2026 Rankings Update: Defensive Newcomers 

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Breaking down some of the new names in Prep Redzone Nevada's updated 2026 rankings on the defensive side of the ball. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1576441"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67807cb01342e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Campbell proved to be a versatile piece of the Arbor View front-seven this season. The 6'2"/200 LB totaled 63 tackles and 7 sacks as a junior. Showed some promising twitch, power and technique as an edge rusher and could end up developing into a future EDGE prospect. Generates speed to power, uses his leverage and hand placement to drive OTs off the spot and shows the quickness and flexiblity to turn the corner. Attacks gaps and sticks ball-carriers in the lane as an off-ball defender. Campbell brings great upside as a front-seven disruptor heading into the offseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Finished the season with 63 tackles, 7 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. <a href="https://twitter.com/iamcoachMB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@iamcoachMB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/bnd4grtns?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bnd4grtns</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/1CAGaines?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@1CAGaines</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachNorris34?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachNorris34</a> <a href="https://t.co/hWY3QpwelQ">pic.twitter.com/hWY3QpwelQ</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1576441' first='Rocky' last='Campbell'] (@RockyCampbell52) <a href="https://twitter.com/RockyCampbell52/status/1862619086506594510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 29, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1579326"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67807cb01349c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Templeton put his name on the 2026 radar as one of the more underrated junior DBs in Nevada this season. The 6'1"/175 CB racked up 30 tackles and 2 INTs for Palo Verde this fall. Makes athletic plays in coverage with his burst, quickness and twitchy reactions. Closes on the ball with speed and efficiency and possesses the agility to keep pace with quick-footed WRs out of the slot. Templeton offers tremendous upside in both his technical and athletic skillsets with potential to develop into one of the top cover-corners in the state over the coming months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17745078/672b065f866dd4a803df2fcf' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67807cb013649"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1578272"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67807cb01369d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vaughn was a new addition to the 2026 rankings after a breakout season for the D-4 state champs, Centennial. The talented junior CB finished with 3 INTs and 6 PBUs in the fall. Vaughn's a smooth athlete on the perimeter that plays with high-level instincts and anticipation in zone coverage. Creates turnovers and deflections with natural ball skills, can read route progressions and play development, and doesn't hesitate to tackle in the flats. Vaughn's an up-and-coming defensive playmaker that's flying under the radar coming into the offseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Check out my JUNIOR SEASON HIGHLIGHTS. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/back2back?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#back2back</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/sisu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#sisu</a> ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/DJ_Campbell26?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DJ_Campbell26</a>⁩ <a href="https://twitter.com/coachdaynediaz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@coachdaynediaz</a>⁩ ⁦⁩ <a href="https://t.co/HZeIC11KYc">https://t.co/HZeIC11KYc</a>.</p>&mdash; Dominique “Dom” Vaughn (@DomVaughnFB) <a href="https://twitter.com/DomVaughnFB/status/1863484511646052440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1578255"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67807cb0136ea"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Blinkinsop checks in as a top-5 EDGE prospect in Prep Redzone's latest update to the Nevada 2026 rankings. The 6'1"/210 junior racked up 50 total tackles, 9 sacks and 15 TFLs this season. Strong, athletic defender on the edge that can hold up against the run and makes good use of his eyes, hands and leverage when setting the edge. Flashes his developing technique and hand usage as a rusher and can track down QBs behind the LOS with his motor to the football. Blinkinsop's taken several Mountain West visits over the past month and could see his stock heat up soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Junior season highlights! Sad it's all over, but extremely glad I got to do it with the people that I did!<br>-9 sacks <br>-15 TFL <br>-50 Total tackles <a href="https://twitter.com/thompsonsctg?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@thompsonsctg</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JOHNSON35BOY?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JOHNSON35BOY</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Helu_CoachHeat?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Helu_CoachHeat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachJackson16?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachJackson16</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/csurecruiting?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@csurecruiting</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNV?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNV</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NevadaRecruits?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NevadaRecruits</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ZReyes_PRZ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZReyes_PRZ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheTop5s_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheTop5s_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/rgj?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rgj</a>…</p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1578255' first='Isaiah' last='Blinkinsop'] (@Blink_011908) <a href="https://twitter.com/Blink_011908/status/1856166116730778100?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1576413"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67807cb013730"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Smith was one of the most productive DTs in the state this season with 57 tackles, 6 sacks and 15 TFLs. Powerful athlete at 6'2"/260 that can explode into the backfield to create negative plays. Makes effective use of strong hands as a block-shedder and can plug interior lanes with his ability to get off blocks. Shoots his hands through would-be blockers and shows his lateral mobility beating slower moving Cs and OGs. Smith established himself as one of the top interior run defenders to keep an eye on moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17952569/674b747e81389f62edd93e4e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67807cb013758"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1579696"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67807cb01379d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Crockett led the 4A state runner-ups in tackles this season with 70 total from his ILB spot. Physical run defender at 6'/190 that likes to attack downhill and shows his athleticism dropping into coverage. Patient with his run-reads and shows good instincts in coverage over the middle of the field, but could improve his lateral speed and agility heading into his senior season. Crockett will be a player to watch as one of the top returners for Canyon Springs in 2025. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18026534/67284faebf56bc53d1df2258' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6780929b0d6a6"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->