New York Stock Up Showcase: Mankarious' Defensive MVP Notes

With our region's first significant snowfall imminent and looming, I was back on the grind. On Saturday, December 13, 2025 Prep Redzone was boots-on-the-ground in Warwick, New York as we hosted our latest rendition of the Stock Up Showcase. Below are my notes from the position group referenced in this article's title.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />    For the second Prep Redzone event in a row I got a look at [player_tooltip player_id='1429267' first='Darren' last='Garrett']; and for the second Prep Redzone event in a row I regarded [player_tooltip player_id='1429267' first='Darren' last='Garrett'] as the best defender in the secondary. Garrett adjusts to the in-flight ball very well. That said, it is no coincidence that he was the most reactive defensive back too, breaking on the ball really well. Unafraid to challenge defenders at the line of scrimmage, Garrett was rather "sticky" when he pressed and jammed at the line. I think what helped him stay stuck on receivers like white-on-rice was his eye disciplined. On numerous reps I noticed him leering, burning a hole if you would, through his matchups hips. Moreover, Garrett was one to always play the ball at its apex. One opportunity to continue to grow came on a rep that I demanded he take against who I thought was the camps top wide receiver. On vertical balls, I would like to see him use his body to influence his matchup toward the sideline more, eliminating space for them to comfortably play the ball in-bounds.     Admittedly, I did not get neither the best nor the most thorough look at Tristan Margo. However, after conferring with the event's linebacker coach Margo was conferred as the camp's top linebacker. A rising senior, Margo showed great bend and pad level in his stance and throughout all phases of his reps. I did think he leaned just a bit; however, Margo used his body well to eliminate space and cutback opportunities during the cat and mouse drills.     [player_tooltip player_id='1575806' first='Matthew' last='Arias'] had a strong showing as my top performer as an edge defender. Arias was very quick out of his stance at the snap of the ball. This sudden burst and explosion immediately put tackles skating on their heels, leaving the inside path open for the taking. However, like a disciplined player who plays team defense, Arias did not take the easy way. Equipped with rips that start with grabbed grass and finish with elbows to the sky as if he was trying to scratch his back Arias continually won inside as he successfully ran the loop off the edge to win rep after rep.     In terms of interior defensive lineman, I admired the performance of [player_tooltip player_id='1624492' first='Ryan' last='Nunez']. Like Arias before him, Nunez was quick out of his stance. He made it his business to punch, getting hands and stunning the man in front of him each time. On at least two occasions that I noted, he read his matchup like a book, recognizing they were leaning and snatching them down, discarding them to the side. What further made Nunez such a disruptor inside is how quickly he was able to change direction and redirect. I wish to see Nunez get his butt up just a tiny bit more in his stance. This tweak would make his get off absolutely devastating.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">New York Stock Up Showcase Coverage</h2>   <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-bigs-eye-test">Eye Test - Bigs</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-skills-eye-test">Eye Test- Skills</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-mankarious-offensive-positional-mvps">My Most Valuable Offensive Players, by Position</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-mankarious-defensive-positional-mvps">My Most Valuable Defensive Players, by Position</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-mankarious-defensive-mvp-notes">Most Valuable Defensive Player Notes, by Position</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-defensive-back-linebacker-notes">Defensive Back + Linebacker Notes</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-defensive-line-notes">Defensive Line Notes</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-defensive-line-notes-part-ii">Defensive Line Notes, Part II</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-linebacker-notes">Linebacker Notes</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-offensive-line-notes">Offensive Line Notes</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-offensive-line-notes-part-ii">Offensive Line Notes, Part II</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-defensive-line-notes">Quarterback Notes</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-quarterback-notes-part-ii">Quarterback Notes, Part II</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-running-back-notes">Running Back Notes</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-tight-end-wide-receiver-line-notes">Tight End + Receiver Notes</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-wide-receiver-notes">Wide Receiver Notes</a> <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/new-york-stock-up-showcase-wide-receiver-notes-part-ii">Wide Receiver Notes, Part II</a>

With our region's first significant snowfall imminent and looming, I was back on the grind. On Saturday, December 13, 2025 Prep Redzone was boots-on-the-ground in Warwick, New York as we hosted our latest rendition of the Stock Up Showcase. Below are my notes from the position group referenced in this article's title.