2026 Defensive Play-Makers to Watch in 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2026 class in Mississippi is brimming with talent, offering a wide array of standout players. Over the next few weeks, I'll be breaking down the top prospects into offensive and defensive stars to watch. Tonight, we're kicking things off with the first edition, focusing on the defensive play-makers who are set to shine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Raderrion Daniels | Defensive Back | Lake Cormorant</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Raderrion Daniels, standing at 6-2 and weighing 175 pounds, is a shutdown, alpha defensive back known for his impressive breaks on passes, reacting almost instantaneously once the ball leaves the QB's hands. He excels at creating a barrier between the receiver and the ball, coming away with impressive interceptions. His swatting skills are elite, particularly on passes thrown across the middle. Daniels has a versatile skill set, enabling him to effectively play flats, sidelines, and deep coverage. He is very physical, excelling in on-the-line jams and open-field tackling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/RaderrionD1/status/1785344637156159950","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/RaderrionD1/status/1785344637156159950 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='837820' first='Jayce' last='Taylor'] | Linebacker | Biggersville</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='837820' first='Jayce' last='Taylor'], standing at 6-2 and weighing 220 pounds, had an outstanding 2023 season with 106 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks. Taylor's pursuit skills are intense, excelling in tracking down ball carriers on the outside and pressuring quarterbacks in the pocket. His rugged and rough hitting style makes him a significant force in the run game, effectively making plays in close proximity. His awareness in coverage situations is notable, and his hip rotations showcase elite fundamentals across all aspects of his game, underscoring his readiness for higher-level competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/iamjayce23/status/1802126174652440593","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/iamjayce23/status/1802126174652440593 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1136446' first='Xavier' last='Thomas'] | Linebacker | Northside</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1136446' first='Xavier' last='Thomas'], standing at 6-1 and weighing 180 pounds, had an outstanding 2023 season with 98 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 interceptions (2 returned for touchdowns), and 3 pass breakups. Thomas showcases incredibly impressive hands for a linebacker, using his full length effectively in coverage while playing with great physicality in the run game. His impressive size could transition well into an edge rusher role at the next level. He has great instincts, allowing him to get excellent jumps on plays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/1of1xavier/status/1804219078279659522","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/1of1xavier/status/1804219078279659522 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Darious Calvin | Defensive Lineman | Thomas Edwards</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Darious Calvin, standing at 6-3, possesses remarkable strength and a powerful release from his stance, making him a significant log jammer at the nose guard position. His tenacity out of the stance often overwhelms offensive linemen, causing them to get blown up into the play and resulting in quick losses of yardage. Calvin excels at creating penetration up the middle, effectively forcing plays into the edge coverage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/dariouscalvin/status/1769621833324613688","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/dariouscalvin/status/1769621833324613688 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1303910' first='Cam' last='Bell'] | Defensive Back | Newton County</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1303910' first='Cam' last='Bell'], standing at 5-10 and weighing 160 pounds, displays excellent fluidity in his motions and a solid understanding of schemes. His footwork, from his back pedal to his set and the explosion to break up passes, is extremely fundamentally sound. Bell is an instinctive play-maker with great anticipation skills at the point of the catch, making him a highly effective defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Cambell9_/status/1763632177688748212","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/Cambell9_/status/1763632177688748212 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->