#TN2027 Spring Stock Risers (Defense)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">As we head into summer college camp season, these rising junior prospects have seen their football stocks surge over these off-season months, placing themselves as some of the best defensive players in the state for our #TN2027 class.</h2>     (DT) [player_tooltip player_id='1527497' first='Jamarkus' last='Pittman'] - MASE   - Over the last few months, Pittman has quickly gone from an unknown to a national recruit by landing offers from the likes of Arkansas, Florida, Florida St., Mississippi St., Oklahoma St., Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin and others. He is far from done too as I expect just about every Power Four program to get involved sooner than later because discovering defensive tackles with Pittman's size and his ability to move are hard to find. This Memphis based prospect is still coming into his own, so his best football is ahead of him, especially if he maintains his weight while continuing to enhance his skill set. Sky's the limit for Pittman and I expect his stock to continue soaring over the next year.    - - - - -    (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1590238' first='Ryland' last='Harris'] - Germantown   - Since arriving in Tennessee and at Germantown High School, Harris has started to see his recruiting stock take off and he is just seeing the beginning stages of what will be a long process that potentially see's plenty of P4 and D1 schools get involved. Transferring over from Missouri, this 6'3 defensive end has the look and feel of an eventual college pass rusher that shows strong athletic traits on film, including shedding blocks and chasing down the ball. Harris is an active ball player that could stand up as an edge rusher as well. He does need to continue adding more size while learning the game but I like the upside here and his potential to breakout this coming Fall season.    - - - - -    (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1286232' first='Kyle' last='Nabrotzky'] - Brentwood    - There are still plenty of levels to go for this Williamson County defensive end but Nabrotzky's stock is starting to take off by landing offers this spring from Eastern Ky, Miami Ohio and UT-Martin while receiving interest from many others. This 6 '5 245 rising junior is dripping with potential that could honestly be developed at several positions but for my scouting eyes, I like Nabrotsky as an edge setting defensive end. The Bruins big man is a good athlete that shows good bend and burst off the ball along with nice closing speed. Nabrotsky is still forming his body and learning the game but the tools are there to become a force this Fall that opposing O-linemen have a hard time blocking.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KyleNabrotzky/status/1893401408793108625 </div></figure>   - - - - -    (Edge) [player_tooltip player_id='1591156' first='Zeke' last='Walkup'] - Cannon Co.    - If you hail from a small town program here in Tennessee but yet you are already landing offers before your junior season, you must be good with some strong potential. That's exactly who Walkup is and he is just scratching the surface of his abilities. Over these off-season months, the Lions edge rusher has seen his stock start to go in a positive direction by landing offers from Eastern Ky and Morgan St. while receiving interest from many others. What makes this Mid-TN product so exciting is his frame, length, size and ability to get off the line fast. Walkup has excellent bend to get around the edge along with closing speed to chase down the quarterback. Tons of development is left for Walkup but the talent and upside are certainly there.    - - - - -    (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='903033' first='Omarii' last='Sanders'] - FRA    - Probably nobody in the state has seen their stock soar more than this Nashville area defender that brings a versatile skill set to the defensive side of the ball. Sanders is a big and athletic prospect that has played a lot of snaps at safety but he's quickly growing into a linebacker that can work close to the line or play in coverage. College coaches see the big time potential from Sanders as he's landed offers from the likes of Florida St., Georgia, Indiana, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ohio St., Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and many more. This is a national level recruit that has tons of upside for the big stage of college football. His stock will only continue to grow over the next year where Sanders could turn into one of the top linebacker prospects in the country.    - - - - -    (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1305810' first='J.P.' last='Peace'] - Knox. West   - It's been a slow but steady recruiting process thus far for Peace but I think he is on the verge of breaking out in a big way, especially after his most recent offer from Tennessee. The Rebels junior linebacker has excellent physical traits that could work both in the middle or occasionally off the edge, rushing the passer. Peace is an athletic guy that moves well, showing the speed needed to contend on the Power Four level. So far through his recruitment, Peace has added opportunities from App. State, Florida St., Marshall, South Florida, Southern Miss and Tennessee. Expect tons of offers to come his way over the next several months and continue establishing Peace as one of the top defensive prospects from the #TN2027 class.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/JPPeace08/status/1921046496864035019 </div></figure>   - - - - -    (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1294979' first='Jarrell' last='Chandler'] - Knox. Halls   - Yet to play his junior season, Chandler already sports college size at 6'3 200 pounds and the versatility to play a few roles across the secondary. His size alone speaks towards the Red Devils junior handling safety but he is athletic enough to give you a few snaps at corner while possibly having the potential to play “Star” on the college level. Interest has been heavy for Chandler as he has picked up offers from the likes of Arkansas, Indiana, Louisville, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin and others. This is a hard hitting, rangy safety that should continue to see his stock move into a positive direction after work this summer in camps and an expected big year in the Fall.    - - - - -    (S) [player_tooltip player_id='1162582' first='Jaden' last='Butler'] - Haywood   - It's been a fast rise on the recruiting scene for this West Tennessee defender that holds interest and offers from a ton of Power Four and D1 schools that is quietly making Butler a national level prospect. So far with his recruitment, Butler has landed offers from the likes of Arkansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Purdue, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and more along with heavy interest coming from others. The Tomcats junior has the physical traits and game play to potentially become our top rated defensive back for the #TN2027 class. He is tall, long and rangy with a quick first step and closing speed. Butler is uber talented with a high ceiling that could develop over time into one of the better safety prospects in the country.    - - - - -    (S) [player_tooltip player_id='378857' first='Hudson' last='Fuqua'] - Riverdale   - Emerging this off-season as potentially one of the better safety prospects we have in our rising junior class, Fuqua is an athletic guy with strong instincts that is building a great profile for himself when it comes to his recruitment. As we head into summer camp season, Fuqua has obtained offers from Arkansas, Indiana, Liberty, Mississippi St., Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and more while receiving plenty of interest from many others. Over time, I expect this Rutherford County safety to have over 20 plus offers with the opportunity to compete on the Power Four stage. Fuqua is highly talented and still coming into his own, so his best football days are ahead of him with the upside to become a multi-year starter in college.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/06/9-Hudson-Fuqua.jpg?w=1017" alt="" class="wp-image-1298887" style="width:253px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1642438' first='Romel' last='Koon, Jr'] - Brentwood Academy   - One of the hottest prospects over the last few months from our #TN2027 class has been this 6 '1 defensive back that shows potential to handle the cornerback island on the collegiate level. Koon, Jr is an athletic, fluid mover that does need to pack on more weight but the raw tools to lockdown one side of the field is certainly there. College coaches see the potential with this Mid-TN product as Koon, Jr has landed offers thus far from Bowling Green, Florida St., Indiana, Maryland, SMU, Southern Miss and Troy. Many others are sniffing around, looking to extend offers, so expect to see this guy's stock continue to rise as we head into camp season and the Fall football year.    - - - - -  Five Other Stock Risers: (DT) [player_tooltip player_id='866750' first='Keilan' last='Neal'] - FRA, (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1318538' first='Roman' last='Jennings'] - Brentwood Acad., (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1666967' first='Akeem' last='Hunt'] - MASE, (LB/S) [player_tooltip player_id='1585726' first='Kenneth' last='Simon'] - Bearden, (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1605749' first='Jordan' last='Darren Djila'] - Baylor   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/zeke_tha_bllr/status/1922678273718292553 </div></figure>