2026 Rankings Risers: Defense

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Deep dive into the 2026 defensive prospect rising up the PRZ state rankings.</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["726153"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"At 5'11” 195 lbs. Sousou's an instinctive LB that has good anticipation to read and react. He's got a good feel for the position and great awareness to quickly recognize run/pass and trigger to attack the ball. He flies up to attack ball carriers and shows good short area burst in pursuit to close space. A plus athlete that can work laterally and scrape to make tackles down the line and sideline to sideline. Does a good job stepping up to fill holes between the tackles, takes on lead blockers and maintains his leverage with square shoulders. Finished his sophomore season with 76 total tackles and nine TFL, also got some work in at RB where he took 68 carries for almost 350 yards and three touchdowns. Voted First Team All-League.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65deca5817216"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/SousouTimothy/status/1762372918959595571","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/SousouTimothy/status/1762372918959595571 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["726162"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Impressive safety prospect with great reactionary quickness and burst to close. At 5'10” 180 lbs. he's a big time playmaker in Decatur's secondary. Shows good eye discipline and a high football IQ to diagnose plays as they are developing. He's patient with his reads limiting wasted movement allowing him to be equally effective in run support and dropping into coverage. Comes downhill hard with good angled pursuit in run support to deliver heavy contact at the POA. Makes a ton of plays at or behind the LOS. Also demonstrates the ability to come down in the box pre-snap and blitz off the edge. Good natural cover ability, flashes good awareness of where receivers are and has the range to play sideline to sideline. First Team All-League selection.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65deca5817282"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1092123"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Good cover corner that operates well in zone coverage. Smooth in his back pedal and transitioning into his break. He's able to flip his hips and accelerate to stay in phase and maintain his cushion. Shows good route recognition and anticipation to jump routes and make a play at the intersect point. Times out his jump and flashes good ball skills to track and adjust, recorded four interceptions in his sophomore season. Good ability to cover all three levels of the field, runs well on deep routes squeezing receivers to the sideline and placing himself between the ball and receiver. Reliable one on one tackler that can break down in space and wrap up to the ground. Another First Team All-Conference selection.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65deca58172d3"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/IsaiahAOlson/status/1734086442073342019","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/IsaiahAOlson/status/1734086442073342019 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["726159"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"At 6'0” 180 lbs. Elliott is a good three sport athlete (football/basketball/baseball) that can be an impact player in all three phases. Like his ability to sink into deep halves coverage and adjust to vertical receivers down the hash and to the boundary. Runs well showing good recovery speed and ability to cover ground with the ball in the air. Plus ball skills and judgement, he attacks and competes for the ball at the high point with good extension and body control. Does a good job weaving/reading on the QB's eyes and jumping into the throwing lane. Strong tackler with great contact balance, can play through blocks and drive his feet through contact. Good positional versatility to make explosive plays as a WR and kick returner.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ded2fde6cea"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/NickElliott_25/status/1723853526944882714","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NickElliott_25/status/1723853526944882714 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->