2026 Rankings: Grading Defensive Position Groups

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that we have dived into every position group in the new 2026 rankings we wanted to take a larger view of the class grading out the position groups as a whole along with looking at the top tier and depth.&nbsp; Here is <strong>2026 Rankings: Grading Defensive Position Groups</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Defensive Lineman</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class Grade:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A<br><br>Top Prospect:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='801878' first='McHale' last='Blade'] (Simeon)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Tier:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Big time group of Power 4 defensive lineman headlined by top 20 prospects Blade, [player_tooltip player_id='270192' first='Braeden' last='Jones'], [player_tooltip player_id='1399927' first='Gabriel' last='Hill'], [player_tooltip player_id='1538329' first='Joey' last='Quinn'], and [player_tooltip player_id='801702' first='Jacob' last='Alexander'].&nbsp; More star power like [player_tooltip player_id='1585113' first='Max' last='Carmicle'], [player_tooltip player_id='208769' first='King' last='Liggins'], [player_tooltip player_id='1619545' first='Carmelow' last='Reed'], [player_tooltip player_id='401599' first='Cornell' last='McIntosh'], and [player_tooltip player_id='401608' first='Ian' last='Campbell'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depth of Position:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 24 defensive lineman and edge rushers among the top 100 that is almost ¼ of the top 100.&nbsp; It drops off a bit after that, but still a very good group.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Linebackers</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class Grade:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>C<br><br>Top Prospect:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='401621' first='Leon' last='Howard'] (East St. Louis)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Tier:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top 3 is pretty solid for the off the ball linebackers in [player_tooltip player_id='401621' first='Leon' last='Howard'], [player_tooltip player_id='801877' first='Lesroy' last='Tittle'], and [player_tooltip player_id='682480' first='Diesel' last='McFadden'].&nbsp; This is a position that traditionally is undervalued, but these three should all get P4 looks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depth of Position:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The depth of this group is at its best at the small college level.&nbsp; A few interesting names that we like are [player_tooltip player_id='401622' first='Logan' last='Abrams'], [player_tooltip player_id='1524594' first='Stephen' last='Winkler'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1585247' first='Gavin' last='Dobbs'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><u>Defensive Backs</u></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class Grade:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>B<br><br>Top Prospect:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1585119' first='Nick' last='Hankins'] (Belleville West)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Top Tier:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hankins is the clear top corner in the class.&nbsp; He is super fluid in everything he does and makes plays on the ball.&nbsp; Top safety is [player_tooltip player_id='1669545' first='Messiah' last='Tilson'] who has been a coveted commodity among P4 programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Depth of Position</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are 10 defensive backs among the top 90 overall prospects.&nbsp; Several fluid corners and physical back end players including Group of 5 commits [player_tooltip player_id='1669570' first='Vincent' last='Smith'] (NIU) and [player_tooltip player_id='279386' first='Tommy' last='Thies'] (Miami OH).&nbsp; Like the upside of [player_tooltip player_id='537245' first='Jayden' last='Marshall'], [player_tooltip player_id='801706' first='Ahmad' last='Buchanan'], [player_tooltip player_id='801993' first='Adidum' last='Aadum'], [player_tooltip player_id='212315' first='Jalen' last='Carter'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1585178' first='Lorne' last='Green'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->