2026 Sleeper Defenders

Jake Lemming

February 19, 2025 @ 11:52 AM

Don't sleep on these rising senior defenders! These guys were standouts on tape this fall and have made their way onto my radar. They're still flying under the radar from a college perspective but that could change here quickly. I believe each one of these guys has plenty of upside for the next level and are names to watch this offseason.   As always, If you have someone you think I need to see, please DM them to me on Twitter at @hsfbscout!   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   LB: Ryder Ribitzki, 6'4" 200, Glen Rose   Ryder has the vertical stature of an FBS inside linebacker, to go along with a frame that he should be able to fill out. He reads his keys then triggers almost instantly, he scrapes down the line with his pads square to the line of scrimmage and plays a downhill brand of football. He's got the body control to tackle in space, he's highly effective when used as a quarterback spy, and can easily slip second-level blocks.   DB: Ethan Brown, 6" 190, Tyler Legacy   Ethan shows outstanding anticipation, plus ball skills and the ability to jar the ball loose from prospective receivers. He's comfortable rolling up & tackling within the box, he takes good angles to the tackle and shows terrific closing speed. He's a hustler who will chase the football and has the build-up speed to hawk down ball carriers from behind.   LB: Eli Hammons, 6'2" 200, Canyon Lake   Eli is extremely physical when rerouting receivers, he plays with disciplined eyes and doesn't fall for play fakes. He can penetrate & cause disruption behind the line of scrimmage, he's a thumper on contact and uses his quickness to fight off down blocks at the point of attack. He's productive, can tackle out of awkward body positions, and will utilize the gator roll tackle when he's outleveraged.   DB: Jaxson Dozier, 5'10" 170, Denton Ryan   Jaxson plays mostly as a second-level defender, however, I think he'll kick up a level to strong safety at the next level. He's a consistent tackler who isn't afraid to stick his nose in the box. He plays bigger than his listed height and has natural instincts as a curl/flat defender.   LB: Brayden Daniel, 6" 205, Hutto   Brayden is a twitchy inside linebacker that wreaks havoc against both the run and pass. He's got the shake to make blockers miss at the point of attack, he plays with an edge, and has a high football IQ. I love the way this kid plays and think whoever gets him could come away with a steal.

Don't sleep on these rising senior defenders! These guys were standouts on tape this fall and have made their way onto my radar. They're still flying under the radar from a college perspective but that could change here quickly. I believe each one of these guys has plenty of upside for the next level and are names to watch this offseason.