Archbishop Carroll: Top returning defenders for 2026 – Pt. 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meet Archbishop Carroll's top defenders to watch in 2026—discover which high-motor athletes are set to shine on defense! Part one of a two-part look at their top returning defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["945166"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6937324f9a517"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McNair is a disruptive, high-motor linebacker who plays fast, physical, and loves to come downhill. His film highlights the ability to pressure the quarterback, shed blocks, and finish plays with power. I like what I see in McNair from an instincts standpoint, he has a knack for putting himself in position to impact the play. Against the run, he makes some nice tackles by controlling the gap and meeting the running back at the line of scrimmage. Would like to see how he looks flowing sideline-to-sideline. Will most likely see more pass coverage reps during the offseason (at camps, 7v7, etc). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Makhi Hardy","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"203","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Archbishop Carroll","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6937324f9a633"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hardy is a linebacker who plays downhill with power and urgency. His film shows that he's a run defender who consistently fills gaps and and blows up blocks. Hardy must do a lot of film study because his reaction time shows that he's quick to diagnose plays and he trust his keys. He's also a reliable tackler who finishes and wraps well. There's a play or two where I thought he could've taken a better angle, but the point is that he made the tackler. Most likely will see more film of him in coverage during the off-season at camps or 7v7's. He's a tough run defender at his size. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["945358"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6937324f9a69e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Williams is a cornerback with strong technique, quick in transition, and can be physical when needed. On film, he reroutes receivers, stays disciplined, and makes plays on the ball. His redzone interception stands out because he bumps the receiver, flips his hips clearly, and beats the receiver to the ball for the pick. There's another goal-line man-to-man play where he plays through the receivers hands in the end zone and breaks the pass up. He's got some toughness to him as a tackler as well. Looking forward to seeing what his full-season highlight looks like (only first-four games were compiled). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1644537"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6937324f9a6fd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">James is a linebacker whose film shows he spent a lot of time as an edge this past season. He plays with power, discipline, and a high motor. James' film shows him consistently shedding blocks to finish plays near or behind the line of scrimmage. On his opening rep, he battles the left tackle, disengages when the quarterback rolls towards him, and chases him down for a big sack for his team. There's another play, involving a toss to the running back, where he sets a strong edge, defeats the lineman, and shuts down the run for minimal gain. James has strong hands and sheds tight ends and lineman consistently. He's versatile as well and can line up inside. James can continue to improve on hand quickness to win faster in the rep. I'd also like to see how he looks in space as well (i.e., open field tackling, etc). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->