2028 Prospect Check-in: 5 breakout sophomore defenders

Want 30% off of your subscription? Use promo code PaulG30 at checkout!    Thiel is a tremendous athlete on either side of the ball for this loaded Bishop Kelly team and a no-brainer college prospect that should start drawing plenty of interest this off-season and is one of the top returning players across Idaho heading into the 2026 season. He has posted 23 tackles, 5 TFL's and 4 sacks on the year and currently leads the '28 class in sacks across the state which is very impressive from his safety/corner position. He is a very high motor kid that tremendous instincts and ball skills, breaks quickly at the POA without false steps and has natural ball skills and return abilities. He is fluid in coverage with COD and hip turn, and shows he can come up and set the edge on the perimeter with physicality and tremendous open field tackling abilities against bigger ball carriers. Thiel will be one of the top returning players next Fall for what should be another loaded Bishop Kelly squad with multiple next level guys coming back.     Fillmore is one of the top two-way sophomore players in the state at the linebacker/running back position and packs a punch for his size on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he's all over the field making tackles sideline to sideline and has elite closing speed and range from the second or third level. He is a efficient open field tackler that can quickly knife into the backfield and make plays behind the line and he takes good angles showing he can shock and shed off blocks. Fillmore has fluid hips in pass coverage downfield with natural ball skills and offensively is a downhill ball carrier that stays patient behind his blocks and has a first and second level burst while able to catch the ball out of the backfield as well. He sits at 65 tackles and 7 TFL's in 7 games and should end the season close to that 90 tackle marker heading into his Junior season.     Careaga is one of the top 2028 defensive backs across Idaho and is having a breakout Sophomore season campaign for the top team in the state. He is a long and rangy player with good ball skills and natural instincts on the backend, baits quarterback into poor throws over the middle and is a efficient open field tackler that can cover ground with closing speed and the proper angles when coming downhill. He shows good hip fluidity in coverage and is physical at the POA while able to play both man and zone coverage downfield. He has posted 46 tackles, 1 INT and 1 TFL in 7 games played and is inline for a breakout Junior season for the Grizzlies.     Kap is one of the top linebackers across Idaho regardless of class and is a true outside/edge defender that can come up and make plays in the box, set the edge and provide a pass rush from multiple positions on the defense. He has a quick first step, violent hands of the point of attack when getting off blocks and displays closing speed and packs a punch at the point of attack. Kap is a high motor kid that also displays backside pursuit and block destruction near the LOS and has good change of direction and lateral movement abilities when navigating through traffic on his way to ball carriers. On the year, Kap has 24 tackles, 2 TFL's and 2 sacks and has been one of the top sophomore breakout stars we have seen.     The sophomore outside linebacker/defensive end currently leads the state of Idaho in sacks and has showed he can apply pressure from anywhere along the defense of front. He is twitchy off the ball with a good initial strike to create immediate knock-back and can win with natural bend and a quick use of hands when turning the corner. He is a high motor player that also makes plays backside and is one of the top returning defenders in his class heading into next year. He currently has 54 tackles, 10 TFL's and 4 sacks while extremely active at the first and second level of the defense and should be drawing college interest soon at the D3+ level.

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