Northwest football prospects: All-Risers Team (Defense)

The winter has been abuzz with scholarship activity for many of the top Northwest prospects.    Much of that activity stems from fall breakouts and all-state-worthy performances.   However, there are a few players in the Northwest who have simply dominated early offseason work and are already climbing up the rankings.   This article takes a look - not at the best individual prospects at each position - but the players who have raised their stock the most over the past six months.   Here's a look at the Northwest's All-Risers Defense:    DL: [player_tooltip player_id='1188123' first='Ty' last='Tautolo'], Lake Stevens (2027) — The Lake Stevens edge-rusher had a stellar junior campaign, earning first-team all-league and all-state honors.   The 6-foot-5, 245-pound athlete feels like a player pushing for four-star status.   He certainly has the offer sheet to warrant that fourth star.   Tautolo holds offers from nearly 20 schools, highlighted by Cal, Iowa State, Kansas State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas A&M, UCLA, USC, Washington and others.    He's the real deal!    DL: [player_tooltip player_id='1246545' first='Josh' last='Christensen'], Lake Oswego (2027) — Less than a year ago, Lake Oswego's [player_tooltip player_id='1246545' first='Josh' last='Christensen'] was a much-discussed up-and-comer playing behind two all-league seniors with college aspirations.   After an MVP showing at the Northwest Showcase, we were all officially put on notice.   Christensen was the Three Rivers League defensive lineman of the year and a first-team all-state selection.   He has added recent offers from Northwestern, Oregon State, Washington State and is now up to a dozen.   The breakout is very real!    DL: [player_tooltip player_id='1969805' first='Gray' last='Longoria'], Sumner (2027) —  Credit to Prep Redzone's Jordan Johnson on this call.   He demanded Longoria be ranked highly even when he didn't have a single offer.   Johnson believed he'd be a special player.   Longoria has helped his team to back-to-back state championships and was this season's SPSL defensive lineman of the year.    The 6-foot-3, 235-pound athlete now boasts seven offers, highlighted by Idaho, Montana, Northern Arizona and UNLV, as well as a few Ivy League schools.    DL: [player_tooltip player_id='1012776' first='Matthew' last='Curran'], Bellevue (2028) — The 6-foot-4, 248-pound defensive lineman and basketball player is a fluid athlete for his size, and carries an intriguing projection.   Curran holds offers from New Mexico and San Diego State, but that is likely only the beginning.   He's putting it together!    LB: [player_tooltip player_id='1335521' first='RJ' last='Ward'], Bellevue (2028) — Still only a sophomore, Ward's stock has skyrocketed early.   The 6-foot-1, 205-pound do-everything athlete - wide receiver, running back, linebacker and safety - picked up his first offer from Colorado State last month.   He has since added scholarships from Boise State, Idaho and Montana State.   Ward will end up being a double-digit offer guy and could eventually draw national attention.   LB: [player_tooltip player_id='791149' first='Kawai' last='Chamberlin'], Willamette (2027) — Chamberlin was sensational during his junior campaign, racking up 118 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss, a sack, 2 interceptions and four touchdowns on offense.   The 6-foot-3, 225-pound ‘backer is beginning to look the part of a bluechip prospect - and his offer sheet is getting there as well.   Chamberlin recently added a scholarship from Minnesota to go along with Boise State, Oregon State, San Diego State, Washington State and others.   He will be a favorite for Oregon defensive player of the year next fall.    LB: [player_tooltip player_id='1188110' first='Michael' last='Pulalasi'], Puyallup (2027) — Prep Redzone flat-out loves Pulalasi, who we named our breakout player for the entire state of Washington last fall.   While he's not the biggest prospect at 6-foot, 220 pounds - a fact that seems to be holding up his recruitment - the tape screams “elite football talent.”    Pulalasi is one of the most disruptive linebackers on the entire West Coast and it looks like he's going to be a steal wherever he goes.   Since late January, he has added offers from Idaho, New Mexico and Utah State.   LB: [player_tooltip player_id='985511' first='Kaicen' last='Carter'], Federal Way (2028) —  The 6-foot-3, 210-pound wide receiver/linebacker has looked fluid in coverage this 7-on-7 season despite being a serious thumper when the pads come on in the fall.   After a wave of offers since the start of the new year, Carter can boast double-digit scholarships, highlighted by Boise state, Cal, Minnesota, Washington and others.    LB: [player_tooltip player_id='1878396' first='Aidan' last='Galusha'], Dallas (2027) — Galusha was an absolute monster at the lower level in Oregon last fall.   He registered 76 tackles and 9 sacks with a pair of blocked kicks and an additional 590 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing on offense (8.4 yards per carry).   “That kid from Dallas single-handedly killed us,” a head coach whose team faced Galusha told me this offseason.   Since then, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound athlete has been the LB MVP at both the Prep Redzone event and the Northwest Winter Showcase, running between a 4.48 and 4.58 on multiple 40 runs in both camps.   He's a bonafide speedster with enough size to draw heavy interest.   Galusha should be on the Big Sky and Group of 6 radar.    DB: [player_tooltip player_id='1397308' first='Dash' last='Jones'], N/A (2030) — [player_tooltip player_id='1397308' first='Dash' last='Jones'] has been “next man up” for a long time, as the son of former Super Bowl champion Reggie Jones.   He's officially arrived - and the offer sheet is already stunning.   Dash holds offers from Miami, Penn State, Vanderbilt and others, underscoring the fact that he's a national recruit.    Keep in mind, Jones is an eighth grader.   Insane!    DB: Nate Obasanjo, Mount Rainier (2027) — The 6-foot-1, 210-pound defensive back has been red-hot on the recruiting trail.   The “big nickel” position is a major commodity in modern football, and Obasanjo fits the bill.   And he's starting to pile up offers - Colorado State, Idaho, New Mexico, UNLV, Utah and Washington State.    More will soon be on the way.    DB: [player_tooltip player_id='984781' first='Markel' last='Newell'], Puyallup (2027) — The 5-foot-11, 180-pound athlete has been a Prep Redzone favorite before he had any offers.   Now, he's a double-digit guy whose stock seems to be flirting with expanding from “regional guy” to “national recruit.”    Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, Washington, Washington State and others are already in.   Who will be next? Probably multiple schools as he continues to ascend.    DB: [player_tooltip player_id='1012408' first='Kaden' last='Johnson'], Bellevue (2028) — Johnson's stock has soared in recent months — with offers from Auburn, Kentucky, Oregon State, Texas A&M, Washington State and others all entering the mix.   Johnson is emerging as one of the best defensive backs on the entire West Coast and he's leaving no doubt about future four-star status.    DB: [player_tooltip player_id='1368334' first='Elijah' last='Carney'], Lincoln (2027) — After early scholarships from Oregon and Tennessee in the summer of 2024, Carney's stock leveled off.   But new offers from Boise State and Nevada are encouraging.   The 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive back has had a strong offseason for Heir Football this offseason and he's generating buzz again.   Carney has intriguing size and his recent progress is intriguing.

The winter has been abuzz with scholarship activity for many of the top Northwest prospects.