LSU, Grambling highlight early-August defensive commitments

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rush of college commitments before the fast-approaching season continued into August as 2026 prospects try to wrap up their recruitments prior to their senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at six of the defensive standouts who shared their next-level plans during the first half of this month, including a couple top-50 prospects headed to home-state LSU and Grambling State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237773' first='Trandin' last='Benjamin'] — 5-11, 180 DB/ATH — Westgate —&gt; Lamar</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westgate has a nice mixture of a veteran core and impressive young talent that has the Tigers confident in a potentially title-contending season ahead. And Benjamin, who shared a pledge to Lamar this month, is among the ranked seniors as a versatile playmaker with experience on both sides of the ball and in particular as an instinctive ball hawk in the secondary. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1758136' first='Aiden' last='Brooks'] — 6-1, 175 DB — St. Paul's —&gt; Trinity University</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trinity University landed an August commitment from Brooks, the veteran free safety among the decorated returning leaders of a stout St. Paul's defense. The Wolves' standout, an all-district and all-parish selection as a junior, is a smart and instinctive defensive back, who has a knack for being in the right position — often to snatch interceptions or at least deflect away passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237612' first='Damari' last='Drake'] — 6-0, 215 LB — Evangel Christian —&gt; Grambling State</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of a pair of top-50 prospects on this list, Drake never saw his recruiting process fully gain the type of Power-Four steam an early Miami offer seemed to signal might be on the horizon. But he has developed into a productive, sideline-to-sideline linebacker for his Eagles, including all-state honors this past fall, and a potential steal for the home-state Tigers just a short drive east on Interstate 20.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1011625' first='Romeo' last='Brown'] — 6-3, 230 EDGE/DL — Edna Karr —&gt; Alabama A&amp;M</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1601790' first='Kevin' last='Martin Jr.'] — 6-0, 190 LB — Edna Karr —&gt; Alcorn State</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SWAC rivals Alabama A&amp;M and Alcorn State landed a pair of key members of perennial power Edna Karr's defense in a span of a couple days to open the month. Both Brown and Martin played significant roles on the Cougars' 2024 state-championship run and are among the talented players already with notable experience who are a big part of the confidence in the program's potential to repeat despite having to replace some big shoes left by graduated teammates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920606' first='Darryus' last='McKinley'] — 6-3, 275 DL/EDGE — Acadiana</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of Louisiana's top remaining uncommitted prospects helped kick off the month with an Aug. 1 commitment announcement to LSU over Tennessee, Texas and Florida. The younger brother of LSU sophomore defensive tackle Dominick McKinley has developed into a versatile, powerful and disruptive force in his own right on the Wreckin' Rams' front and will now join Dominick in Baton Rouge following this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->