Fab 50 Defense, Special Teams Have Wealth Of Talent

The 50 players on our Fab 50 team are an interesting mix of talent. Big schools, small schools, guys committed to elite P4 programs and guys yet to commit anywhere. There's talent all over the place, and that's especially evident on defense and special teams.   Here's a look at seven guys on that side - two at each level of the defense and a specialist - and a little bit about what sets them apart.   [player_tooltip player_id='816734' first='Terry' last='Radford'] DL, Chester   Radford's a guy who essentially spent about a quarter of his career in opponents' offensive backfield. It sure seemed like it, at least. This year alone, he had 25 tackles for loss, nine sacks and 14 hurries to lead the Cyclones in all three categories, and led the team in tackles as well with 91. He's physical, obviously, but he's got a first step like he's shot out of a cannon, he's got great technique, and he's incredibly versatile. Radford made the Shrine Bowl as a linebacker, showing his ability to play from a stand-up position. But his home is with his hand in the dirt, and few did it better.    [player_tooltip player_id='1592529' first='Julian' last='Walker'] DL, Dutch Fork   Walker was, to put it simply, an overwhelming force on one of the best defenses in the state. There are a lot of guys who get a ton of attention, and therefore make everyone around them better when opponents have to account for them. Walker certainly does that. But he also puts up massive numbers of his own. and that's as a guy who offenses were trying to stay away from. Walker excelled at two things - winning one-on-one matchups and creating havoc. He showed that on the biggest stage, helping lead the Silver Foxes to another state title with 3.5 sacks and his first career touchdown against Summerville in the 5A Division I title game.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639784' first='Trent' last='Dyal'] LB Ware Shoals   The Hornets had a resurgence in 2025, and Dyal and the defense were at the heart of that. And make no mistake, Dyal was at the heart of the defense. The senior had 111 tackles, including 87 solo stops. He recorded 33 tackles for loss, and had 15 sacks for Ware Shoals. Dyal also forced three fumbles and blocked two punts and a field goal. He's quick and has incredible football instincts, and he often seems like he's a step ahead of the guys across from him. Dyal was a disruptive force on a very good defensive unit.    [player_tooltip player_id='1267211' first='Gray' last='Patterson'] LB Fort Mill   It takes one look to figure out that Patterson's a different kind of linebacker. He's long and fast, and those traits have a huge impact on the way he plays the game. He's a stat-stuffer, with 75 tackles, four tackles for loss, and four sacks. But he also had two interceptions and returned one of them for a touchdown. That was one of three total scores on the year, as Patterson returned a fumble and caught a TD pass. He broke up an additional three passes, forced two fumbles, and blocked a field goal. Patterson moves all over the place pre-snap, lines up a bunch of different places, and covers like a defensive back.    [player_tooltip player_id='402497' first='Kentavion' last='Anderson'] DB Dorman   Anderson was often the best player on the field, whether that field was a region matchup, a playoff game, or the Shrine Bowl. Against the state's best last week, he made an couple of eye-popping plays in practice, breaking up passes it didn't seem he'd be able to get to and tracking down one jet sweep for a one-yard gain from the opposite side of the field. As good as he is in coverage or coming up to bring some violence in run support, Anderson's lateral game might be the best thing about the way he plays. He's got great instincts, great speed, and just something that you can't quite put your finger on that seems to always have him around the play.    [player_tooltip player_id='1267280' first='Jordyn' last='Best'] DB Ridge View   Best is not a guy with stats that are going to jump off the page. And that's EXACTLY why he jumps off the page. Best is a risk/reward matchup for offenses, and there's typically very little reward in even considering throwing his direction. He's a sure tackler and a big hitter, but Best's biggest upside is that he typically takes away your best guy in the passing game, whoever that might be. He's an incredibly skilled cover guy, he can read routes and adjust on the fly, and he tracks the ball in the air as well as anyone.    [player_tooltip player_id='816752' first='Will' last='Love'] K Spartanburg   You don't even have to watch Love's kicks to know they're special, although if you do you're likely to see early morning footballs sailing over Plainview Drive in Spartanburg. You can just close your eyes and listen. There's a different sound when he strikes a ball that's typically going to sail out of the end zone on a kickoff or travel 50-plus yards on a field goal. But let's talk about his biggest pressure kick to give you a taste of what he can do. Tie game, City Rivalry against Dorman, 52 yards, zeros on the clock. Bang. And would've been good from longer. Love (pictured) is one of those rare guys who just sets himself apart from the field.

The 50 players on our Fab 50 team are an interesting mix of talent. Big schools, small schools, guys committed to elite P4 programs and guys yet to commit anywhere. There's talent all over the place, and that's especially evident on defense and special teams.