Preseason 4A All State 1st & 2nd Team- Defense

The Washington 4A Preseason All-State team is structured to highlight those individuals who project to be the most valuable on their individual teams. It is NOT a list with just the top recruits. Instead of honorable mention picks you will see extended 1st & 2nd team selections. Also referenced will be the Offensive & Defensive POY candidates.    Please note that this is not an all-conference breakdown, so it will be much more difficult to make this team when incorporating the entire state. Check it..         Defensive POY Candidates (#1-4)       1.[player_tooltip player_id='402789' first='Derek' last='Colman-Brusa'] 26' DE Kennedy Catholic   2.[player_tooltip player_id='693687' first='David' last='Kuku'] 25' CB Kamiakin    3.[player_tooltip player_id='693691' first='Nikko' last='Speer'] 25' LB Camas    4.[player_tooltip player_id='723691' first='Luke' last='Webb'] 25' Camas          Returning 4A POY [player_tooltip player_id='693687' first='David' last='Kuku'] will once again have the inside track on POY honors after committing to Washington St. a few months back. That said as I would expect top ranked 2026 recruit [player_tooltip player_id='402789' first='Derek' last='Colman-Brusa'] to be a favorite for the award, after putting up one of the most ridiculous stat lines nationwide among DE's last season. As a sophomore he accounted for 75 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks.    Much like Kennedy Catholic, I expect Camas to be in 4A title contention with returning GSHL Defensive POY [player_tooltip player_id='693691' first='Nikko' last='Speer'] and Washington St. commit [player_tooltip player_id='723691' first='Luke' last='Webb'] leading the D. Both the Papermakers and Skyview have a real shot at making a title run.   Another big man who doesn't play for a traditional 4A power but could be dominant is [player_tooltip player_id='693846' first='Josiah' last='Asuega'] of South Kitsap. He has a stock which has shot the roof.   As everyone knows Yelm loses an unreal group of athletes to graduation and are moving up to the 4A level, but will return one of the top D lines in the state, with Boise St commit [player_tooltip player_id='928102' first='Jacob' last='Tracy'], DT [player_tooltip player_id='693697' first='Chris' last='Hauss'], and 2026 heavyweight wrestling state champ [player_tooltip player_id='928117' first='Jonah' last='Smith'] leading the way.   A pair of Washington commits will highlight the LB group, with #1 recruit [player_tooltip player_id='348147' first='Zaydrius' last='Rainey-Sale'] and [player_tooltip player_id='273753' first='Jonathan' last='Epperson Jr']. both hopeful to elevate their programs come playoff time.    [player_tooltip player_id='693768' first='Keagan' last='Howard'] of Lake Stevens will likely have another big season after being ranked among the state leaders in multiple statistical categories as a junior. His 127 tackles, with 27 tackles for loss, and 4 sacks, to go along with a state championship speak for itself.    DB's [player_tooltip player_id='726148' first='Zamarie' last='Tellez'] and [player_tooltip player_id='693693' first='Casey' last='Larson'] were the only players to earn 1st team all-state honors on both sides of the football.    Kennedy Catholic features the top secondary in the state with [player_tooltip player_id='726164' first='Joey' last='Thomas'] III, [player_tooltip player_id='945853' first='Landen' last='Kahai'], and [player_tooltip player_id='726151' first='Dante' last='Saladino'] representing. Eastern Washington has been doing a good job on the recruiting front and got a big commitment from Kahai. 2026 Safety Saladino is one of the top baseball players in the NW and could also be a major D1 recruit on the football field. He finished last season with 49 tackles and 6 INTs.    3* [player_tooltip player_id='726165' first='Jasiah' last='Denmark'] will lead an up-and-coming Puyallup team which will feature multiple high profile 27's including [player_tooltip player_id='1188082' first='Gecova' last='Doyal'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1188105' first='J'Isaiah' last='Mitchell'].          1ST TEAM DEFENSE         DL [player_tooltip player_id='402789' first='Derek' last='Colman-Brusa'] 26' Kennedy Catholic   DL [player_tooltip player_id='723691' first='Luke' last='Webb'] 25' Camas    DL [player_tooltip player_id='693846' first='Josiah' last='Asuega'] 25' South Kitsap    DL [player_tooltip player_id='928102' first='Jacob' last='Tracy'] 25' Yelm    DL [player_tooltip player_id='928117' first='Jonah' last='Smith'] 26' Yelm   LB [player_tooltip player_id='348147' first='Zaydrius' last='Rainey-Sale'] 25' Bethel    LB [player_tooltip player_id='693691' first='Nikko' last='Speer'] 25' Camas    LB [player_tooltip player_id='273753' first='Jonathan' last='Epperson Jr']. 25' Auburn Riverside   LB [player_tooltip player_id='936091' first='Colby' last='Johnson'] 26' Eastlake    LB [player_tooltip player_id='693768' first='Keagan' last='Howard'] 25' Lake Stevens   DB [player_tooltip player_id='693687' first='David' last='Kuku'] 25' Kennewick    DB [player_tooltip player_id='726148' first='Zamarie' last='Tellez'] 26' Federal Way    DB [player_tooltip player_id='945853' first='Landen' last='Kahai'] 25' Kennedy Catholic   DB [player_tooltip player_id='726165' first='Jasiah' last='Denmark'] 26' Puyallup    DB [player_tooltip player_id='693693' first='Casey' last='Larson'] 25' Woodinville   DB [player_tooltip player_id='726151' first='Dante' last='Saladino'] 26' Kennedy Catholic          2ND TEAM DEFENSE       DL [player_tooltip player_id='693697' first='Chris' last='Hauss'] 25' Yelm    DL [player_tooltip player_id='945862' first='Connor' last='Aney'] 25' Glacier Peak    DL [player_tooltip player_id='1136344' first='Logan' last='Knaevelsrud'] 25' Mount Si    DL [player_tooltip player_id='348167' first='Levi' last='Webb'] 25' Skyview    DL [player_tooltip player_id='584889' first='Sean' last='Ponce'] 25' Sumner    LB [player_tooltip player_id='348165' first='Hezachariah' last='PoChing'] 25' Skyview   LB [player_tooltip player_id='1165398' first='Austin' last='Gilvar'] 26' Sumner    LB [player_tooltip player_id='1095829' first='Braeden' last='Harvey'] 25' Mead    LB [player_tooltip player_id='1136314' first='Cooper' last='Macpherson'] 25' Chiawana   LB [player_tooltip player_id='1095831' first='Kaden' last='Hamlin'] 25' Skyview    DB [player_tooltip player_id='693683' first='Xavier' last='Ahrens'] 25' Curtis    DB [player_tooltip player_id='928074' first='Maurice' last='Williams'] 27' Yelm   DB [player_tooltip player_id='726164' first='Joey' last='Thomas'] III 26' Kennedy Catholic    DB [player_tooltip player_id='693728' first='Jayden' last='Rice-Claiborne'] 25' Curtis    DB [player_tooltip player_id='348164' first='Josiah' last='Paaga'] 25' Kennedy Catholic    DB [player_tooltip player_id='1136335' first='Bryson' last='Hodges'] 25' Eastlake   DB [player_tooltip player_id='1095833' first='Micah' last='Robison'] 25' Skyview    DB [player_tooltip player_id='348162' first='Seanje' last='Finister'] 25' Puyallup