"270","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Woodson","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-665b79f3c23e2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woodson's lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1298291' first='Bryan' last='Urrutia'] has major potential and gets after it on both sides of the line. Playing both defensive tackle and guard for the Cavaliers he has a good base and strength that really stands out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You can see on his tape below when he gets his pads and his footwork right he is going to be a problem. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"metadata":{"name":"Bryan Urruita HUDL"}} --> <p><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17930792/655cdb5e15f75f0440117c4c"><kbd>https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17930792/655cdb5e15f75f0440117c4c</kbd></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"Nigel Asamoah","_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_weight":"160","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Chancellor High School","_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-665b79f3c2466"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Asamoah looks like a true ballhawk the way he breaks to the football. 7 pass breakups as a sophomore he is becoming one of the top defensive backs in the state. A long wingspan and great technique he has a real chance to play at the division 1 level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/nigelasamoah1/status/1721606292819652733","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/nigelasamoah1/status/1721606292819652733 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1217999"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-665b79f3c24ad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Lake Braddock Bruins are gearing up for another run at the Class 6 State championship and should be one of the heavy favorites to win it all. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For this to happen the Bruins will need key contributors like versatile defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1217999' first='Ryan' last='Baek'] to keep continuing on his progression. This kid already had an impact on last year's state semi-final team at both defensive tackle and end. He plays the game like he was set on fire the way he chases down quarterbacks. Playing alongside division 1 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1231611' first='Trent' last='Pane'] should only help get Baek more opportunities. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/RyanBaek40/status/1764315767695135094","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RyanBaek40/status/1764315767695135094 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->