Uncovered gems: MD/DC/DE 2026 prospects on the radar

Prep Redzone takes a first look at some Class of 2026 prospects from the state of Maryland, Delaware, and District of Columbia looking to name noise this upcoming season.    Stevens has offers from Long Island and Howard. Despite having a lean frame for the position, he has a relentless motor. Stevens is a second-effort guy who consistently wins with leverage and hand usage. Despite going against bigger opponents, he competes with confidence. Looking forward to seeing how he's improved his explosiveness, strength, and pass-rushing repertoire since last season.     Melton is a downhill, physical middle linebacker who thrives in the box and as a blitzed. His highlight show his ability to make momentum swinging plays (forced fumble, big hits, tackles for a loss). Melton is a disruptive force in the second level. He's allowed to attack the line of scrimmage and play physically between the tackles. Melton is willing to fight through linemen or lead blockers on screens and inside runs. Need more evidence of his skills as a man-to-man defender to determine if he's a candidate to play every down at the next level. Melton's not the biggest but he's compact, explosive, and disruptive.     Mwangi is a physical, downhill lineman who excels in the run game. I'm impressed with the way he overwhelms defenders with his strength and finishing ability. He currently plays offensive tackle. However, his size, pad level, and inside-blocking skills make him a natural candidate to slide to guard at the next level. Mwangi brings an edge to his game and plays through the wile. You need someone like that to set the tone on the line. Still need to see more to evaluate his footwork, anchor, and lateral movement when it comes to pass protection. It's worth noting that he moves well enough to reach linebackers and handle them with ease.     Cutler is a high-effort, physical edge who plays with discipline and a good motor. He's not explosive or twitchy, but he does the job by staying hoe on the edge and finishing with physicality. Cutler never gives up on a rep and frequently makes plays with second effort. He holds his ground well despite being undersized for a traditional edge rusher. Cutler can get away with playing edge at the next level if he develops a quicker first step to compensate for lack of size. For now, look for him to make the most out of his opportunities and continue to make plays this upcoming season.     Ryan is a powerful, agile interior lineman who shines on both sides of the ball. He brings a nice combination of brute strength, leverage, and mobility at both offensive guard and nose/3-tech defensive tackle. Honestly, I can see things going either way for Ryan at the next level. He can excel as a pulling guard in a run-heavy offense or control the middle of a defense at the tackle position. Ryan's ability to anchor and shed makes him a natural fit for even and odd fronts. He's a disruptive force on defense and a punishing finisher on offense. Size-wise, I think he'll have a higher ceiling at defensive tackle at the next level.

Prep Redzone takes a first look at some Class of 2026 prospects from the state of Maryland, Delaware, and District of Columbia looking to name noise this upcoming season.