2027 Central Florida Defensive Prospect Breakout Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central Florida continues to produce some intriguing defensive talent in the 2027 class. This group has the size, production, and upside to make serious noise heading into spring football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tamaj Woodard | LB | 2027 | Mainland | @Tamajwoodard1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woodard has seen his stock rise quickly heading into spring. At 6-1, 200 pounds, he brings good size for the position and plays with physical presence around the football. College programs have already started showing interest this offseason, and with continued development he could end up being one of the better 2027 linebackers to come out the region.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1681604' first='Jason' last='Lewis'] | DE/DT | 2027 | Osceola | @lajasooo</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lewis is one of the more intriguing defensive line prospects in the class because of his versatility. Standing around 6-4, 250 pounds, he has the frame to move around the front and impact the game in multiple ways. His recruiting has picked up this offseason as coaches start to recognize the upside he brings as a developing defensive line prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1657157' first='Malachi' last='Moore'] | LB | 2027 | Auburndale | @MalachiMoore222</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moore is coming off a strong sophomore campaign where he led his team with 105 tackles while adding 3.5 sacks. He plays with good energy and instincts for a young linebacker and has shown the ability to diagnose plays quickly. Now at Auburndale, his downhill style and physical approach continue to stand out. With his production and growing comfort in the position, Moore has established himself as one of the top linebacker prospects in Polk County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1607753' first='Trace' last='Johnson'] | DE | 2027 | TFA | @Tracej33</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson brings one of the more intriguing frames in the class at 6-6, 230 pounds. His length and athletic build give him plenty of room to continue developing physically as an edge defender. As he adds more strength and experience, he has the potential to become a disruptive presence off the edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Darren White | DL | 2027 | Lake Nona | @DarrenWhite2027</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White continues to see his recruiting profile grow after showing off an impressive 6-2, 295-pound frame this offseason. He recently committed to Influencer Counsel and has begun gaining more attention from college programs. Looked solid at a recent UA camp, his combination of strong hands and footwork helped him stand out among defensive linemen. With spring evaluations approaching, he's a name that could continue trending upward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2090685' first='Kyree' last='Brooks'] | LB | 2027 | Cocoa | @kyreebrooks12</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brooks produced one of the more impressive stat lines last season, finishing with 135 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four sacks, and two forced fumbles. He plays with a high motor and consistently finds his way to the football. His production and effort level make him a linebacker worth keeping an eye on as he continues developing this offseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1682780' first='Anthony' last='Moreno'] | LB | 2027 | Lake Nona | @D1_ANTHONYYY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moreno was one of the most productive defenders in the area last season and has the type of numbers that demand attention. A 1st-Team All-FACA selection, he finished the year with 128 total tackles, 23 TFLs, two interceptions, three sacks, a pick-six, and six pass breakups. A linebacker who was constantly around the football, and if he builds on that production this spring, his stock could rise quickly.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blaze Allen | LB | 2027 | Bishop Moore | @Blazeallen22</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Allen doesn't get talked about enough considering the impact he had last season. He led his team with 125 total tackles and ranked No. 2 in Class 3A in tackles while adding five sacks, 20+ TFLs, and five PBUs. A highly productive linebacker whose consistency and motor make him a strong breakout candidate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1601315' first='Colton' last='Carter'] | LB | 2027 | Osceola | @Coltoncart21</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter plays the position with a relentless approach and a nose for the football. He finished last season with 116 tackles and 26 TFLs, showing the ability to consistently disrupt plays in the backfield. The production and physical style give him real stock-rising potential heading into spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->