2026 Rankings Risers: Defense

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">As the 2026 cycle nears its end, strong seasons and clear development have led to notable movement in the rankings. Here's an in depth look at several defensive prospects who saw a noticeable jump in the updated PRZ state rankings.</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">This 6'0”, 185-pound defensive back brings a complete and versatile skill set, showing the ability to line up and play any position in the secondary. His football IQ stands out, highlighted by strong route recognition skills and the ability to anticipate receivers' changes of direction while staying attached in coverage. He plays with patience and discipline in his movement, allowing routes to declare before planting and driving downhill with speed. His footwork and body control help him transition efficiently, whether breaking on underneath routes or closing windows in intermediate zones. He shows good eye discipline, reading the quarterback effectively and putting himself in position to make plays on the ball. Overall, his combination of versatility, instincts, and controlled athleticism makes him a reliable and scheme-flexible defensive back. Uncommitted but has pulled in several offers and could be a steal for whoever lands him.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700"> The 6'4”, 215-pound linebacker brings an ideal frame and physical play style to the second level and projects as a versatile defensive piece at the next level. Committed to Eastern Washington, he plays with urgency and decisiveness, consistently triggering quickly and attacking downhill with speed. He plays fast and physical, showing good leverage and explosiveness when engaging ball carriers. He doesn't hesitate to attack contact and does a strong job finishing tackles to the ground. In pursuit, he displays quick lateral agility and short-area burst, allowing him to track plays sideline to sideline and close efficiently when the ball breaks outside. His athletic profile and skill set provide strong positional flexibility moving forward. He has the tools to develop as an inside linebacker, operate on the edge as an outside linebacker, or transition into a defensive end role depending on scheme and physical development. Overall, his combination of size, speed, and aggressive play style makes him a high-upside defender with multi-role potential at the college level.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700">McGeilberry is a high caliber CB who brings good length and athleticism to the position at 6'2” 170 lbs., giving him a clear advantage matching up with WR's. He excels as a physical corner who is comfortable operating in both press and off coverage, showing a strong understanding of leverage and route disruption. At the line of scrimmage, he knows how to use his hands effectively to establish positional leverage and force receivers off their line. In space, he displays plus change of direction and smooth lateral movement, allowing him to mirror routes and stay stride for stride down the field. His ability to stay connected throughout the route stems from disciplined footwork and body control. He is also a strong one-on-one tackler in the open field, bringing confidence and physicality when coming downhill to finish plays. Committed to UC Davis over five other Division I offers.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/UCDfootball/status/1996310119496532391 </div></figure>     <p>This versatile defensive line prospect brings an impressive blend of movement skills and quickness, showing the ability to line up across the front, though he projects best on the interior due to his 6'2”, 275-pound frame. He is a high-impact playmaker who consistently disrupts opposing offenses, using quick penetration to create havoc and make plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. He plays with an aggressive, physical style and shows violent hand usage, allowing him to shed blockers efficiently and free himself to finish plays. His ability to win early in reps makes him difficult to contain, while his strength and technique also allow him to hold his ground when asked to play a two-gap role. He shows good awareness and effort, staying active throughout the play and consistently finding the football. His production backs up the evaluation, as he ranked third in the state with 16.5 sacks. His continued development and impact on the field were further validated when he flipped his commitment from Northern Arizona to Washington.</p>      <p class="text-gray-700">This 6'3”, 260-pound interior defensive lineman combines ideal size with a massive 78.5-inch wingspan, giving him a clear advantage in controlling blockers and disrupting passing lanes. He's a high level athlete that possesses an explosive first step, allowing him to gain immediate leverage off the snap, penetrate gaps quickly, and create havoc in both the run and pass game. He uses his length effectively to engage and disengage from blockers, maintain proper leverage, and push the pocket while keeping his hands active. In the run game, he shows the ability to anchor against double teams, hold his ground, and maintain gap integrity, while his quickness and explosiveness allow him to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Racked up 20 D1 offers before committing to Harvard.</p>