2026 Watch List Risers: Interior Defensive Line

<p class="text-gray-700">The Acalanes standout is one of the top defenders across the Bay Area along the defensive line and had a breakout Junior season campaign for one of the better programs in the North Coast Section. He has a strong build, is stout against the run and creates immediate knock back inside while able to quickly shed blockers and plays with violent hands and proper leverage at the POA. He shows quick play and block recognition while able to change direction and collapse of pocket quickly/eat double teams and drive blocks without giving up ground. He is a good athlete for his size and should draw plenty of college interest through his senior year.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/adam_caicedo1/status/1857930423407620497 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Scrivens is a twitchy interior defender that is very athletic for his size. He has good hand violence off the ball and has athleticism that immediately stands out on his tape. Scrivens shows a variety of pass rush moves from the inside and has a powerful first step that covers ground quickly when collapsing the pocket up the middle. He is extremely physical at the point of attack and has natural bend in his stance while snapping out and winning with leverage and lower body power when taking on blockers. He shows quick play recognition and moves fluidly in space with plus change of direction abilities and closing speed. Scrivens is a unique athlete on the inside and projects as a snappy defensive tackle or nose at the next level.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/zion_scrivens/status/1867702748021674104 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Kirkpatrick is one of the more versatile and physically dominant players across the region, and has recently made the transfer to Norco from Ontario Christian this Spring. He can play on either side of the ball and is looking to be a nice steal for a college program moving forward. He plays with violent hands and good leverage at the POA while showing he can quickly create immediate knock-back and reset the line while able to take on double teams/drive blocks without giving up ground. He is stout against the run showing a quick lockout, strong base and is tough to move while also a high motor kid that shows quick block recognition and backside pursuit/two-gap abilities. He projects as either a nose/defensive tackle or a IOL at the next level, and has been flying under the radar after a very productive three years so far at the high school level. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BigKellanDaniel/status/1859257319067971786 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Taussig is one of the more disruptive pass rushers across the region and is looking to have a breakout season in 2025 for Carlsbad. He is quick twitched off the ball, shoots his hands quickly to create immediate vertical push back, and has a quick use of hands when rushing the passer with primary and secondary moves in his toolbox. He provides position versatility at the high school level either as an edge rusher or can even kick inside and play a 3-tech and anchor down against the run and use his leverage to get underneath blockers. He should see plenty of D3 interest through his senior season for Carlsbad and is a name to watch in the defensive line group in our Watch List. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TaussigWestin/status/1898920645133828410 </div></figure>