Dominant Defenders: Tidewater’s Top Defensive Stars to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>PRZ Virginia looks at some of the top defensive playmakers in the Tidewater area. This list includes a mix of both ranked and unranked players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297917' first='Magerald' last='Clark'] | Lake Taylor | 5-11 | 265 | DB | 2026</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clark concluded the regular season with an impressive 11 interceptions, a remarkable feat, especially considering he was returning from an ACL injury sustained during his sophomore year. Achieving this in just eight games highlights his exceptional performance. His versatility as a cornerback stands out, as he excels in covering both on the outside and as a nickel back. Taylor showcases excellent ball skills, consistently locating and tracking the football in the air. His ability to stay in phase with receivers puts him in prime positions to make impactful plays on the ball. While his coverage skills are evident, seeing more highlights showcasing his ability to defend against the run would be beneficial.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is both the No. 39 overall athlete and the No. 224 overall player in the state of Virginia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">blessed to have finished the season with 10 pics in only 8 games i played due to Acl injury back in my sophomore year 🙏<a href="https://twitter.com/coachyoyo_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachyoyo_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/coachsbarnette?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachsbarnette</a> <a href="https://t.co/p8DMRX0hBP">pic.twitter.com/p8DMRX0hBP</a></p>&mdash; Magerald (Geezy) Clark (@MageezyC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MageezyC/status/1855290545314152697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1231281' first='Trey' last='Voskanyan'] | Indian River | 5-11 | 173 | DB | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Voskanyan capped off the regular season with ten impressive interceptions from his safety position. Safeties who can effectively cover slot receivers 1-on-1 always stand out, and Voskanyan demonstrates this skill beautifully. In one highlight, he showcases excellent technique in pass coverage, maintaining inside leverage against a receiver running a corner route. He doesn't bite on the inside fake, stays on top of the route, and ultimately secures the interception. His range in the centerfield is remarkable, consistently putting himself in a position to make impactful plays. His closing speed is evident, whether stopping the run or tackling receivers after the catch, minimizing yards after contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaylen Hatton | Kempsville | 6-0 | 195 | DB | 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hatton wrapped up the regular season with an impressive nine interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. The first half of his highlights showcases his discipline in coverage from the safety position, consistently staying deeper than the deepest receiver. He can intercept passes in multiple ways: stepping in front of receivers, outjumping opponents, and tracking down overthrown balls. Hatton excels at reading quarterbacks' eyes and anticipating where the football will go. To enhance his highlight reel, including more pass breakups and run-defense plays earlier in the video, alongside the interceptions, would be beneficial. His impressive ball skills and sharp instincts allow him to quickly recognize plays and position himself perfectly to make impactful contributions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is rated as both the No. 23 overall defensive back and the No. 150 overall prospect in his class from the state of Virginia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“ once a chief always a chief”❤️💙<br>Finished the season off with 10 INT 2 for a touchdown💯‼️<a href="https://twitter.com/KempsvilleFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KempsvilleFB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DCherry55?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DCherry55</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/_CoachMajors_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@_CoachMajors_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CozWon?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CozWon</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LHRubama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LHRubama</a> <a href="https://t.co/5kREOqNhw7">pic.twitter.com/5kREOqNhw7</a></p>&mdash; Jaylen Hatton (@JaylenHatton9) <a href="https://twitter.com/JaylenHatton9/status/1857826625292808684?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='193641' first='Jerome' last='Brown'] | Lake Taylor | LB | 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> Brown concluded the regular season with an impressive stat line, recording seven interceptions—one of which he returned for a touchdown—and 115 total tackles. He showcases physicality and explosiveness from his linebacker position, consistently delivering impactful tackles in the run game. As a blitzer, Brown excels at pressuring quarterbacks and disrupting passing plays, demonstrating a second gear that allows him to close in and finish with authority. His production highlights his value as a defensive playmaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first few minutes of his highlight reel include a mix of offensive and defensive plays. To maximize his appeal to college recruiters, creating a defense-focused highlight film would better showcase his strengths and abilities on that side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is rated as both the No. 21 overall linebacker and the No. 170 overall prospect in his class from the state of Virginia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zalen Smith | Norcom | 6-0 | 160 | DB | 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith wrapped up the regular season with seven interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. In the opening defensive play of his highlight reel, he demonstrates excellent technique from his cornerback position, maintaining outside leverage, staying deep, and intercepting an overthrown pass. Later in the reel, he showcases strong zone coverage skills by holding proper depth to prevent receivers from getting behind him. As he finalizes his season highlights, it would be great to see more defensive plays added further to emphasize his impact on that side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First round of playoffs film 🐾<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AGTG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AGTG</a> <a href="https://t.co/YarHO8So2J">pic.twitter.com/YarHO8So2J</a></p>&mdash; Zalen “ Prince” Smith (@ZalenSmith2) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZalenSmith2/status/1858315524255703405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 18, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->