Grading the 2026 Defensive Position Groups

We're in week 2 of our 2026 spring rankings update and while we'll have positional breakdowns of all the defensive positions this week, we'll also have periodic one-off pieces, ideas we've tossed around as a staff to include more players and give more unique looks at the rising senior class. Here, I'm taking an idea from our friends at Prep Redzone Illinois.   I'm grading position group based on depth, top-end talent, number of players at that position within the top 100, 200, and 300 overall recruits, and by comparing the groups to past classes. Monday, I looked at <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/grading-each-2026-offensive-position/">five offensive positions</a>. Here, I'm looking at the four main defensive position groups. Which defensive position group will get the highest grade?   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Grading the 2026 Defensive Position Groups</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Interior Defensive Line: A-</h3>   When compared to some of the other position groups, this interior defensive line group doesn't necessarily stand above, but it's deep and has some serious top-end talent. Those two factors push this group into the A-range.   Frankly, the NIL premium Power Four teams are paying for talented, experienced defensive tackles in the transfer portal far exceeds the position's importance on the field. It's not that interior defensive linemen aren't important, it's that teams shouldn't be paying as much for rotational defensive linemen as they do for starting offensive tackles or star wide receivers.   Teams are overpaying because they can't find talented interior defenders. So, this group being on par with some of the more easily recruited positions is a testament to its talent.   I have nine defensive tackles with Power Four grades, including Havelock's [player_tooltip player_id='612252' first='Christopher' last='Bispham'] who could be the steal of the recruiting cycle. We also have 14 IDLs in the top 120 overall.   The class is balanced too. It's not just undersized speed rushers down the rankings. Guys like Hickory's [player_tooltip player_id='1110030' first='Rahshad' last='Swinton'] and Christ School's [player_tooltip player_id='1662149' first='Exzavier' last='Burns'] are mammoth run-stuffers. Burns is an FCS guy who has the academics to play at almost any school willing to recruit him, and has a skill set that's hard to find at the FCS level. Swinton just doesn't have the raw sack numbers, but has a tantalizing athletic profile.   Overall, colleges have endured a cold streak of talented interior defenders, but this class could change that trend.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Edge: C</h3>   The edge class is the toughest grade I've had to make. On one hand, it's clearly the best position group in the 2026 class for the Power Four level. We have eight clear Power Four grades including five players who are being recruited by 2024 College Football Playoff teams.   On the other, the Group of Five and high FCS levels are a kind of wasteland right now, with only one or two players in that range. That being said, Middle Creek's [player_tooltip player_id='1663952' first='Davis' last='Prichard'] and Northwest Guilford's [player_tooltip player_id='1130290' first='Rob' last='Lange'] have profiles that suggest they haven't reached their ceilings. Both have gotten bigger and faster this offseason and are personal scouting favorites of mine. It wouldn't surprise me to see them rise in the rankings. But, doing that would also hurt the lower D1 depth of this class.   If you're looking for a couple of "off-the-radar" guys who could make some noise at FCS camps this summer, Tarboro's [player_tooltip player_id='1408773' first='Tyler' last='Powell'] and even watchlist guy [player_tooltip player_id='1615609' first='Semaj' last='Robinson'] from Independence could blow up once they get on the camp scene.   I leaned toward the lower grade mostly because we're focused the most on non-Power Four prospects, but don't ignore the top of the class. Plenty of those <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/05/scouting-the-top-of-the-class-top-10-2026-defenders/">defenders have elite potential.</a>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Linebacker: A</h3>   I'm higher on this linebacker class than colleges seem to be, and that's reflected in this grade. It's deep at every level, with multiple future stars at the Power Four, Group of Five, FCS, and D2/D3 levels. The only complaint I have is that a few of these guys might be scheme-specific players.   However, that really doesn't bother me. I don't judge players by the lengths of their offer lists, but on their college potential wherever they play. Players can only go to one school at a time, so if a guy has one offer, but it's a good schematic fit, it will produce excellent results.   I really like the high-FCS/low-FBS level of this group. Whether it's the speedy [player_tooltip player_id='1600424' first='Jaylen' last='King'] who excels in pass coverage, or the old-school [player_tooltip player_id='205617' first='Luke' last='Faulkner'], whose run fits are the best we've scouted in years, there's somebody for all schools here. Accordingly, some unsolicited advice to the guys in this linebacker class: make sure to have in-depth conversations with the coaches recruiting you about their vision for you on their defense. Go to a place that maximizes your skill set.   I like a lot of guys who haven't gotten much recruiting traction. FCS coaches looking for some talented linebackers should take a look at guys like Franklinton's [player_tooltip player_id='854270' first='Jonathan' last='Manson'], Fuquay-Varina's [player_tooltip player_id='1129856' first='Jackson' last='Bordelon'], and Hickory Ridge's [player_tooltip player_id='271557' first='Chase' last='McCullough']. Again, they all have very different skill sets, but it's likely somebody in our rankings fills a need.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Back: B</h3>   I've struggled so much with this defensive back class.   There's a ton of raw athleticism in this group, but that also means there's a lot of raw technique in this group. At various camps, I've seen more holding, slips, and missed opportunities than I've seen in the past. Some of that is a testament to the strong receiver class, but it's also indicative of a lot of guys who are asked to step up and defend the run more than they're asked to sit in man coverage.   It also means colleges will be getting moldable prospects with plenty of raw talent.   I can't talk about this class without mentioning that Hough's [player_tooltip player_id='284097' first='Samari' last='Matthews'] is elite. Truly elite corners have a certain look on film, and Matthews has it. He gets bucketed in with guys I've scouted in the past like Jaycee Horn and Derek Stingley. North Carolina hasn't had a guy at that level in a long time.   One storyline I'm tracking is [player_tooltip player_id='935584' first='Kenneth' last='Dula IV']'s transition to safety. Coming off an injury, he's learning a new position, but one that could really help his stock, assuming he stays healthy.   Guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1332108' first='Ricky' last='Myers Jr']. and [player_tooltip player_id='1368142' first='Jeremiah' last='Deese'] intrigue me, but I feel like I don't have a complete feel for this class yet. The summer should give me a better idea of the defensive backs group and its potential.   How'd I do? If you have thoughts on my grades or individual players, feel free to reach out on Twitter (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>).

We're in week 2 of our 2026 spring rankings update and while we'll have positional breakdowns of all the defensive positions this week, we'll also have periodic one-off pieces, ideas we've tossed around as a staff to include more players and give more unique looks at the rising senior class. Here, I'm taking an idea from our friends at Prep Redzone Illinois.