Indiana 2027: Defensive Playmakers Making A Name For Themselves

The 2027 class is deep, and the defensive talent might be the best we've come across yet. Today, we're highlighting a group of recruits who are starting to ascend.    Chapman is a raw athlete who is putting it all together on the field. He's someone I feel like who could play either in the backend or LB, but either way has the athletic ability to thrive wherever he gets put. He's creative when near the LOS and can get pressure on the QB and make tackles in the backfield. He was productive this year from start to finish. He didn't have a big week 1, but he came out putting up 26 tackles against Crown Point and [player_tooltip player_id='1630653' first='Ben' last='Davis'] in weeks 2 and 3. He then finished the season with 81 total tackles, 14 TFLs, 3 sacks, 1 interception, and 1 fumble recovery.     Eller helped bring some confidence to the Merrillville defense this year. He's a great athlete with good core strength. He's able to get off blocks when near the line to make the play. He's then nimble enough to turn and run in coverage. He plays with a good motor and rarely, if ever, takes downs off. He runs to the ball every snap, and it's something little I always look for and appreciate. His 78 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, 4 passes deflected, and 1 forced fumble showcased his potential and helped him have the breakout.     Campbell is a good athlete who has good instincts that consistently take him to where he needs to be. He's able to come downhill near the LOS and drop back into coverage. If he doesn't get home, he knows to throw his arms up. He's good in the open field and will make the tackle. He finished his breakout campaign this fall with 96 total tackles, 15 TFLs, 2 interceptions, 9 passes deflected, and a forced fumble.     Hall is an intriguing piece moving forward with a wide variety of places he can go. He's got the length and versatility for the backend to chew up yardage, but he's got the thickness and strength to play at the second level. He could even come up to the line and play, but Lapel has him patrol the backend because of his range and vision. He really interests me long-term in what he can be. This season, he put up 92 tackles, 2.5 TFLs, 3 interceptions, 8 passes deflected, and recovered 2 fumbles.     Slaven is a 3-way player for Highland who does a little bit of everything, but is one of the defensive leaders. He carried the ball 32 times, caught 38 passes, returned a handful of kicks, was the team's punter, all while having a stellar defensive campaign. He's got fantastic range and can play physical. He understands how to play the sticks and stays with his assignment. He put up 96 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack, 4 interceptions, and 4 forced fumbles on the year. I like his versatility and how he never leaves the field, yet has the endurance for it all.

The 2027 class is deep, and the defensive talent might be the best we've come across yet. Today, we're highlighting a group of recruits who are starting to ascend.