2027 Defensive Breakout Candidates

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 will be the newfound focus for colleges going forward. In this article, I examine the top candidates who I believe will have a defensive breakout-season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Lars Jergensen","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"195","_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":"Ralston Valley","_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-69657d10f2ead"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jergensen measures in at 6'3 195-pounds playing LB/TE for 5A runner up Ralston Valley. This past season, he had 56 total tackles (22 solo, 34 assisted), 5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 7 QB pressures, and 1 FR. He lines up as an off-ball and edge, and is used as an extra blocker on offense. He has very good athletic ability due to very good acceleration, speed, lateral quickness, and good jumping, and balance. Very good strength. Explosive burst off the edge. Very good get off speed and block shedding. Very good blitzer with very good take off speed. Good read and reaction speed. Very good tackling with very good range. Jergensen will put his arms up for pass deflections. Good in zone coverage. He's a name to start learning about now.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1637321"],"_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-69657d10f2f43"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Webb is fresh off a 4A championship win. The 6'5 195-pound DE had 55 total tackles (34 solo, 21 assisted), 15 TFL, 6 sacks, 12 QB pressures, 5 PD, and 2 FR. Good athletic ability due to very good lateral quickness, acceleration, good speed, and balance. Webb has very good hand speed and initial quickness out of his stance. Engages first and wins the rep. Very good strength, with good hand placement. Webb maintains a very good bend around the edge paired with a nice swim move. Good get off speed, and block shedding. Dominick has relentless pursuit paired with very good tackling. He's already a beast, but I think Webb has even more in store for us next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1642678"],"_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-69657d10f2fa8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leffert measures in at 5'11 192-pounds. The MLB had 95 total tackles (35 solo, 59 assisted), 2.0 TFL, 1 sack, 5 QB pressures, 2 PD, 1 FF, and 1 blocked field goal. Leffert has good athletic ability due to his good acceleration, lateral quickness, speed, and jumping. He's an instinctive player, with very good read and reaction speed. Leffert excels at stopping the run. Good get off and block shedding. Good blitz take off speed. Very good tackling. Leffert has very good competitive toughness, and uses his relentless pursuit to help teammates finish tackles. I'm looking forward to seeing more from him this season.</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":"Jacob Quintana","_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":"175","_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":"Holyoke","_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-69657d10f306f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Quintana measures in at 5'10 175-pounds playing LB and RB for Holyoke. He had 91 total tackles (39 solo, 52 assisted) 3.0 TFL, 3 PD, 2 FF, 96 carries for 331 yards and 1 touchdown with 12 receptions for 160 yards and 1 touchdown. Quintana has very good athletic ability due to very good acceleration, speed, lateral quickness, good change of direction, and balance. Very good read and reaction speed. He'll squeeze through the gaps to get the TFL or sack when blitzing. Very good get off speed and block shedding. He has very good range from sideline to sideline. Quintana is a strong tackler due to getting low, staying square, and his good strength. He's an exciting off-ball linebacker who thrives with contact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1635098"],"_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-69657d10f30d4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Yahn measures in at 6'0 162-pounds playing SS and RB for Severance. He had 59 total tackles (41 solo, 13 assisted), 3 TFL, 1 INT, 1 blocked field goal, 71 carries for 351 yards with 2 touchdowns. Yahn has very good athletic ability due to very good acceleration, speed, jumping, balance, and change of direction. Very good read and reaction speed. Excels in both coverage and run support. Will run from the deep zone, and be the first to create contact with the ball carrier. Smooth and fluid back pedal. Fluid hips to match receivers. Very good man coverage. Very good closing quickness and timing for pass break ups. Yahn is an excellent safety that demands more respect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->