#PRZTN Summer Showcase Top Performers (Defense)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The defensive side of the ball was well represented at our camp last week with some guys taking full control of the setting and standing out as legit college prospects. These ten players below are the one's we felt pushed their stocks further by performing as top guys. </h2>     (DT) [player_tooltip player_id='820869' first='Jake' last='Coffey'] - Carter   - A regular at our #PRZTN Showcase, Coffey had another strong showing where he displayed improved athleticism and explosion as well as a leaner body that should allow him to become quicker to the ball this coming 2025 season. The Hornets senior started off his day by testing well, showing that he was one of the more athletic D-linemen we had at camp. He then proceeded to do good work in positional drills but really stepped things up once we got to 1 on 1 competition. Coffey had some of the best hands on the D-line along with a mature understanding on how to maneuver his body past blockers. He will need to add more weight to fulfill his potential but Coffey knows how to get into the backfield and do it on a consistent basis.    - - - - -    (DL) [player_tooltip player_id='1662928' first='Blake' last='Leigh'] - Shelbyville Central   - One of the biggest surprises from our Showcase was this 6'4 260 pound two-way lineman that spent his time impressing everyone from the defensive side of the ball. Leigh has a great build with not a lot of bad weight attached to it, which speaks towards the possibility of developing on either side of the line in college. The Golden Eagles senior proved to be one of the top testers from his position while also being one of the best during 1 on 1 competition. Leigh is a powerful dude that used his strength to his advantage but also displayed deceptive athleticism to get past would-be blockers. There is a lot of development left to go for this big guy but the size and raw tools are there to see his stock blow up over the coming months.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CSmithScout/status/1929959271506100558 </div></figure>   - - - - -    ‘27 (DT) [player_tooltip player_id='1249345' first='Landen' last='Brody Combs'] - Ardmore (AL)   - Traveling from Alabama up to Murfreesboro to showcase his abilities, Combs ended up having a big day that led to him earning MVP honors for the defensive line. This 6'1 290 plus defensive tackle had an overall solid day. His best work came when we got to positional work where he displayed nice technique and was willing to be coached. Once we got to 1 on 1 competition, Combs took things to another level where he did the best at using that technique and consistently beating blockers to the backfield. He isn't the most athletic or explosive but Combs brings effort, grit and smarts to the line of scrimmage that would work well in college as a 3-tech passing rushing tackle.    - - - - -    ‘27 (DE/Edge) [player_tooltip player_id='1584096' first='Colby' last='Cates'] - Lewis Co.    - One of the best overall defensive performers from last weekend's Showcase was this Mid-Tennessee pass rusher that opposing offensive linemen had a hard time blocking. The Panthers junior was the top tester among his peers where he clocked a 4.76 with his forty. He did some good work during positional drills but it's when we got to 1 on 1's is where Cates took his performance to another level. His quick get-off and speed towards the ball was tough for O-linemen to deal with. Cates is a good athlete that moves well but still has room to grow with his body. I can see the Panthers edge rusher becoming one of the top sack artists in his region this Fall and a player that can boost his stock significantly with a productive junior year.    - - - - -    ‘27 (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='906648' first='Chevy' last='Armour'] - Chatt. Prep    - Checking in at 5'10 190 pounds, Armour proved to the best performer from the linebacker position at the #PRZTN Summer Showcase as he earned MVP honors after a consistent day of work. The Sentinels junior linebacker did his best work during the second half of camp. Armour proved to be highly coachable during positional drills then performed well in 1 on 1's where he did a good job of using his physicality to slow down his man and force running backs to change up their routes. He showed good instincts at reading the play as well as showing quick feet in short spaces. Armour is an undersized guy that will need to keep working on his overall athleticism to push his stock forward but his camp work last Sunday was a good step in the right direction.    - - - - -    (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1667366' first='Caleb' last='Odom'] - Middle College   - Last Sunday at the #PRZTN Summer Showcase was the first time for me to scout Odom in person and I liked what I saw and so did the coaches as they named him MVP for the defensive backs. This Memphis area defender put forth a clean, consistent performance all the way from his testing and into 1 on 1 competition. Where Odom really stood out to me was his positional and 1 on 1 work. He did a great job of reading the pass then breaking on the ball fast to either create a small gain or knock away the ball. Odom's instincts were on point. His football intelligence was on full display. The Bulldogs senior may be undersized but he plays much bigger with a nose for the ball. I personally like his upside best at nickel but Odom could provide snaps at safety as well.    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CalebOdom6/status/1929398562007245233 </div></figure>   - - - - -    (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1650784' first='Ty' last='Beard'] - Covington   - If Odom wasn't named the MVP, Beard would have been the top guy for the defensive backs. He was easily one of the best looking prospects at camp that performed very well all the way throughout camp and showed why he is vastly underrated. Beard brings great size to the field and he used it to gain advantages over the opposition on Sunday where he bodied up some guys then consistently made plays on the ball. His instincts and football intelligence were two traits that really stood out to me. The Chargers senior has a lot of tools that scream D1 capabilities. Beard holds a few small offers at the moment but after watching him perform at the #PRZTN Showcase, I think he has a shot to reach the D1 level somewhere down the road.    - - - - -    (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1648128' first='Elijah' last='Reams'] - Riverdale   - The Warriors have a hidden gem here with Reams, who placed himself among the top defensive backs at camp and one of our overall top defensive performers. This Murfreesboro area safety was already on my radar headed into the Showcase but he boosted his stock in my eyes after a steady performance that saw him run well and display improved lower half explosion. Some of the best positional work from camp was done by Reams. This guy is very coachable with a versatile skill set that could work in college at either nickel or safety. During 1 on 1 competition, Reams did a nice job of reading the pass and taking the right angles towards making a play on the ball. The Warriors senior isn't the tallest but he makes up for it with clean, technique sound game play and a physical approach to the gridiron.    - - - - -    ‘27 (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1616602' first='Jacob' last='Jewell'] - Ravenwood   - Some of the best college upside from our Summer Showcase came from this Williamson County product that brings tremendous size to the field along with the potential to excel at multiple positions within the secondary. Jewell worked out at corner throughout the camp and performed very well. He did a good job of using his size and length to keep receivers in-check while using his eyes and intelligence to stay locked in and create incompletions with pass breakups or good coverage. The Raptors junior excelled during positional work as well as standout throughout 1 on 1 competition. Watching him perform in person, I can see why college coaches are beginning to take a liking to Jewell. This guy is dripping with potential. I would not be surprised to see him turn into a Power Four prospect before it's all said and done.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/20250601_185336-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1686460" style="width:258px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    ‘27 (DB) Amari Mitchell - FRA   - Mitchell was a guy that piqued my interest early in camp as he ran well during testing but then stood out even further once we got to 1 on 1 competition. Standing 6 '2 170 pounds, this Mid-Tennessee product has the look and size many college coaches would like in their secondary and the skill set to potentially handle several roles on the back end. Mitchell did a lot of his work on the outside competing at cornerback throughout camp. He handled himself well by showing great instincts, reading the pass well then using his lower half athleticism to stay on path with the receiver. You can tell that Mitchell is forming into his body while learning the game but the raw tools are certainly there. If the Panthers junior can increase his lower half explosion, I could see D1, possibly Power Four programs get involved somewhere down the road.    - - - - -    Other Top Defensive Performers   (DL) [player_tooltip player_id='1629881' first='Travis' last='Brasfield'] - Knox. Halls, [player_tooltip player_id='1661044' first='Jesse' last='McGaha'] - Karns, [player_tooltip player_id='1664612' first='Easton' last='Plunkett'] - Mt. Pleasant   (Edge) [player_tooltip player_id='1646647' first='Kason' last='Fleming'] - Riverdale   (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='903954' first='Kwadir' last='Fletcher'] - FRA   (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1662944' first='Dallas' last='Johnson'] - Stewarts Creek, [player_tooltip player_id='480892' first='Jalen' last='Smith'] - Mt. Pleasant, [player_tooltip player_id='1658995' first='Kaiden' last='Davis'] - James Lawson   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/20250601_191250-rotated.jpg?w=768" alt="" class="wp-image-1686471" style="width:283px;height:auto" /></figure>