Prep Red Zone Combine Series Preview (Defense)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clayton, N.C.-</strong> <strong>Prep Red Zone Combine Series Heads to North Carolina – Defensive Talent Ready to Shine</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>The <strong>Prep Red Zone Combine Series</strong> rolls into North Carolina this <strong>Sunday, May 4th</strong>, with <strong>Clayton High School</strong> set to host some of the region's top rising football talent. This stop is part of a highly anticipated series giving high school athletes a platform to showcase their athleticism, skills, and potential in front of coaches, scouts, and the ever-growing Prep Red Zone network.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>As the buzz builds, athletes are preparing to make their mark — and none more so than the defensive standouts. From explosive edge rushers to lock-down corners, the defensive side of the ball is loaded with competitors looking to raise their stock and prove they belong among the elite in the class of 2025 and beyond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>I'll be <strong>on-site covering the defensive players</strong> throughout the camp, breaking down standout performances, eye-catching athleticism, and those under-the-radar prospects who demand attention. Leading up to the combine, I'll be previewing key names to watch, sleepers with breakout potential, and what to expect from each defensive position group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stay locked in — North Carolina has talent, and Sunday is their time to show it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1663952' first='Davis' last='Prichard'] Middle Creek High School OLB c/o 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1663952"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6816d89d295b2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1663952' first='Davis' last='Prichard']</strong><br><strong>Height/Weight</strong>: 6'3", 220 lbs<br><strong>Class</strong>: 2026<br><strong>Position</strong>: Outside Linebacker (OLB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1663952' first='Davis' last='Prichard'] is an elite defensive prospect with the size, athleticism, and football IQ to excel at the next level. At 6'3", 220 pounds, Prichard currently lines up primarily on the edge, where he wreaks havoc as a pass rusher. He tallied an impressive 13 sacks last season, showcasing his explosiveness off the snap, relentless motor, and ability to finish plays in the backfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>What sets Prichard apart, however, is that his game is far more versatile than the sack numbers suggest. He has the fluidity and awareness to transition into a more traditional outside linebacker role, where he can drop into coverage, set the edge against the run, and play in space. His combination of physical tools and instinctive play make him a dynamic, scheme-versatile defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Simply put, [player_tooltip player_id='1663952' first='Davis' last='Prichard'] is a special talent—one with the upside to develop into a difference-maker at the collegiate level and beyond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kenneth Dula Jordan Matthews High School DB c/o 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["935584"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6816d89d2961b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Kenneth Dula</strong><br><strong>School</strong>: Jordan Matthews (NC)<br><strong>Class</strong>: 2026<br><strong>Position</strong>: Defensive Back (DB) / Wide Receiver (WR)<br><strong>Current Ranking</strong>: #12 DB/WR (2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>Kenneth Dula is a dynamic two-way athlete who enters this weekend with a major opportunity to elevate his status into the top 10 rankings. Currently sitting at #12 among DB/WR prospects, Dula is poised to rise—especially if he continues to flash the elite playmaking ability that sets him apart.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>Primarily known for his skills at defensive back, Dula plays with exceptional instincts and ball skills. His experience as a part-time receiver only enhances his ability to read routes and attack the football in coverage. If it's thrown near him, odds are he's coming down with it. Whether it's jumping a route, high-pointing a contested ball, or baiting quarterbacks into mistakes, Dula is always a threat to flip the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With something to prove and the physical tools to back it up, Kenneth Dula is a name to watch closely—this weekend and beyond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1666240' first='Jacob' last='Bowen'] Athens Drive c/o 2026 DE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1666240"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6816d89d2966c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1666240' first='Jacob' last='Bowen']</strong><br><strong>School</strong>: Athens Drive (NC)<br><strong>Class</strong>: 2028<br><strong>Position</strong>: Defensive End (DE)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1666240' first='Jacob' last='Bowen'] is a name you'll want to remember. At nearly 6'3" and pushing 240 pounds, Bowen already possesses the frame and physical presence of a collegiate-level defensive lineman—an exceptional trait for a freshman. His size, combined with raw power and athletic upside, makes him one of the more intriguing young prospects in the 2028 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>What makes Bowen stand out isn't just his build—it's the potential that comes with it. He's still just scratching the surface of what he can become, and his development over the next couple of seasons could be special. If he continues on this trajectory, don't be surprised if he's a household name by the time his junior year rolls around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I'm especially excited to see Jacob in person at this upcoming camp. This is the kind of stage where high-ceiling prospects like him begin to separate from the pack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p><strong>Dominic Williams Jr Jacksonville High School c/o 2028 DE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["887866"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6816d89d296bc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='887866' first='Domonic' last='Williams Jr']. | Class of 2028 | DB | Jacksonville High School (NC)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>This will be my second time seeing [player_tooltip player_id='887866' first='Domonic' last='Williams Jr']. this offseason, and the growth in his game is undeniable. At our first encounter, he took home the <strong>Defensive Back MVP</strong>—a well-deserved honor that showcased his natural talent and competitive edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>Currently ranked as the <strong>#27 overall athlete in North Carolina</strong> and the <strong>#3 defensive back</strong>, Domonic is trending upward, and I fully expect him to climb both rankings soon. Every time I see him, one thing stands out: he's getting <strong>smoother in coverage and more aggressive at the point of attack</strong>. His confidence and physicality continue to elevate with each rep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Williams Jr. is a name to know in the 2028 class, and at this rate, he has all the tools to become <strong>the top defensive back in his classification</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1408773' first='Tyler' last='Powell'] Edge Tarboro High School c/o 2026 </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1408773"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6816d89d29707"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"><strong>Tyer Powell | Class of 2026 | EDGE/LB | Tarboro High School (NC)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>Tyer Powell might be the <strong>most intriguing athlete</strong> at the combine, in my opinion. Standing out with a rare blend of <strong>size, stats, and versatility</strong>, he has all the traits to play at the <strong>Power 4 level</strong>—particularly as a linebacker or edge rusher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"className":""} --> <p>What makes Powell even more impressive is that <strong>half of his production comes from playing quarterback</strong>, showing off his athleticism, football IQ, and playmaking ability. Whether it's under center or coming off the edge, he's an <strong>instant difference-maker</strong> on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I'm especially excited to see what he can do when he transitions to playing <strong>edge full-time</strong>. With his frame, motor, and instincts, Powell has the potential to become one of the top defenders in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->