Defensive Difference-Makers: 4A Bracket

As the top teams in the state join the fray after their first-round byes, the 4A playoff bracket is fascinating. While offense makes (most) headlines, defense could tell the story of this classification. Here, I'm breaking down some defenders who could make waves this playoff season in the 4A bracket. These defensive standouts could make the difference this postseason.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A East Defensive Standouts</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='1678650' first='Kadence' last='Pruitt'], Edge, Reidsville   I have to start with the top-seeded Rams and their standout edge rusher. If you look at Pruitt's film, you'll see a guy who has a much bigger impact than his 5.5 sacks would suggest. Opponents have to shift their entire game plan to account for the 6'4", 225-pounder. Reidsville's regular-season winning streak may have ended, but I have a hard time believing they won't emerge from the eastern side of the bracket, especially if teams struggle to block Pruitt.   [player_tooltip player_id='532016' first='Izeiah' last='Oates'], LB, Eastern Wayne   Oates may be the most important player to his team's overall success on the eastern side of the 4A bracket. Not only is the senior his team's leading tackler, he's also the quarterback with nearly 2,000 passing yards and Eastern Wayne's leading rusher. As a defender, Oates has grown against the pass, learning to use his athleticism and discipline to improve in both man and zone coverage. Always a staunch run defender, I'm interested to see how far he can lead the Warriors.   [player_tooltip player_id='1703204' first='Eli' last='Willard'], LB/Edge, North Johnston   Willard isn't the biggest guy, but he's been unblockable for North Johnston this season. The senior has 7.5 sacks and 31 tackles for loss as both an edge rusher and off-ball linebacker. He'll have a difficult task against an East Duplin team that thrives on drawing defenses in with the run and then hitting shots over the top. If Willard can provide pass rush on the rare East Duplin dropbacks, I think the Panthers have at least a chance to pull off a big Round 2 upset.   [player_tooltip player_id='2049835' first='Ta'ron' last='Mitchell'], Edge, Bunn   Mitchell has emerged as an excellent edge rusher with a special get-off in recent months. The junior has six sacks and a fumble recovery a year after breaking into the varsity rotation. Bunn is a confident team after an 8-2 season in which its two losses came to teams in the 6A and 7A classifications. A strong showing from Mitchell in the playoffs could propel the Wildcats to a deep playoff run.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4A West Defensive Standouts</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='1332232' first='Ex-Avier' last='Peet'], Edge, West Iredell   Peet has enjoyed a breakout season as a pass-rusher for West Iredell, with nine sacks and 17 tackles for loss. Last season, he made more plays away from the line of scrimmage, but as he's gotten bigger, he's become a more consistent pass-rusher. When at their best, the Warriors are a ball-hawking defense that creates turnovers, and Peet is often at the center of that, either by applying pressure or delivering big hits.   [player_tooltip player_id='1644394' first='Tim' last='Mehalic'], DB, Newton-Conover   When we've written about Mehalic in the past, it's typically been about his big-play abilities on the offensive side of the ball, but he's also a standout safety. It helps that he grew significantly between his junior and senior seasons, giving him true length to go along with his impressive ball skills. The more I've seen from the senior, the more I like him as a defensive back, and he could be a key to a deep playoff run by the Red Devils.   [player_tooltip player_id='1666255' first='Landon' last='Lee'], DB, Stuart Cramer   There are several standout defenders on Stuart Cramer's elite defense (16.5 points allowed per game), but Lee gets the nod for his versatility. Built like a linebacker, Lee patrols the back of the Storm defense, where he's been highly productive this season. Not only does he have six interceptions, but he's also blocked multiple punts and is the second-leading receiver on the team. His defensive versatility makes it nearly impossible for one guy to beat the Storm, as he can often shadow receivers or cheat to one side of the field.   [player_tooltip player_id='2049814' first='Hunter' last='Nelson'], LB, Pisgah   After operating primarily as an in-line tight end last season, Nelson has played more defensively this year, racking up big numbers as the Bears' leading tackler. He moves well for his size and flies around the field, making stops from sideline to sideline. As the Bears begin their march toward a deep playoff run, Nelson is going to be a key in stopping the run and getting off the field.   Follow Prep Redzone for more high-quality coverage throughout the playoffs and offseason. Want to get in front of our scouts this offseason? Our next PRZ Carolinas Stock-Up Showcase is Dec. 7. <a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/2124/register/stock-up-showcase-carolinas">Register here</a>. Promo Code HelmsWinterPRZ will get you $10 off registration. And don't forget to vote for our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/11/who-is-the-2025-prznc-player-of-the-year/">PRZNC Player of the Year</a>.

As the top teams in the state join the fray after their first-round byes, the 4A playoff bracket is fascinating. While offense makes (most) headlines, defense could tell the story of this classification. Here, I'm breaking down some defenders who could make waves this playoff season in the 4A bracket. These defensive standouts could make the difference this postseason.