Another Round of ’26 Defensive Prospects To Put on Your Radar

It takes some serious skill to be able to adequately defend the amount of offensive talent found around Arizona high school football. We have Division 1 talent all across the state, and every week defenders are asked to go out there and shut them down. In this article, we're aiming to highlight some of the defenders who can do just that. These six athletes are in a position to make a significant impact on their teams in their junior season.    [player_tooltip player_id='1369391' first='Corde' last='Nunnery'] is an athletic and aggressive pass rusher coming off the edge for ALA Queen Creek. His 6'0" 180 lbs frame is solid and he certainly doesn't lack in strength. The quickness Nunnery uses to get back into plays on the other side of the field is impressive and also highlights the high motor he plays with. Really good with his hands, he rarely lets an offensive lineman get engaged with him and is constantly fighting to create a path to the ball. Once he gets to the ball carrier, he makes sure they feel it. Nunnery is a player who's going to make a real impact for his team coming off of three sacks last season.      [player_tooltip player_id='1177561' first='Hayden' last='Utley'] lives in the backfield for Marana's defense. He's so effective with his hands that opposing offensive linemen can hardly ever get engaged with him. Whether it's a speedy bull rush or one of his many more technical moves, Utley never seems to have a problem getting past the line of scrimmage. Once he does, he's really able to show off his good speed as he chases down running backs from behind when the play goes away from him. He's a very physical player who ball carriers truly don't want to see coming at them. Coming off of a three-sack season as a sophomore, Utley could see that number take a big jump after an offseason of work.      [player_tooltip player_id='992822' first='Kydel' last='Stone'] has some really refined footwork for a player heading into just his junior year. Whether it's staying with his man or gracefully gliding across his zone responsibilities, he looks very natural in coverage. Stone's also an incredibly physical player for a cornerback. He has no issues jamming receivers at the line or breaking off of block attempts to make the tackle on the running back in space. Stepping into a much bigger role on Saguaro's defense this year, Stone is a player are going to want to keep their eyes on. This 6'1" 180 lbs receiver is only going to get better with experience.      [player_tooltip player_id='1177581' first='Gage' last='Barrett'] is a dominant force in the run game for ALA Ironwood's defense. Even if he isn't able to quickly break past the offensive linemen, he does a great job of crashing down to the ball carrier and quickly closes gaps which makes it easier for his linebackers to flock to the ball. In a show of his impressive strength, he's often able to effortlessly throw around the lineman across from him and have a straight path to make the play. at 6'0" and 255 lbs he still possesses some quick feet that allow him to rush from the edge as well as from the nose tackle spot. Barrett is a player coaches should be watching closely through the 2024 season.      [player_tooltip player_id='1177578' first='Dasan' last='Ponce'] is a blocker's worst nightmare on the field; he's patient, quick, slippery, and an excellent tackler in the open field. Being that hard to block often leaves his opponents looking on in disbelief as he's making the play. Ponce's lateral quickness and high IQ make him that much more disruptive for offenses. Not only is he quick enough to react to misdirection and blow up the play, but he's smart enough to rarely ever get fooled by these attempts. Ponce plays incredibly physically and is usually setting the tone for his defense, as well as making sure the opposing running back has a long night.      Baylor Paden quite simply has a nose for the football. He follows the flow of the offense so effortlessly that he frequently ends up being right in the hole as it opens up. It's not just the run game that Paden affects, his football smarts show in pass coverage too where he's often feeling the crossing routes develop around him while reading the quarterback's eyes. Truly highlighting how impactful Paden is as a player: in last year's game against Cibola, Paden finished the game with 19 total tackles, 2 for a loss, a sack, and an interception. Paden is a player who's already earned his way onto some big boards after his sophomore season, and will be on many more by the end of his junior year.

It takes some serious skill to be able to adequately defend the amount of offensive talent found around Arizona high school football. We have Division 1 talent all across the state, and every week defenders are asked to go out there and shut them down. In this article, we're aiming to highlight some of the defenders who can do just that. These six athletes are in a position to make a significant impact on their teams in their junior season.