Spring Showcase Top Performers (Defense)

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Some of the best performers and testers from last weekend's camp came from the defensive side of the ball. A few prospects took full advantage of the camp setting to get themselves on the map and push their stocks much higher. Here we go over those players inside our defensive breakdown from the PRZTN Showcase. </h2>     (DT) [player_tooltip player_id='1583156' first='Mylan' last='Morris'] - Marshall Co.    - Even though this Mid-Tennessee product didn't come away with MVP honors, Morris still had a very strong day and showed vast improvement in several within himself and his game. The first thing you notice about Morris is how much weight he has lost and it showed with his body movements and explosiveness. The Tigers big man moves much better with the lost weight. Being leaner led Morris to run a 4.94 forty at camp, which is quite solid for a defensive tackle. He is quicker to the ball and quicker off the snap, which showed up during 1 on 1 competition. The Tigers senior does need to pack the weight back on but leaning up will allow Morris to be more disruptive in the backfield and help enhance his athleticism and explosive game play.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/05/56-Mylan-Morris.jpg?w=971" alt="" class="wp-image-2210647" style="aspect-ratio:0.9482545740262656;width:227px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1584096' first='Colby' last='Cates'] - Lewis Co.   - It wasn't the flashiest of days for Cates at our PRZTN Spring Showcase but it was still a solid one where it showed improvement with his pass rush and added weight that helped with his physicality. This Mid-Tennessee product tested ok but it was his drill work and action during 1 on 1's that landed Cates in this article. The Panthers defensive end showed improved get-off and burst along with using his hands more and allowing his power to win on occasions. Cates is still a work in progress, especially with his body but I can see the improvement due to him being a regular at our camps and from his film. It's a big camp season for this guy, so Cates must stack strong camp performances to gain more traction on the recruiting trail while also putting in the production during the Fall football year.    - - - - -    ‘28 (DT) [player_tooltip player_id='1038498' first='Will' last='Pasley'] - GCA    - Named MVP for the defensive line, this Knoxville area junior showed up big during 1 on 1 competition where his size and strength proved to be a problem for opposing blockers. Pasley is a load in the middle of the defensive line that eats up blocks and eats up space. He did a good job of using his power to stunt offensive linemen at camp then use his strong hands to release into the backfield. The front part of camp in testing wasn't the best from Pasley but he has room to improve his athleticism, which is what he needs to do to take his stock to higher levels. The Rams big man is a true specialist, a nose tackle that will take on blockers and allow his teammates to make plays and that's something that is wanted by college coaching staffs.    - - - - -    ‘28 (DL) [player_tooltip player_id='1662515' first='Dakota' last='Lumm'] - Munford   - There were a couple of defensive prospects at this camp that stood out among the others and Lumm was one of those guys. This West Tennessee product might prove to be one of the top college prospects coming out this Showcase and the Cougars junior is still far from a finished product. Going through the testing was something new for Lumm and you can see it with his numbers but I think he can improve in this area moving forward, however it was his work in drills and 1 on 1 competition that opened some eyes. This junior big man was nearly unblockable due to his quick get-off, active hands and deceptive power. Lumm is still a work in progress, meaning he must get bigger and stronger but the athletic tools are in place to become a highly valued D-lineman from our TN2028 class.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/05/54-Dakota-Lumm.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2210646" style="width:263px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    ‘29 (Edge) [player_tooltip player_id='1616635' first='Jack' last='Elliott'] - CAK   - Last Saturday at the PRZTN Spring Showcase was a nice starting point to the 2026 camping season and football year for this Knoxville area defender that produced a solid day, especially during his 1 on 1 work. Elliott did most of his work in 1 on 1's playing on the end and where he stood out was with his hand work and ability to get into creases. This is a smart ball player that uses his strengths to his advantage. The Warriors rising sophomore is still a work in progress as Elliott is still forming and growing into his body but you can see the makeup of a potential edge guy that either plays the line or could possibly stand up. It will be interesting to see how he plays this coming season and what kind of player he will become this Fall and down the line.    - - - - -    ‘28 (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='2055001' first='Colt' last='McConnell'] - Watertown   - McConnell had a great start to his camp season last Saturday as he left our Showcase as the linebacker MVP while cementing his name as someone to watch going forward. The Purple Tigers junior defender did solid during the testing portion of camp then proceeded to step things up through drills and 1 on 1 competition. McConnell showed football intelligence and fluid lower body movements while covering backs out of the backfield. He was able to stay on path most of the time to either cover up the passing lane or be there to make a play on the ball. This Mid-Tennessee product is still far off from being college ready as he needs to get bigger and stronger while continuing to learn the game but our Showcase proved McConnell can play and he has tools worth developing.    - - - - -    (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1617434' first='Mason' last='Laster'] - Alcoa   - Laster was one of the top ranked “Tennessee Top 300” guys we had at camp and he did not disappoint as the Tornadoes senior went home with MVP honors for the defensive backs. This athletic and fast defender showed up big early and stayed consistent throughout camp as he did well in testing then performed over his head during drills and 1 on 1 competition. Laster ran a 4.6 forty on the day and that speed flashed in coverage work where the Tornadoes defensive back locked down receivers. Versatility is a big trait for Laster as he worked at cover corner in this Showcase but could handle nickel or safety as well. Growing his stock is something Laster certainly did with his camp performance and I expect it to continue going higher as we get into the 2026 season.    - - - - -    ‘28 (S) [player_tooltip player_id='2148586' first='Max' last='Greene'] - Dickson Co.    - If the guy written about above wasn't named the defensive back MVP, it would have been this Mid-Tennessee product, who probably helped himself more than anybody from camp. Greene had a superb day where he was one of the top testers from the entire Showcase and a big time talent on the back end of the secondary that showed a variety of college level skills. Greene had the fastest 40 of anyone at camp (4.51) while also sporting the 4th best broad jump (9 ft, 11 inches) and the 2nd best pro shuttle (4.25). This guy is a tremendous athlete with size that is still forming into his body and growing his game, so I see a bright future ahead for the Cougars junior safety. Watching how this guy progresses into the season will be fun because I see a future “Top 50” player here with Greene.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/05/mgreene.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2212793" style="width:231px;height:auto" /></figure>   - - - - -    ‘28 (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1704649' first='Jayden' last='Lanier'] - Mt. Pleasant   - Lanier is a long term upside driven player that flashed future potential at our PRZTN Spring Showcase and moments of excellent game play, especially during drills and 1 on 1 competition. His testing wasn't the best but it wasn't terrible either. I know from my scouting, Lanier is a better athlete than his testing numbers may indicate and you could see that with his coverage work. The Tigers junior defender really showed up during the back half of camp where his athleticism and size took over. He showed good instincts along with physicality and the ability to develop at multiple positions. Lanier has plenty of development left to go but I like the raw tools with him and his ability to form into a ball hawking safety down the road.    - - - - -    ‘28 (S) Sam Dick - Hewitt-Trussville (AL)    - Traveling up from Alabama to perform at our Spring Showcase, Dick had himself a strong day in Murfreesboro and a performance that put himself on the map as someone to follow from the Yellowhammer State. Dick kicked things off in a big way during testing by running a 4.5 forty, a 7.15 L-Drill and the 2nd best broad jump of camp at 10 feet even. This junior safety then proceeded to show off during drills and 1 on 1 work as Dick showed strong instincts with a quick first step and the range to make plays on the ball. There is a lot to like about this Alabama native as Dick is a good athlete with solid size (5'11 185) and the room to get better, bigger and stronger. If he can increase his explosion while continuing to develop at a proper rate, Dick might work his way into one of the top safety prospects from Alabama in the 2028 class.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/05/jlanier-crop-1536x1009-1779298801.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2212798" style="width:353px;height:auto" /></figure>