2026 Film Evals: Defensive Names to Know

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">In-depth evaluations of some of the incoming senior defensive prospects to know going into the 2025 season. </h2>    Ruterman is a technically sound CB who combines quick feet, sharp instincts, and a good understanding of coverage concepts to consistently stay in phase with receivers. He plays with excellent balance and short-area agility, allowing him to mirror routes with minimal wasted motion. 6'0” 180 lbs. he's got good size and length to be physical in coverage and as a tackler. His footwork is clean and efficient enabling him to transition smoothly out of his backpedal and drive on throws with burst. Rarely caught out of position due to his disciplined eyes and strong routes recognition skills. His high-level technique and processing give him the edge in both coverage and support. Finished the 2024 season with 58 tackles and 10 PBU.      Walters possesses tons of raw potential with a highly projectable frame at 6'5” 200 lbs. His long and lean frame gives him great growth potential to add mass making him an intriguing upside speed-based edge rusher. Natural movement skills and flexibility allow him to slip past blockers and bend around the edge with speed. He shows quick first-step explosiveness off the snap and uses his reach effectively to maintain separation and keep linemen off his body. Though still developing functional strength and bulk, he plays hard and with active hands winning with athleticism and motor. Change of direction and lateral agility allow him to redirect smoothly and chase plays down from the backside. One to watch going into his senior year.      Carson is an explosive playmaker for the 4A state champions that contributed in all three phases as a junior. High football IQ with great instincts, anticipation, and play recognition skills to put himself in position to be a difference maker. Plays with good eye discipline to see route combinations and read the QB with speed and confidence allowing him to get an early break on the ball. Whether in single-high, split-safety, or box alignments, he plays fast without being reckless, showing a natural feel for spacing, angles, and timing. Disrupts plays at the catch point with good ball skills and timing. Shows good speed and range with plus reaction time to break. Racked up six interceptions with two returned for touchdowns in 2024.      Jackson is a stout, physical linebacker who plays with a downhill, attacking mentality thriving as a force inside the box. 6'0” 230 lbs. he carries a compact, muscular build that allows him to take on/shed blocks and explode through contact. He shows strong key and play diagnoses ability against the run being able to make quick decisive reads and see the flow of the play. His aggressive trigger and ability to close space before the play develops allows him to make plays at or behind the LOS, finished the 2024 season with 11 TFL and three sacks. Brings heavy thump as a tackler that drives through contact to be a violent finisher. Totaled 99 tackles as a junior and will continue to be a tone setter for the Queen Creek defense as a senior.      Kovach is an aggressive linebacker with an athletic 6'0” 210 lb. frame and a relentless, attacking style of play. Shows plus short area burst, closing speed, and redirect ability to be a sideline to sideline playmaker. Skillset and effectiveness in run support and when dropping into coverage gives him three down ability. Reads run/pass quickly and breaks on the ball downhill, often slipping through gaps before blockers can engage. His ability to shoot gaps and disrupt the timing of the offense stands out. Plays well in space and reacts quickly to perimeter run plays and short/intermediate passes. Good leverage and acceleration at the POA to bring strong contact as a tackler. High effort player that flies to the football. Expected to have another monster statistical season after racking up 121 tackles as a junior.