Stock Risers 2029: Defense

The 2029 defensive class is still early in its development, but several young prospects are already beginning to separate themselves. As these freshmen and sophomores gain varsity experience, we're starting to see the combination of size, athleticism, physicality, and natural instincts that could translate to the next level. This edition of Stock Risers focuses strictly on defensive prospects whose performances, upside, and early flashes have put them firmly on the radar as names to watch moving forward.    Allen makes one of the biggest jumps in this rankings update, climbing 20+ spots heading into the season. He has continued to develop into a high-upside cover corner with quick feet, fluid movement, speed, and impressive ball skills. Allen has already flashed against varsity competition, and his ability to make plays on the football gives him a chance to keep climbing. With a bigger varsity role and increased production this fall, Allen could establish himself as one of the premier defensive backs in North Carolina's 2029 class.     Graham had an impressive offseason and enters the season with high expectations, making a 12-spot jump in the latest rankings. He brings excellent length to the secondary and has the speed and range to cover plenty of ground on the back end. Graham continues to develop as a defensive playmaker, and his combination of size, athleticism, and upside makes him one of the more intriguing defensive backs in the 2029 class. Now at Hopewell, a strong season of varsity production could push his stock even higher     onto the scene in the early summer and has been one of the fastest-rising defensive prospects in the 2029 class. After making a massive jump of nearly 50 spots, he climbed another nine spots heading into the season. At 6'3", 260 pounds, Campbell already has the size, explosiveness, get-off, and bend to create problems off the edge. His stock has also translated to the recruiting trail, where he has already picked up multiple early offers. With his physical tools and continued development, Campbell has the potential to keep making major moves up the board.     Okam has made a meteoric rise this offseason, climbing all the way to the No. 1 prospect in the 2029 class heading into the season. At around 6'4", 250+ pounds, he already possesses a rare combination of size, power, explosiveness, and athleticism for his age. He can create pressure off the edge but has the frame and strength to dominate inside as well. Okam has been a standout on the camp circuit, including an impressive showing at the Under Armour NEXT Combine, and his recruitment continues to take off. Simply put, Okam is a can't-miss defensive prospect with the tools to develop into one of the premier defensive linemen in the region     Ikard has established himself as one of the top young prospects in the 919 after putting together an impressive spring and summer. He competed throughout the offseason, gaining valuable reps in 7-on-7 and continuing to draw attention as a defensive back. Ikard plays with confidence, has good instincts in coverage, and brings the athleticism to make plays on the football. Already recognized as a name to know in the Triangle, he enters the season with an opportunity to make another major jump with varsity production.     Bronson is a penetrating interior defensive lineman who has already shown he can be disruptive against varsity competition. His strength and ability to consistently get into the backfield make him extremely difficult to handle one-on-one, and even double teams have trouble keeping him contained. Bronson recorded 12.5 tackles for loss in seven games as a freshman and earned All-Conference recognition. With his power and production in the middle, Bronson is a name to remember in the 2029 class.     Hampton is a hard-working young defensive lineman with great size, already standing around 6'3", 250 pounds. He's developing on a loaded Corvian defensive front, giving him the opportunity to learn and compete alongside some high-level talent. Hampton already holds an SEC offer from South Carolina, which was his first Division I offer. With his size, movement ability, work ethic, and plenty of development still ahead of him, his recruitment could really take off this season.     Johnson already has the prototypical size and physical tools you want to see from a young linebacker. At 5'11", 200 pounds, he can really run and move, showing the range to impact plays from sideline to sideline. He's a sure tackler who gets downhill quickly, fits gaps, and plays with a natural feel against the run. After recording varsity snaps as a freshman, Johnson enters this season as one of the 2029 linebackers with a chance to make a significant jump.

The 2029 defensive class is still early in its development, but several young prospects are already beginning to separate themselves. As these freshmen and sophomores gain varsity experience, we're starting to see the combination of size, athleticism, physicality, and natural instincts that could translate to the next level. This edition of Stock Risers focuses strictly on defensive prospects whose performances, upside, and early flashes have put them firmly on the radar as names to watch moving forward.