Report Card Time for 2028 Defensive Groups

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>***Use Code “ScottyB30” for 30% off your subscription***</em><br><br>How has the 2028 class in Illinois progressed or regressed since our previous rankings?&nbsp; We examine it after a busy spring and summer by looking at how we graded the positional groups in debut, March 2026, and how we look at it now on the defensive side of the ball!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EDGE Rusher</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>March 2026 Grade: A-<br>August 2026 Grade: A-</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The #1 and #2 overall prospects regardless of class in the state headline the class in [player_tooltip player_id='1052814' first='Kameron' last='McGee'] (Brother Rice) and Notre Dame commit [player_tooltip player_id='975570' first='Darieon' last='Prescott'] (Bolingbrook).&nbsp; They are about as blue chip of edge rushers as I have ever seen in the state as both are top 10 players nationally regardless of position.&nbsp; Carmel's [player_tooltip player_id='1570778' first='Kristian' last='Chadick'] is a favorite of ours that could easily make a move into the top 5 if he continues the trajectory he is on as an elite pass rusher!&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1682055' first='Jhalen' last='Clanton'] (St. Laurence), [player_tooltip player_id='2140300' first='Hunter' last='Mosolino'] (Prairie Ridge), and [player_tooltip player_id='2068920' first='Harry' last='Keenan'] (Nazareth Academy) all made impressive moves up the board in our latest update!&nbsp; There are 11 edge rushers in the top 75 including [player_tooltip player_id='2140190' first='Jackson' last='Lewandowski'] (Lake Zurich), [player_tooltip player_id='1688633' first='Halsted' last='Bell'] (DePaul Prep), [player_tooltip player_id='2140204' first='John' last='Bukovac'] (Nazareth), [player_tooltip player_id='1663038' first='Mysonne' last='Amir-O'kuesa'] (St. Patrick), and [player_tooltip player_id='1868002' first='Bobby' last='Kus'] (Waubonsie Valley).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Tackle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>March 2026 Grade: B+<br>August 2026 Grade: B-</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defensive tackle group has a star at the top in “Bonecrusher” [player_tooltip player_id='1682021' first='Caleb' last='Tucker'].&nbsp; One of the most gifted young defensive tackles the state has seen in a while.&nbsp; He is joined on the Caravan defensive front by the #2 DT making his debut in [player_tooltip player_id='2325151' first='Emmanuel' last='McMoore'] who at 6'5” 255 pounds has all the tools you look for!&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2325158' first='Savon' last='Jamison'] (Joliet West) and [player_tooltip player_id='2180351' first='Kyler' last='Payne'] (Waubonsie Valley) have both emerged as legit prospects this offseason as big bodies that can run!&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='2140247' first='Teddy' last='Ghislandi'] (Loyola) goes 6'6” 240 with a ton of potential!&nbsp; There are a lot of high level slightly undersized defensive tackles that if they grow could really rise up the list in [player_tooltip player_id='1623489' first='Jeremiah' last='Christian'] (Brother Rice), [player_tooltip player_id='1599381' first='Khristaan' last='Moore'] (Crete Monee), [player_tooltip player_id='1358237' first='Gabriel' last='Lisowiec'] (IC Catholic), [player_tooltip player_id='1883430' first='Bryce' last='Baxa'] (Yorkville), and [player_tooltip player_id='1682060' first='Enzo' last='LoCoco'] (Lemont).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linebacker</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>March 2026 Grade: B-<br>August 2026 Grade: B-</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This position group has a superstar at the top in Carmel's [player_tooltip player_id='1688538' first='Jameer' last='Miles'].&nbsp; Long and rangy complete linebacker that can rush the passer, run sideline to sideline, and is an elite coverage guy in space.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='971685' first='Corey' last='McCullough Jr.'] from Mt. Carmel is right behind him as an impact P4 linebacker.&nbsp; Three other intriguing names are [player_tooltip player_id='2325160' first='Eliaz' last='Egbe'] (Palatine), [player_tooltip player_id='2140235' first='Omari' last='Hogan'] (East St. Louis), and [player_tooltip player_id='1150293' first='Cooper' last='Beaty'] (Plano).&nbsp; There is quite a bit of depth at the small college level at this position, but those five stand at the top in terms of FBS talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Defensive Back</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>March 2026 Grade: B<br>August 2026 Grade: B</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rock solid group here with three top 20 prospects being the stars of the group.&nbsp; Althoff corner [player_tooltip player_id='1682049' first='Logan' last='Thompson'] emerged this offseason as one of the most gifted corners in the entire country.&nbsp; The tape [player_tooltip player_id='1682047' first='Anthony' last='Carter'] from Providence Catholic put together at 6'0” with his athleticism and speed has star written all over him.&nbsp; [player_tooltip player_id='1140979' first='Jordan' last='Moore'] from Brother Rice has all the physical tools and size you could ask for on the perimeter.&nbsp; Pair of top safeties in the class are [player_tooltip player_id='1688291' first='Pierre' last='Ray Jr.'] (Richards) and [player_tooltip player_id='2133181' first='Zen' last='Cambric'] (Homewood Flossmoor).&nbsp; More top 100 talents include [player_tooltip player_id='1052308' first='Kaylen' last='Williams'] (Wheaton St. Francis), [player_tooltip player_id='1368256' first='Mason' last='Marable'] (Brother Rice), [player_tooltip player_id='1598476' first='Logan' last='Kondziolka'] (Sandburg), and [player_tooltip player_id='617820' first='JaVonte' last='Williams'] (Wheaton St. Francis).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->