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Film Study: Tracking the Next Wave of Defensive Stars

Film Study: Tracking the Next Wave of Defensive Stars
Photo: garrett byerly hudl
Paul Gregorian
Paul Gregorian May 21, 2026 @ 11:26 AM
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<!-- 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":"Garrett Byerly","_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":"205","_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":"Laguna Beach","_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-6a0e2823ed659"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Byerly has impressive junior season tape and shows he can play off the edge as a defensive end, or at the second level as a middle linebacker and can apply pressure from multiple angles and is a very effective pass rusher with speed/power moves and closes quickly. He has a big frame, use his length well when playing the run and can shock and shed quickly on the edge while showing well timed pressures and is a very efficient tackler in the box with closing speed and a high motor that is always around the ball. He holds multiple D1 offers already from the likes of Cornell and Army among others and should see a slew of new schools come in and offer through his senior season for a loaded linebacker core Laguna Beach will deploy. </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":"Magic Haynes","_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":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"265","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Centennial-Compton ","_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-6a0e2823ed571"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Haynes has seen his recruitment explode onto the scene as schools have been stopping by this spring and already holds multiple P4 offers. He has a massive and athletic frame with tons of untapped potential and room to grow as a prospect and is strong and powerful at the point of attack. He moves very well for his size, snaps out of his stance and plays with heavy hands while able to reset the line and punch off quickly while also showing he can rush the passer and collapse the pocket quickly from the inside, winning with either speed or power. He carries no bad weight and does a nice job using his length to keep blockers off his frame and has all the starting tools needed for the tranches at the P4 level. </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":"Kristian Leslie","_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":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"210","_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":"Hamilton","_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-6a0e2823ed5d2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Leslie is one of the more impressive under the radar prospects across the city section and is a top two-way player in the region heading into the 2026 season. He is a downhill and physical player that packs a lunch at the POA and is a quick processor that triggers fast on ball carriers and is a excellent open field tackler as well. When running the ball, he has contact balance and leg drive through tacklers while able to bounce off tackles and has a strong initial burst into the open field. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, pass protect against defensive linemen and is a smooth athlete on either side that could play multiple positions in college.</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":"Josiah Badger","_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":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"200","_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":"Claremont","_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-6a0e2823ed618"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Badger is one of the top linebackers available across southern California and one of the more under-recruited kids we have seen this spring that has a very diverse play-style and skillset for the OLB/ILB position. He has plus length and athletic abilities while able to tackle in space, cover downfield and is a rangy prospect that is all over the field making plays outside the tackles. He has a quick trigger and takes good angles on his way to ball carriers in the backfield and can go through or dip around blocks, redirect quickly when needed and can cover bigger receivers downfield with good ball skills and throw anticipation before breaking. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->
Garrett Byerly

Garrett Byerly

HEIGHT 6'3"
WEIGHT 205
POS LB
CLASS 2027

Garrett Byerly

School: Laguna Beach
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Magic Haynes

Magic Haynes

HEIGHT 6'5"
WEIGHT 265
POS DL
CLASS 2027

Magic Haynes

School: Centennial-Compton
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Kristian Leslie

Kristian Leslie

HEIGHT 5'11"
WEIGHT 210
POS LB
CLASS 2027

Kristian Leslie

School: Hamilton
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Josiah Badger

Josiah Badger

HEIGHT 6'4"
WEIGHT 200
POS LB
CLASS 2027

Josiah Badger

School: Claremont
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
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