2025 Rankings Update- Top Defensive Players on the Rise

Our new 2025 Rankings Update is live- and with that, we are looking at some of the new changes in our 2025 class!   Today, we are taking a look at some of our defensive prospects that have been rising in our Rankings!    [player_tooltip player_id='368913' first='Talib' last='Graham'] is a dominant EDGE/DE out of Daphne who played extremely well for their defensive front all of last fall. Graham is super disruptive and consistently finds ways into the opponent's backfields against the run and pass. He has a terrific first step, plays with a ton of speed, and has a motor that allows him to fly around and make plays throughout all four quarters. Against the run, Graham is great at setting the edge and getting tackles for loss- he's great at recognizing plays and consistently finds himself in the right position to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Against the pass, Graham is a highly effective pass rusher who utilizes a ton of different moves to generate pressure and take down the quarterback. Graham pieced together a really productive senior season last fall- ending the year with 43 total tackles (31 solo, 19 for loss), 7 sacks, and one fumble recovery. It's been awesome getting to watch Graham play, especially last year- he's going to be a force at Ole Miss the next few years. Be sure to check out his tape below!      [player_tooltip player_id='1339497' first='Dyllon' last='Williams']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/dyllon-williams/"></a> is an extremely talented safety prospect out of Demopolis who strengthened their secondary a ton over the past few seasons. It's an absolute blast watching a safety like Williams play- he is highly instinctual, has a ton of athleticism and coverage skills, and delivers some of the hardest hits you'll ever see. It's really impressive watching Williams maneuver around the field like he does, he does a terrific job tracking the quarterback's eyes and anticipating where he needs to be to make impact plays. Frequently against the pass, Williams defends over the top extremely well- he is constantly lurking and waiting patiently to strike, and when he does, he is sure to break up or intercept passes. Against the run, Williams is someone you do not want to face one-on-one- he hits like a truck and has some great pursuit skills that allow him to make plays from sideline to sideline. It's been great covering Williams and his development these last few years, get ready to watch him ball out at Kentucky! There's no doubt in my mind he will find the field sooner rather than later at the next level.      [player_tooltip player_id='1348489' first='Jamari' last='Johnson']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jamari-johnson-2/"></a> is a really talented DB out of Pell City who shut down nearly every opposing WR he faced last fall, constantly causing problems for opposing offenses. Johnson is super dependable in coverage- he uses his size and speed to consistently wear down and lock up wide receivers. It's really impressive watching Johnson make plays on the ball- he does a great job using his hands to break up and pick off passes In addition to his ball skills, Johnson does a great job in run support. He doesn't shy away from contact, does a great job tracking and pursuing after the ball carrier, and can deliver some devastating hits as well. Throughout last fall, Johnson recorded 23 total tackles (18 solo, one for loss) on the year- consistently making plays against some talented opponents. It's been a blast getting to watch and cover Johnson this last year- he's a seriously gifted DB and has put together some great tape you can see below. Be sure to watch Johnson at the next level, he's going to be an instant playmaker for Cincinnati when he gets on campus!      [player_tooltip player_id='1187451' first='Bailey' last='Abercrombie'] is a dominant defensive tackle prospect out of Moody who played extremely well all last season, solidifying himself as a top DL recruit in the state. Abercrombie had a great senior season last fall, consistently wreaking havoc on offensive lines all across the state. Against the run, Abercrombie is great at closing up gaps and making things difficult for the ball carrier- he does a great job shedding off blocks to get his hands onto the ball carrier and doesn't ever allow them to get any additional yards after contact. Abercrombie also has a variety of moves he uses to beat blockers and get into the backfield- he does a great job generating interior pressure on quarterbacks and is a constant threat to make plays every down. Abercrombie was a force at both Moody and Gardendale these last few years, and is now headed off to play at the next level. Be sure to keep track of him at Lousiville, he's sure to make some huge plays!      [player_tooltip player_id='1182848' first='Caleb' last='Pitts']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/caleb-pitts/"></a> is a really talented defensive end out of Auburn who completely dominated the line of scrimmage throughout his time there. Pitts stands at 6'3 260 and utilizes every bit of his size when he's matched up against smaller offensive linemen- he routinely overpowers them to get into the backfield and make plays regardless if they're passing or running the ball. Pitts has a great first step, aggressive hands, and a ton of power that he uses to drive back and bully offensive linemen. When playing against the run, Pitts can be found fighting through blocks to make some crucial tackles, and as a pass rusher, Pitts can provide consistent pressure and rack up sacks just as easily. Pitts put together a dominant senior season last fall- ending the year with 70 total tackles (25 for loss), 32 hurries, 12 sacks, 2 pass breakups and one forced fumble. It's been great covering Pitts these last few years- keep an eye on him as he heads to Appalachian State, he's sure to be an impact playmaker for their defense.

Our new 2025 Rankings Update is live- and with that, we are looking at some of the new changes in our 2025 class!