2029 Rankings: Grading Defensive Position Groups and Athletes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>***Use Code “ScottyB30” for 30% off your subscription***</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have looked at all the positions now in the first edition of the 2029 Rankings!&nbsp; Now we grade each defensive position along with athletes examining how each position group looks early on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EDGE Rushers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: A-</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top two overall prospects, three of the top five, and five of the top 15.&nbsp; How is this not an A+?&nbsp; Hopefully depth will develop along with the star power.&nbsp; At the top is overall #1 and #2 [player_tooltip player_id='1549620' first='Blake' last='Pohlman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2060312' first='Cameron' last='Casey'] along with fellow top 5 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='2083730' first='Jaxson' last='Hutton'].&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1876679' first='Khari' last='Clark'], [player_tooltip player_id='1409250' first='Kendrick' last='Crite'], [player_tooltip player_id='2174784' first='Imari' last='Sanders'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2045544' first='Jaier' last='Harris'] all bring high ceilings!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Tackle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: B</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pair of big time top 10 overall prospects in this group with [player_tooltip player_id='2174761' first='AJ' last='Redmon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2145777' first='Arione' last='Edwards'] being the headliners both from blue blood high school programs.  Intrigued with the trio of [player_tooltip player_id='2166439' first='Kyle' last='Keeney'], [player_tooltip player_id='1855455' first='Cade' last='Albrecht'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2174829' first='Jovan' last='Wilder'].  Not a lot of depth here after that group though.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linebacker</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: B-</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Group doesn't have a superstar at the top, but decent depth.&nbsp; Seven top 100 guys with the only one in the top 50 being [player_tooltip player_id='2174819' first='Cameron' last='Taylor'].&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2174838' first='Tanner' last='Cox'], [player_tooltip player_id='2174847' first='Dylan' last='Wilkerson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2174851' first='Luke' last='Labuz'] are not that far behind Taylor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Back</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: B+</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sneaky good group of corners and safety prospects in this class.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='812644' first='Leroy' last='Prothro Jr.'] is the potential star as a classic cover corner.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1562266' first='Earnest' last='Winters'] from Cahokia is the top safety in the class.&nbsp; Both rank inside the top 20.&nbsp; They are joined by top 50 prospects [player_tooltip player_id='1539371' first='Dinari' last='Overton'], [player_tooltip player_id='2112909' first='Alim' last='Mitchell'], [player_tooltip player_id='2114081' first='Jeremiah' last='Johnson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2174823' first='Bren' last='Kolinski'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2110320' first='Charlie' last='Williams'].&nbsp; This group has 14 top 100 prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Athlete</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grade: A-</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not surprising that the athlete group dominates with volume in this class having 17 prospects in the top 100.&nbsp; Reason that makes sense is there are a lot of these prospects who showcase the physical and athletic talent, but do not have a refined position early in the process.&nbsp; At the top are a trio of top 30 players in [player_tooltip player_id='1971183' first='Liam' last='Callaghan'], [player_tooltip player_id='2174786' first='Tahj' last='Evans'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2174788' first='Jamari' last='Jenkins'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->