'26 DE Michlig Leads The Way for Defensive Dominance in Level 1

Level 1 of the WIAA playoffs brought out the best of several defenders across WI. Our group of athletes included in our coverage this week is made up of several uncommitted seniors, rising juniors, and athletes from all three levels of the defense. Kids were getting after the QB, disrupting things in the backfield, flying around with their hair on fire, and also creating turnovers to give their offenses key extra possessions. So let's turn on some tape and talk about what these dudes have to offer the next level.    Stats: 11 Tackles, 4 TFLs, 1 Sack   West Salem was a big surprise when it came to the debut of their seeding for the playoffs, but the team clearly didn't care and was willing to take on anybody. Landon and the rest of the team dominated from start to finish. Landon is one of the best DL/Edge available in the state. Long, filling out his frame with good weight, active hands that maintain separation, and then explosive violence to get past the OL and close on the ball quickly. I love that Landon can rush the passer on third and long, but also set the edge on third and short. The kid is powerful, explosive, and has the frame to continue to win at the next level. Massive steal in the Class of 2026.     Stats: 6 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 Deflection   Whitefish Bay took it to the top seed in Round 1 and pulled off the commanding upset thanks to a strong defensive showing. One of those standouts was junior edge defender Nazeer Nash. The long, lean '27 made plays rushing off the edge, dropping into coverage, and also quickly diagnosing plays and sniffing out things like screens. Nash has a very intriguing combination of size and speed. A combo that allows him to play downhill or out in space. The junior even was able to set the edge and use his quickness to avoid any kick out blocks. Get this kid on your radar.      Stats: 5 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1 Sack   Kaben is a kid on the rise. He is becoming a legitimate force at DE for Whitefish Bay and checking a lot of boxes that you look for at the next level. A frame that is rapidly filling out with power to dominate on the edge. It is so impressive watching him take on blocks with his powerful lower body and hold his ground while his hands shed blocks. The athleticism and range that Kaben has is far from what you would expect for a kid his size. Several times he is out in space chasing down RBs or QBs and also showing that he can make tackles even when they are trying to make him miss. The big man is powerful, agile, and just starting to tap into his full potential.      Stats: 7 Tackles, 4 TFLs   One of my favorite DEs/Edges in the Class of 2026 has been [player_tooltip player_id='1220695' first='Jake' last='Buckles'] of Sauk Prairie. Throughout his career we have seen Jake lined up all over the defense and won in all those spots, but edge is where his future home is. The senior has a ton of highlights showing off his excellent burst, range, and speed to get into the backfield in a hurry and destroy QBs before they can set their feet to get rid of the ball. All his experience has also helped him develop a strong base of instincts and awareness to plays developing around him that he can go and impact. The senior is a hidden gem in his graduating Class. Check out his season long highlights.      Stats: 4 Tackles, 1 QB Hit, 1 QB Pressure   Caden made a strong impression on me with his Level 1 tape. He played off ball OLB and on the edge. Early in the tape you see his power when he is on the edge of the line. He flattens the TE and fights through a second block to get to the ball. Then when he is off the ball we get to see more of his athleticism and quickness to avoid blockers on his path to close violently on the ball. Caden can go from playing with power to beat blocks to running in space and chasing down the ball on the edge on the same play. Caden looks like a name to know on a very talented roster up in River Falls.      Stats: 15 Tackles, 1 FR   We talked about this team leading up to the games and how they could pull off an upset and make a run. That is exactly what they did. Cayden was a key piece to the overtime victory as he was all over the field, and also stole a possession with his fumble recovery. Cayden put out tape in Level 1 that only further solidifies to me that he is a future D1 player. Everything he does is with explosive athleticism. He is just as mobile dropping in coverage and sliding laterally in his zone as he is when he is firing downhill to power through an OL or fly through a gap on a blitz. It is effortless athleticism, yet everything has that elite power built into it. Cayden can bull rush through an OL to get into the backfield. He easily corrals skill players in space. Cayden is a recruit with a very high ceiling. Pumped to see what he does in Level 2.      Stats: 7 Tackles, 1 INT   It was another great game for the senior safety out of Fennimore. His first play on tape was his INT where he stayed deep, read the QB, and easily covered ground to get out near the sideline to make the catch. Shawn's speed definitely qualifies him for the next level. Speed that Fennimore also used on offense to attack the edges of the defense. We talked about Shawn early this season, so it is great to see the senior still making impact plays in the big moments. Check out the under the radar senior.      Stats: 13 Tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 Sack   Wylie and Assumption came up short in Level 1, but the junior didn't miss out on the chance to make an impact and impression. The junior is a bull in a china shop. He plays with that violent, reckless abandonment. Wylie flies downhill and uses his leverage to drive OL off the ball until he wants to disengage and make the tackle himself. ON top of the physicality, Wylie has the athleticism and play processing to be able to run down the ball out in space off the edges. Get the small school product on your radar and out for camps this summer.

Level 1 of the WIAA playoffs brought out the best of several defenders across WI. Our group of athletes included in our coverage this week is made up of several uncommitted seniors, rising juniors, and athletes from all three levels of the defense. Kids were getting after the QB, disrupting things in the backfield, flying around with their hair on fire, and also creating turnovers to give their offenses key extra possessions. So let's turn on some tape and talk about what these dudes have to offer the next level.