Defense Never Rests With Orlando Prospects
In this article:
While offensive stats sometimes grab the spotlight and headlines, it's the plays made on the defensive side of the ball that end up winning games.
As we head toward the ninth week of this fast-moving 2025 high school football season here in Florida, there have been playmakers all over the state.
From Pensacola right down through the Keys, there have been football players that have made a major impact.
While there are so many elite prospects across the Sunshine State not every area gets the same exposure.
One of the areas that has been boasting some quality talent this year is the Orlando area and many of the suburbs who continue to produce top-flight talent.
Today, we bring you 10 players that have been piling up the tackles and giving their respective programs an opportunity to make a difference.
2027 –
Isaiah Brown
Isaiah
Brown
6'0" | 205 lbs
Umatilla | 2027
FL
, Umatilla, LB, 6'0, 205 – 3.5 GPA. One of the top underclassmen who gets to the flow of the play as quick as anyone in the region. A textbook tackler who plays the run as well as helps in pass defense.
2026 - Roberto Castillo II, LB, 5'7, 195, Mount Dora Christian – 3.41. Track & Field. Whether at Sanford Seminole or this season with a new program, this is a playmaker that night only plays linebacker but is a long snapper and a running back on the offensive side of the ball.
2026 – Chase Coello, MLB, 6'0, 210, Groveland South Lake. Another difference maker on the defensive side of the ball who is a relentless prospect that will stuff out running plays while showing his versatility as a pass defender. Started his career at nearby Lake Minneola.
2027 – Dafino Devega, LB, 5'10, 205, Orange City University – 3.05 GPA. Talk about quick to the ball, here is a student/athlete that reads plays and can do it from inside or outside. He is very instinctive and has an opportunity over the next year to be one of the most productive in the region.
2026 - Jorden Frederick, LB/DE, 6'3, 220, Winter Springs – 3.0 GPA. His size, quickness and overall athleticism have given this quality talent a huge advantage for the Bears. Whether it's his play on the inside or having the speed to pursue from the outside, here is one of the more productive talents in the region.
2026 – Juan Hidalgo, LB, 5'11, 180, Kissimmee Tohopekaliga. This versatile linebacker has been getting it done for a few years, and if you have watched him, you can see the progress and how much better he continues to get with each game. Not only a run stopper, but also an aggressive playmaker who goes 100 percent from whistle to whistle.
2027 – Anthony Moreno Anthony Moreno 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB/EDGE/EDGE Lake Nona | 2027 FL , LB, 6'0, 210, Orlando Lake Nona – 3.4 GPA. On a team that had several key playmakers, here is someone who continued to standout all season with total tackles, fumble recoveries and even as a pass defender who will pick your pocket. Solid prospect!
2027 – Dashawn Reece, OLB, 6'0, 200, St. Cloud – 3.4 GPA. After starting his career at nearby Kissimmee Gateway, his move to the east was welcomed as he turned out to be one of the top tacklers for a much-improved Bulldog squad. He is not just a player that stops the run and gets after the quarterback, but he showed his versatility to drop into pass coverage when needed.
2026 – Zi'rieck Roberts, MLB, 5'11, 215, Orlando Evans – 3.8 GPA. For this quality student/athlete, the 2025 season has indeed been special as he has proven to be one of the top tacklers and playmakers in the region. Not only does he use his strength and athleticism to make plays to stop the running game, but he is versatile in pass coverage as well. He began his career at nearby Apopka Wekiva High School.
2026 –
Tyson Williams
Tyson
Williams
6'0" | 195 lbs | LB/EDGE
South Lake | 2026
FL
, OLB/DE, 6'1, 210, Groveland South Lake. Watch this quality prospect perform and the first thing you notice is his ability to make plays all over the field. His speed, strength and ability to read plays from start to finish is the reason why this is one of those elite players that has been receiving plenty of attention. Tough to take him out of plays.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAKE AND SUMTER STYLE MAGAZINE. https://lakeandsumterstyle.com/
OCTOBER CLASS OF 2027 RANKING UPDATES: https://prepredzone.com/florida/rankings/2027-rankings/
DAILY INFORMATION: https://prepredzone.com/florida/
You Can Contact Larry Blustein with prospect or team information at: Floridakids1@aol.com.
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