Defensive Players That Caught Our Attention with Mid-Season Tape

Time to dive into some more mid-season film as we look at defensive players who caught our attention!   DL Ronald Moore (Kankakee – 2027)   Moore is emerging as one of the breakout defensive lineman in the 2027 class.  He goes 6'2” and 285 pounds.  Powerful interior pass rusher that uses his spower and strong hands to get after the quarterback.  Nice swim move.  He even had an interception.  Great quickness getting rid of centers and guards making tackles in the backfield.  Very good stuffing the run in short yardage situations.   DL John Spellers (Whitney Young – 2026)   Actually more familiar with Spellers as a hooper that came on the scene early in his career.  Probably projects better now as a senior for football.  The 6'5” 215 pound edge player plays strong with his hands getting off offensive tackles.  Explosive pass rusher that shows burst off the edge.  Plays the run strong getting off blocks making the tackle.  Even shows off the athleticism on coverage units in special teams.    DL [player_tooltip player_id='1623489' first='Jeremiah' last='Christian'] (Brother Rice – 2028)   Christian is a productive defensive lineman that has stood out for Brother Rice on the JV level.  Strong hands getting off blocks and is a powerful tackler in the run game inside.  Plays with a high-motor.  Like the athleticism and instincts as a player.  The defensive tackle has pass rush ability including a nice swim move.    DL Tyler Harris (Wheaton St. Francis – 2027)   Harris is a 5'11” defensive end that can get after the quarterback putting pressure on him.  Nice frame and athleticism combo.  Has some power on the bull rush and uses his hands well on pass rush moves.   DL Camren Johnson (Kankakee – 2026)   Defensive tackle that has good size and quickness on the interior.  Gets off blocks with good use of his hands.  Like his ability against the run as a physical presence taking up multiple blocks while still making plays.   DL [player_tooltip player_id='1361646' first='Cashen' last='Brown'] (O'Fallon – 2027)   Brown is an edge player that has nice bend coming around the edge rushing the passer.  Stout against the run when it comes to his side.  Biggest upside is aas a pass rusher with his speed, get off, and bend.   DL Nelson Cosme (Lakeview – 2027)   Cosme has 5.5 sacks and 11 tackles on the defensive side of the ball.  On offense he has 107 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the air.   LB [player_tooltip player_id='1855455' first='Cade' last='Albrecht'] (Vernon Hills – 2029)   This freshman defender goes 6'1” and 215 pounds.  Intriguing tools to work with.  Fights through traffic to make the tackle.  Can line up at defensive end or linebacker.  Spins off blocks to make tackles.  Pass rush upside.   LB [player_tooltip player_id='1570757' first='Derrick' last='Pomatto'] (Joliet Catholic – 2027)   Linebacker that brings physicality and sound technique.  Does a nice job of getting through traffic.  Anticipates well and tackles in space.  On the offensive side he is a bruising running back.   LB Gavin Smith (Maine South – 2026)   Smith has had a productive season as the Maine South middle linebacker has 52 tackles, 9 TFLs, 11 QB pressures, and 2 sacks.   LB Brayden Guzak (Andrew – 2026)   Guzak is a middle linebacker that makes big plays.  Read a pass that he picked off and took to the house.  Shuffles and attacks the line of scrimmage getting after the running back.  Old school linebacker that is super productive.   LB Erick Roman (Belvidere North – 2026)   Middle linebacker that pursues well in space.  Runs well sideline to sideline and hits with a ton of force.  Like the angles he takes getting to the ball carrier.  Sound tackler that can also get after the quarterback on blitzes.   LB Trieontez Williams (Chatham Glenwood – 2026)   Williams is an athletic linebacker that has excellent instincts.  Runs well making plays out of his area.  Plays the run well taking quality angles and shuffling putting him in position to make the tackle.    LB [player_tooltip player_id='1553769' first='Brady' last='Kozlowski'] (Minooka – 2026)   We dived into this physical 6'0” 215 pound linebackers week 4-7 tape where he recorded 19 tackles, 5 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 touchdown, and multiple QB hurries.  Big time blitzer off the edge from the second level getting after the QB with explosiveness.  In the run game he does a nice job of taking on blocks, getting off them, and running to the ball to make the tackle.  Outside linebacker also does a nice job of holding the edge and keeping perimeter run plays inside.    LB Noah Sanchez (Nazareth – 2026)   Sanchez has major burst exploding to the ball from the second level.  Really like how he identifies the play and attacks the ball.  Runs well in space covering a lot of ground.  Good instincts and athleticism which is a great combo for a linebacker!   DB [player_tooltip player_id='537245' first='Jayden' last='Marshall'] (Crete Monee – 2026)   Big fan of Marshall as a super underrated corner in this class.  He has excellent ball skills and instincts on the back end.  Good technique and fluid footwork.  As a tackler he flies to the ball hitting with force.  Makes plays on the ball in the air.  Contributes on coverage units on special teams.  No doubt G5 player in my eyes.   DB [player_tooltip player_id='801993' first='Adidum' last='Aadum'] (Glenbrook South – 2026)   This 6'1” safety is a PRZ favorite!  Absolute ball hawk over the middle including taking one interception back for a 90+ yard score.  Extremely intimidating tackler in run support.  Runs very well chasing down fast offensive players laying the hammer on them.  This season he has 4 PBUs in addition to the pick 6 and 5 TFLs.   DB Mitchell Potts (Normal Community – 2027)   Long and rangy corner that makes plays.  He high points balls in the air going after it.  Good speed and willingness to tackle on the perimeter.  Explodes on the ball when he sees where it is going.    DB Colin McCarte (Hampshire – 2026)   Corner back that has silky smooth footwork.  Got an interception breaking on an out route.  Runs well with receivers.  Sizes up ball carriers on the perimeter and tackling down low.  Good range and athleticism in coverage.   DB [player_tooltip player_id='1567018' first='Deon' last='Hardin'] (Thornton – 2026)   This corner is technically sound with good use of his hands and typewriter footwork.  Quick acceleration to the ball.  Nice pick in fade.  Makes it difficult for QBs to throw his way with blanket coverage and taking away throwing angles.   DB [player_tooltip player_id='801706' first='Ahmad' last='Buchanan'] (Richards – 2026)   One of the better defensive backs on the board in the 2026 class.  He has been a monster on both sides of the ball.  Defensively he had 40 tackles and 1 interception.  Offensively he has 700 yards rushing.   DB Jekyven Edmonson (Byron – 2027)   Edmonson is a big 6'3” safety that is a tackling machine on the back end with 33 tackles.  Also very effective in coverage with 1 interception and 7 PBUs.   DB Avian Thomas (Rock Island – 2027)   Thomas continues to produce as a defensive back that has great ball skills recording a pair of interceptions the last two weeks.  Tackles well in space flying to the ball and taking quality angles.  Good athlete that has range on the back end.   ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1570750' first='Cody' last='Forbes'] (Niles Notre Dame – 2028)   Forbes is a well built running back that can catch the ball out of the backfield.  On the defensive side he impacts at the JV level as a linebacker on the outside stringing plays to the perimeter and making tackles.  Runs well sideline to sideline.   ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1660856' first='Larnell' last='Moore'] (Eisenhower – 2026)   Impact two way athlete that on the offensive side has 500+ yards all purpose including 8 touchdowns.  Defensively he has 4 interceptions including a pick 6.   ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1570728' first='Alex' last='Ossian'] (Moline)   This two way standout for Moline is a 5'9” safety who has 46 tackles, 1 interception, and 1 PBU through seven weeks.  Offensively he has 93 rushing yards and 63 receiving yards.

Time to dive into some more mid-season film as we look at defensive players who caught our attention!