The Next Wave: Scouting MD/DC's 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 2

Maryland and Washington, D.C.'s Class of 2026 is loaded with rising high school football talent eager to make their mark. We break down the skills, strengths, and potential of the state's top prospects through detailed film analysis.   [player_tooltip player_id='808909' first='Hakim' last='Satterwhite'] | 6-2 | 180 | CORNERBACK | ST. JOHN'S | D.C.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/IMG_1165.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1611272" style="aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='808909' first='Hakim' last='Satterwhite'], a 6'2", 180-pound cornerback out of St. John's College in D.C., is a standout defensive prospect in the Northeast, commanding offers from over 20 top programs, including Penn State, Maryland, Oregon, and Notre Dame. His film showcases his exceptional versatility, football smarts, and physicality. Satterwhite demonstrated his anticipation and ball skills during quarter coverage in one play by jumping a route for an interception. His ability to transition from zone to man coverage is highlighted on another play when he jams a receiver at the line, diagnoses the slot route developing into the flat, and capitalizes with a pick-six.   Satterwhite's athleticism and speed are evident on a corner blitz, where he pressures the quarterback and secures a sack. His instincts shine on another play in cover three, where he reads a three-step drop, closes on a slant route from seven yards off, and nearly picks off another pass. Satterwhite's strong skills in press coverage are evident as he jams receivers at the line, disrupts their timing, and locks them down deep, as shown when he forces an incompletion down the sideline.   Satterwhite is disruptive in coverage and effective in run support, displaying physicality as a tackler. His ability to excel in man, zone, and blitz situations, combined with his knack for jamming receivers and reading plays, shows why he is among the most sought-after defensive backs in the 2026 recruiting class.   [player_tooltip player_id='1223560' first='Sean' last='Johnson'] | 6-2 | 190 | CORNERACK | ARCHBISHOP SPALDING | MD   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/sean-johnson-websie-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1611277" style="aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1223560' first='Sean' last='Johnson'], a 6'2", 190-pound cornerback from Archbishop Spalding in Maryland, is a rising prospect whose recruitment has gained significant momentum recently. Johnson has firmly positioned himself as a coveted recruit with over 10 FBS offers, including notable programs such as Boston College, Florida State, Maryland, Michigan State, Wake Forest, and Wisconsin. His skill set is built around versatility and physicality, and he excels in pass defense and is a reliable run-stopper. Johnson's ability to defend against edge runs and his toughness in run support makes him a well-rounded and impactful defender.   Johnson's size and frame give him an advantage in press coverage, where his physicality disrupts opposing receivers and limits their progress. His fluid hip movement enables him to transition seamlessly in coverage, making him effective in both man and zone schemes. While there are areas for refinement, such as maintaining a consistent pad level, these minor adjustments are easily correctable with coaching. Overall, Johnson's combination of size, technique, and athleticism makes him an attractive prospect to college programs looking to improve their secondary.   [player_tooltip player_id='1313283' first='Amauri' last='Polydor'] | 6-0 | 170 | CORNERBACK | MT. ZION PREP | MD [player_tooltip player_id='1313283' first='Amauri' last='Polydor'], a 6'0", 170-pound cornerback from Mt. Zion Prep in Maryland, has emerged as a standout defensive back with offers from Michigan State, South Carolina, Syracuse, and Virginia Tech. Polydor's skill set is highly evident in his ability to thrive in various coverage schemes, particularly in Cover 3 alignments, where his instincts, technical precision, and playmaking ability shine.   Polydor has repeatedly demonstrated his ball-hawking skills by reading the quarterback's intentions and capitalizing on underthrown or contested passes. For example, his interception and 90-yard return for a touchdown highlights his ability to read the seam route, anticipate the play, and turn defense into offense. In another play, Polydor showed his ability to stay above the top on a post pattern and win a 50/50 ball. He ended up returning it for over 60 yards.   On another play, Polydor's ability to maintain leverage is showcased against a fade route, where he stayed deep, leveraged his positioning, and converted another interception into a 50-yard return. In another play, he displays strong situational awareness, reading the quarterback's eyes against trip formations and making a well-timed jump on a seam route for another interception.   In red-zone scenarios, Polydor's press coverage skills are displayed with his ability to jam receivers, maintain inside leverage, and disrupt passes, whether breaking up a pass in the end zone or reacting to a slant route in off-man coverage.   Polydor's ability to anticipate plays, react quickly, and convert turnovers into impactful plays makes him a dynamic presence on the field. His instincts, polished technique, and playmaking ability make him a prospect that more P4 schools need to take a closer look at.   [player_tooltip player_id='401997' first='Destin' last='Mitchell'] | 6-3 | 235 | EDGE | CONCORDIA PREP | MD   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/01/IMG_0202.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1611279" style="aspect-ratio:16/9;object-fit:cover" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='401997' first='Destin' last='Mitchell'], a 6-foot-3, 235-pound prospect from Concordia Prep in Maryland, demonstrates impressive versatility as both a pass-catcher and blocker. His ability to line up in multiple positions, including tight end, H-back, and wide receiver, showcases his value as a hybrid player.   Mitchell's physicality and ball skills in the red zone allow him to win 50-50 battles, as seen in his fade route touchdown in one of his highlights. He excels as a short-to-intermediate route target, using his size to exploit soft spots in zone coverage. One play in his highlights shows this: he catches a pass on a seam route catch over two defenders. There's another play where he catches a pass on a crossing pattern and breaks two tackles for additional yardage.   Mitchell is equally effective as a blocker, securing the edge and driving defenders out of the play to spring running backs for significant gains. Improving his overall speed, quickness, and explosiveness would enhance his ability to separate from defenders and increase his impact as a pass-catcher. It's worth noting that he is also a solid edge defender on defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='377575' first='Jireh' last='Edwards'] | 6-2 | 195 | SAFETY | ST. FRANCES ACADEMY | MD [player_tooltip player_id='377575' first='Jireh' last='Edwards'], a 6'2", 195-pound safety from St. Frances Academy in Maryland, is a highly sought-after prospect with over 20 offers from top programs such as Auburn, Georgia, Oregon, Tennessee, and Texas A&M. His skill set makes him one of the most versatile safety prospects in the 2026 recruiting class.   Edwards excels at playing near the line of scrimmage, where his ability to diagnose plays quickly and react decisively sets him apart. He showcases an impressive knack for shooting gaps and stopping ball carriers in their tracks, often for losses, as evidenced by his plays in the red zone and against running backs behind the line of scrimmage. His physicality and hard-hitting nature are consistently evident, whether he's making tackles in the open field or delivering punishing hits near the line.   In coverage, Edwards demonstrates the agility and instincts to handle different types of pass-catchers. He can match up effectively against slot receivers and tight ends, showing the ability to press and recover quickly when beaten on routes, as seen in his recovery on a slant to break up the pass during one play. Edwards' zone coverage awareness is equally impressive; he reads quarterbacks well, dropping back and disrupting passes in the seam. His cornerback-like coverage skills and linebacker-like physicality against the run make him an elite all-around defensive back.   Edwards' elite closing speed and physicality make him a true enforcer on the field. His ability to "drop the hammer" on opponents intimidates and shifts momentum during games. Whether defending the pass or stopping the run, he consistently impacts plays with versatility and explosiveness. Overall, Edwards is a dynamic safety prospect whose combination of instincts, physicality, and athleticism makes him a standout and a highly sought-after player for top college programs.   Other articles to read   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-souther-maryland-skills-players-to-know-part-1/">Southern Maryland  2025 Season Players to Know - Part 1</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/meet-some-of-the-iacs-offensive-stars-in-the-2026-class-pt-1/">Meet some of the IAC's offensive stars in the 2026 Class – Pt . 1</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-1/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 1</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-2/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar - Pt. 2</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-d-c-2027-prospects-already-on-the-radar-pt-3/">Maryland/D.C. 2027 prospects already on the radar – Pt. 3</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/2025-season-western-maryland-skill-players-to-know-part-1/">2025 Season: Western Maryland Skill Players to Know – Part 1</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-1/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 1</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-2/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations – Part 2</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/maryland-4a-footballs-next-wave-2026-evaluations-part-3/">Maryland 4A Football's Next Wave: 2026 Evaluations - Part 3</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-next-wave-scouting-md-dcs-2026-class-film-review-pt-1/">The Next Wave: Scouting MD/DC's 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 1</a>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/01/the-next-wave-scouting-md-dcs-2026-class-film-review-pt-2/">The Next Wave: Scouting MD/DC's 2026 class: Film Review Pt. 2</a>

Maryland and Washington, D.C.'s Class of 2026 is loaded with rising high school football talent eager to make their mark. We break down the skills, strengths, and potential of the state's top prospects through detailed film analysis.