Liberty Christian Academy and Phoebus have the talent to repeat

Prep Redzone Virginia takes a special look at some of the top returners from all six teams that won a state championship in their respective class last season. Today, we take a quick look at the Class 4A (Phoebus) and Class 3A (Liberty) champions.   CLASS 4: PHOEBUS   Phoebus defeated Varina 23-6. That was their 11th state championship win.    Banks committed to Old Dominion back on June 22nd, 2025. Hey, it's early, but if you're sure....you're sure. One thing I love about Banks is his ability to extend plays with his legs. Whether he decides to run or pass, Banks puts pressure on the defense to quickly figure out what he's going to do. His highlights from last year show him making throws all over the field and also making throws to his 2nd and 3rd reads.     Hill started every game as a freshman. That says a lot when you consider he did that on a team that won last year's state championship. Hill played a lot of offensive tackle for his team last season and earned a mention as an All-Regional offensive lineman. I'm looking forward to seeing him get more snaps of himself as an edge defender on film. The way he fires off the ball as an offensive lineman makes me think that he is coming off the edge this season, should be a scary sight for opponents.     Solomona is already a three-time state champ with Phoebus and will look to help them win what would be the fifth in a row this season. I love the way he's consistent with using his hands at the point of attack, making it hard for offensive linemen to control him. He's strong, quick off the ball, and has a motor. I can easily see him putting on more weight and moving to the inside at the next level. Currently, he lines up on the edge for his team    CLASS 3: LIBERTY CHRISTIAN   Liberty Christian defeated Kettle Run 42-6.    Gaither's early offer list includes Appalachian State, Arkansas, Delaware, Liberty, and Sacramento State. During the 2024 season, he completed 208-of-359 passes for 2,475 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while playing for RADNOR HIGH SCHOOL (VA) last season. LCA has their signal-caller for the next two seasons.     Manning is a two-year starter who did not allow any sacks last season, per his X account (formerly known as Twitter). He, like his fellow offensive linemen in this article, is physical and finishes blocks through the whistle. Manning's highlights feature a lot of run blocking, and yes, he is a road grader. Does a solid job of blocking in space. Pass-protection-wise, it's hard to get past him.     Per his X account (formerly known as Twitter), Collins racked up 52 pancakes last season and allowed only two sacks. After watching his highlights, that stat makes sense. He moves very well for his size, and when he pulls, it's a problem for whoever is in his way. Collins plays with a nasty disposition and generates push at the point of attack. I'm impressed with his ability to adjust his path to locate and engage with moving targets.     Tremblay committed to Liberty University back on July 28th. He's listed at 285 pounds on his HUDL profile. Nice two-way player for LCA, mainly used as a blocker when he's lined up at tight end. Future is on the defensive side of the football, and I think his size might lead him to play inside. Tremblay does a good job of controlling the line of scrimmage while keeping his vision on the ball carrier. He has active hands and knows when to disengage at the right moment to make a tackle. Perfect blue-collar guy for Liberty.     Cowart is a safety who's proven he can make plays against both the run and pass. I'm impressed with the plays in his highlights that show his range and closing speed. Is he the most significant safety? No. However, he easily cancels that out with his physical play, instincts in pass coverage, and consistency in taking proper pursuit angles to the football. Cowart excels at both delivering physical tackles and breaking down in space to avoid missing tackles.     Aroson is one of the more versatile offensive linemen in the state. He's a key cog upfront, playing both offensive tackle and offensive guard for his team. When it's time to pull, Aronson fires out of his stance in impressive fashion and usually takes out his target. Whether it's the first or second level, he has the agility and quickness to make those blocks. It's worth noting that he's a long-snapper as well.     With his size and weight alone, Wydra is an intriguing prospect. I am looking forward to seeing how much he's improved as a prospect. Wydra currently doesn't have an offer, but I can see that changing sooner rather than later. He is powerful, can move well for his size, finishes blocks, and knows how to use his length in pass protection.     Aronson finished last season with 72 total tackles (41 solo). He's currently listed at 215 pounds. Aronson has one of the better middle linebacker highlights that I've watched when it comes to showcasing his whole skill set. Aronson has a solid pass defender and can cover in space. He reads plays, passes or runs quickly, and closes on ball carriers in a hurry. A true sideline-to-sideline player who wraps up and finishes. On top of that, he's a solid blitzer. You have to put a hat on Aronson, or he's going to disrupt what you're trying to do on offense.

Prep Redzone Virginia takes a special look at some of the top returners from all six teams that won a state championship in their respective class last season. Today, we take a quick look at the Class 4A (Phoebus) and Class 3A (Liberty) champions.