Five Outstanding Defensive Players from the Class of 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a plethora of talented players on the Defensive side of the ball in the Class of 2026 in Ohio. Here are five of those great players to keep an eye on this fall!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1024454"],"_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-6788fe6cdbf76"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Storm had an incredible Junior season where he made 90 Tackles, had 20 Sacks and added an interception. His outstanding play helped the Strongsville Mustangs to a 7-win season where they held opposing offenses to 15.2 points per game and advanced to the 2nd round of the playoffs. He lines up at OLB. Against the pass, he uses his great combination of play strength and athleticism to defeat the OL and plays with an excellent motor in pursuit before finishing up with a sack. Against the run, he shows very good quickness as he penetrates the LOS. He quickly reads run/pass and exhibits very good play speed, range and instincts before making the tackle behind the LOS for a TFL.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["576030"],"_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-6788fe6cdbfd9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tyrell played great as a Junior in 2024. His very good play helped the Benedictine Bengals to a 10-win season where they held opposing offenses to 13.6 points per game and advanced to the 3rd round of the playoffs. He lines up at DE. Against the pass, he fires off the ball and gets under the pads of the OT before disengaging. He shows good quickness in pursuit and forces the QB to pass the ball earlier than anticipated leading to an incompletion. Against the run, he shows very good football intelligence as he keys and diagnoses the play. He takes good angles in pursuit before making the tackle near the LOS.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["410677"],"_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-6788fe6cdc021"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">De'Mari played very well during his Junior season of 2024. His excellent play helped the Massillon Washington Tigers to a 10-win season where they advanced to the 3rd round of the playoffs and held opposing offenses to 12.2 points per game. He lines up at CB. Against the pass, he shows good play speed while in coverage and tracks the ball well in the air. He times his hands perfectly as he disrupts the trajectory of the ball for a PBU. Against the run, he shows good instincts as he takes the correct angle in pursuit and exhibits very good explosiveness as he delivers a big hit preventing a gain of significant yardage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1163063"],"_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-67891a9c101a9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kindall had a great Junior season in 2024 where he made 30 Tkl with 6 TFL and had 11 PBU with 2 INT. His great play helped the Maple Heights Mustangs to an 8-win season where they advanced to the 2nd round of the playoffs and held opposing offenses to 16.3 points per game. He plays as a CB and SS. Against the pass, he uses his good play speed to stay in phase and closes quickly on the ball. He displays very good hands as he makes the interception. Against the run, he does a good job of reading the play and plays with good leverage before making the tackle behind the LOS for a TFL. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["824947"],"_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-678a75198dab8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kyle played great as a Junior in 2024. His excellent play helped the Granville Blue Aces to a 9-win season where they held opposing offenses to 12.3 points per game. He lines up at MLB. Against the run, he displays very good football intelligence as he quickly reads run/pass. He takes excellent angles in pursuit and displays very good explosiveness as he delivers a powerful hit near the LOS preventing a gain of significant yardage. Against the pass, he reacts quickly to the ball being thrown and shows great range and closing speed before making the tackle preventing a first down. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->