Defensive Standouts Capable of Reshaping 2027 Rankings

Editor's note: Prep RedZone's Spring Rankings Update window means savings for you. Throughout the entirety of the cycle, you can save 40% off an annual or two-year subscription by using the offer code “Guerin40” at checkout. This will unlock all rankings and subsequent content at the discounted rate. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/subscribe">Get in the game here.</a>    When it comes to every rankings cycle, we have new additions and players who have given us every reason to improve their stock.   But while we're seeing everything in the here and now, we're simultaneously projecting what could be. On the defensive side of the ball, six players in particular from around the state have placed themselves into a category we think could quickly develop into something special.    Some names you'll probably recognize. Others not so much.    As we continue breaking down the Spring Rankings Update, though, we encourage you to commit them all to memory. We're also going to tell and show you much of what we're noticing out of these deep dives.   [player_tooltip player_id='651361' first='Jakayden' last='Pendergrass'] DB, James Island    Pendergrass is one of the more interesting transfers in the Lowcountry heading into 2026. He was a starter at Summerville last season, helping the Green wave to the Class 5A, Division I title game by registering 60 tackles, two tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups. From his spot at safety, he's not a huge hitter, necessarily, but he's adept at getting to the right spot at the right time. That part is important, because he's going to be joining a James Island defense that has created an identity as a swarming bunch that allowed 14.9 points per game in 2025 and 10 points per game in 2024. There have been a bunch of different pieces in that span, but the dedication to the scheme is obviously working. Pendergrass fits right into that, as his ability to man that rover spot on the back side will do wonders not only for the likes of Brock Bowers and the rest of the linebackers, but also for his personal goals.     [player_tooltip player_id='1623916' first='Brian' last='Wilson II'] DB, Wilson   At a verified 5-foot-8 and 155 pounds, we get why college recruiters aren't going ga-ga over him. Yet, the shorter corner has continued to prove he's so much better than his physical measurements. Last fall - his first season after coming over to Wilson with his dad - he put up 32 tackles and five tackles for loss. What he didn't have was an interception, and that's about the most telling non-number we've seen from him. Frankly, it didn't take much film study for opposing teams to avoid throwing in his direction. When they did, the passes were designed to get there quickly, leaving the receiver to catch the ball behind the line and then try to out-muscle the corner. It… didn't work well. Wilson has college-ready speed, but more importantly, he's strong enough to fight through traffic. The fact he might start mixing in at receiver as a senior seems vital, as well, but even if he doesn't, he's among our top-ranked cornerbacks for a reason.    [player_tooltip player_id='763831' first='John' last='Stokes'] DL, Hammond (pictured)   Stokes is a bit of a SCISA cheat code, especially after he transitioned to more of a defensive end spot. The reason begins with his size. At 6-foot-1 and now north of 280 pounds, he's already as big or bigger than most of the nose guards at this level. Did we mention the 79-inch wing span? Putting that size on the outside throws a monkey wrench into opposing teams' rushing attacks (would you want to pick his side to run toward?) and that's not even the most damaging part. Stokes' first two steps after the snap are lightning quick. That's not good for quarterbacks. As if they haven't already figured out that part. Stokes, racked up 36 tackles for loss and 16 sacks during his junior season. That equated to an average of three stops behind the line per game. Tack on the occasional batted down pass and he's on the brink of eclipsing and already lengthy list of honors he garnered from last fall.    [player_tooltip player_id='1586857' first='Jaydon' last='McGrier'] DL/LB, Powdersville    The first week of February, right as the regular signing period for Class of 2026s was starting, McGrier pulled his first collegiate offer. We'd bet right now that it won't be his last. Everything this fall is setting the big edge rusher up for success, and against the types of teams we want to see him compete against. From the season opener against Seneca to the following week against TL Hanna and then a road trip to Daniel and beyond, McGrier is going to face a variety of schemes, offensive lines and some pretty outstanding quarterbacks and tailbacks that will give him the type of test every recruiter will be evaluating. When we say any type of production value he adds on top of last year will skyrocket. We don't say that lightly after he had 13 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and 38 quarterback hurries (not to mention 111 total tackles) from his spot on the edge. McGrier's chances of eclipsing those figures are very, very real.    [player_tooltip player_id='1811107' first='Javon' last='Ryans'] LB, North Augusta    When we verified Ryans nearly an inch shorter than what we previously had him at (he's 5-foot-10, not 5-foot-11) we hardly even blanked. Of course, it didn't hurt that a few moments after we took that measurement he went out and straight up abused some folks at the Carolinas Coaches Combines at Woodland. The latter was what we've come to expect from the 200-pound middle linebacker. His junior season included 117 total tackles, 64 of them solo stops, seven tackles for loss, three sacks, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He did all that while chilling on the sidelines for at least four fourth quarters of blowout victories and despite running into the buzz saw that was South Florence in the third round of the playoffs. As a senior, Ryans is going to have every opportunity to keep showing he's that guy. He's got plenty of returning company on a defense that was already pretty good. Ryans' role there continues to diversify; scroll ahead to the :48 second mark to see a good example.    [player_tooltip player_id='1604055' first='Hunter' last='Dale'] LB, Crescent    Tucked smacked dab in the middle of the booming Starr-Iva metroplex hasn't done the Tigers many favors in terms of statewide attention, even after Crescent won eight games last fall for the first time since 2016. It's been a steady rise back to winning ball, and the well-credited offense isn't the only reason. Playing a hybrid linebacker spot last fall, he finished the season with some solid numbers that showed just how much this staff asks him to do. From attacking the line to dropping back into coverage and everything between, Dale has form tackling down and a field awareness that makes him seem like a great candidate to play safety at the next level. He packages it all together with above-average speed, change-of-direction skills and strength necessary to make his role on this team work. He's got many of the same types of abilities Ryans used to run roughshod at the Woodland combine, and we wouldn't be surprised to see Dale have a similar performance at the Spartanburg site next weekend.

Editor's note: Prep RedZone's Spring Rankings Update window means savings for you. Throughout the entirety of the cycle, you can save 40% off an annual or two-year subscription by using the offer code “Guerin40” at checkout. This will unlock all rankings and subsequent content at the discounted rate. Get in the game here.

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Defensive Standouts Capable of Reshaping 2027 Rankings

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