Grading the 2028 Defensive Position Groups

We're nearly finished with our spring <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/behind-the-scenes-of-the-2028-rankings-spring/?itm_campaign=wp-parsely&itm_medium=smart-link&itm_term=a4463f07cc22cf863bb37ca3f639d200&itm_source=smart-linking" title="Behind the Scenes of the 2028 Rankings: Spring" data-smartlink="a4463f07cc22cf863bb37ca3f639d200">rankings</a> coverage for the 2028 class. But before we move on to look at the 2029 class, I want to finish with one of my favorite pieces. It can be helpful to look at the class as a whole—where its strengths, weaknesses, and depth lie—to get an idea of where schools might have the best chance to focus their recruiting efforts.   It's been <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/06/grading-the-2028-defensive-position-groups/">nearly a year</a> since I last graded the 2028 position groups, and a lot has changed. Here, I'm grading each of the four 2028 defensive position groups for top-end talent, depth, and overall potential. Let's dive in.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Grading the 2028 Defensive Position Groups</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Interior Defensive Line: B+</h3>   The Numbers: 27 ranked, six Top 50, 12 Top 150   Highest Ranked: [player_tooltip player_id='1607430' first='Cory' last='Cunningham']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cory-cunningham/"></a> (No. 5 overall), Providence   Strongest Level: FCS/D2   The interior defensive line group is a bit stronger than it was last year, especially at the top. For once, we have an easy answer as to why. At this time last year, Grimsley's [player_tooltip player_id='2112036' first='Guy' last='Vann'] hadn't yet taken varsity snaps, and Providence Day's [player_tooltip player_id='496368' first='Charles' last='Ibe'] was in a different class. That makes two elite Power Four prospects who were unranked a year ago.   Further down the rankings, we have far more depth than a year ago. The emergence of [player_tooltip player_id='1283411' first='Elias' last='Price'], [player_tooltip player_id='2070548' first='Demarcus' last='Simmons'], [player_tooltip player_id='1672728' first='Christopher' last='Holley'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2172185' first='NaShon' last='Overby'], among others, as sophomores has changed the complexion of the entire position group. Last year, it was thin and top-heavy. Now, the interior defensive line position is one of the deepest position groups in the 2028 class.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Edge Rushers: A</h3>   The Numbers: 37 ranked, eight top 50, 20 Top 150   Highest Ranked: [player_tooltip player_id='1687752' first='Tyson' last='Williams']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cory-cunningham/"></a> (No. 4 overall), Shelby   Strongest Levels: Power Four and D2   Last year, I wrote about the potential of this class, and that I liked the "thin" group of 12 ranked edge rushers. My, how things change in a year.   There are 37 ranked edge rushers. For reference, we only have 45 ranked edge rushers in a fairly decent 2027 class (with twice as many total players ranked). 10.5% of the ranked players in the 2028 class play off the edge.   The funny thing is that even six weeks ago, this group wouldn't have graded so well. In this update, we had 12 <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/2028-edge-rusher-stock-risers/">edge stock risers</a> that moved up a total of 352 slots in the rankings. We added the re-classed [player_tooltip player_id='1311681' first='Linkin' last='Stevens'] to the top 50, while E.E. Smith's [player_tooltip player_id='1709614' first='Cassell' last='Cruickshank'] and St. Pauls' [player_tooltip player_id='2111037' first='Dallas' last='Richardson'] catapulted into the top 25 from outside of the top 75.   For some other guys, it's been quiet, steady progression. Shelby's [player_tooltip player_id='1687752' first='Tyson' last='Williams'] was just hitting the radar last year and now sits fourth overall. [player_tooltip player_id='1606887' first='Darias' last='Johnson'] made a huge jump in our midseason update and has climbed since, while Weddington's [player_tooltip player_id='1616163' first='Makai' last='Henriquez'] and Kings Mountain's [player_tooltip player_id='1687769' first='Christian' last='Jarrett'] have been multi-time stock-risers.   Further down the rankings, there's a huge group of future college guys, perhaps at the Division II or FCS level. We have 15 edge rushers ranked in the 200s, and we added four at the top of that bucket in [player_tooltip player_id='1701344' first='Malachi' last='Hardy'] (Hillside), [player_tooltip player_id='2170669' first='Luke' last='Vandergrift'] (East Forsyth), D'Marus Powell (North Edgecomb), and [player_tooltip player_id='2184175' first='Wyatt' last='Gardner'] (Leesville Road). While others have impressed, those four in particular are on an upward trajectory this offseason and could find themselves closer to the top of the rankings with strong junior seasons.   It's still early, but this group looks elite.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/whelms21/status/2059731088499433930?s=20 </div></figure>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Linebackers: A-</h3>   The Numbers: 37 ranked, five Top 50, 19 Top 150   Highest Ranked: [player_tooltip player_id='1044292' first='Skylar' last='Alston']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cory-cunningham/"></a> (No. 2 overall), Cardinal Gibbons   Strongest Level: FCS   As good as the edge class is, the linebacker class isn't far behind—the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2026/05/grading-the-2027-defensive-position-groups-2/">second-straight A-ranked linebacker class</a> in North Carolina.   The very top of the position is the best in the class with three linebackers ranked in the top 10 overall prospects for the state (Alston, [player_tooltip player_id='950969' first='Ryan' last='Peterson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1176263' first='Ennis' last='Stiles']). There's also a strong contingent in the 50-100 range, with five players ranked there. The strongest group, though, is just after that, with 10 linebackers ranked between 102 and 152.   That FCS group, starting with Grady Mchaffey and running through Hoggard edge rusher-linebacker hybrid [player_tooltip player_id='2110736' first='Graham' last='McNeely'], is a strong group. It has a bit of "pick your flavor" feel to it, in that I don't see all 10 of those players ending up with 30+ FCS offers. However, every one of them can fill a need and a role on a talented college team, and as coaches start to evaluate the 2028 class this summer, I could see guys like Mallard Creek's [player_tooltip player_id='2060117' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson'] and Middle Creek's [player_tooltip player_id='2077458' first='Mark' last='Smith'] start to gain traction.   There will be plenty of movement with this class, especially as some of our favorite linebackers are undersized. A few may stay that way, moving to the defensive backfield or sliding down the list as others grow. Others will put on weight and, with strong instincts and a feel for where the ball is going, size could completely change their recruiting stock.   The linebacker position group isn't settled, and I'm interested to see how it develops.   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Defensive Backs: B-</h3>   The Numbers: 38 ranked, five Top 50, 17 Top 150   Highest Ranked: [player_tooltip player_id='1259782' first='Nate' last='Dollard']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/cory-cunningham/"></a> (No. 8 overall), Charlotte Country Day   Strongest Level: Group of Five/FCS   This isn't the best defensive back group ever, but it's solid, and colleges at all levels will have their shot in North Carolina at quality players.   [player_tooltip player_id='1259782' first='Nate' last='Dollard'] of Charlotte Country Day is the top guy, followed closely by out-of-state transfer [player_tooltip player_id='991736' first='Asaiah' last='Brown'] of Rolesville.   Further down the rankings, there are more safety types than true cover corners, something that knocks down the grade just a bit. That said, [player_tooltip player_id='2112037' first='Jayden' last='Bowman'] (Southern Durham) and [player_tooltip player_id='1687751' first='Ty' last='Covington'] (Richmond Senior) are fast risers.   I like some of the hybrid box safeties in this class. [player_tooltip player_id='2164529' first='Charlie' last='Jones'] (Lake Norman) has some momentum, and I like what I've seen from [player_tooltip player_id='1974721' first='Nick' last='Varga'] (East Forsyth).   We have 14 defensive backs ranked between 100 and 200, with a few just outside who we really like. Look for guys like East Bladen's [player_tooltip player_id='1815500' first='Jaden' last='Lewis'] and Southeast Alamance's [player_tooltip player_id='1952814' first='Alex' last='Parrish'] to continue to climb.   Next week, we start our look at the 2029 class. Make sure to DM me on Twitter/X (<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">@whelms21</a>) with your film, measurements, and times so we don't miss you. 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We're nearly finished with our spring rankings coverage for the 2028 class. But before we move on to look at the 2029 class, I want to finish with one of my favorite pieces. It can be helpful to look at the class as a whole—where its strengths, weaknesses, and depth lie—to get an idea of where schools might have the best chance to focus their recruiting efforts.