North Carolina, Virginia and Washington are among some of the states which have already kicked off a spring high school football season. California, Nevada and Oregon are next up and will be kicking off in the coming weeks.
Earlier this week MaxPreps spotlighted the
Top 50 offensive players to watch playing in the spring, and now it is time to zone in on the other side of the ball. The list excludes Maryland, New York and Washington, D.C. due to the uncertainty of their status.
Even with a handful of 2021 top recruits opting to forgo their senior season and enroll in college early there remains plenty of talent ready to hit the gridiron this spring.
Domani Jackson, Mater Dei
File photo by Louis Lopez
Top 50 Defensive Players to Watch
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 195
Status: Committed to Army | Class: Senior (2021)
Has racked up 162 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks playing against the best competition over the last two years.
Height: 5-9 | Weight: 185
Status: Uncommitted | Class: Senior (2021)
The former Northeast (Philadelphia) standout will help give the Monarchs one of the best defenses in the country.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 165
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Sophomore (2023)
A knee injury kept him off the field as a freshman but will be an impact player for the Inland Empire power.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 295
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
Will play a huge role for the Braves in the trenches during a shortened spring season.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 180
Status: Signed with Washington | Class: Senior (2021)
Helps form one of the top tandems in the secondary with Wright who checks in at No. 4.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 350
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Senior (2021)
Dominates in the trenches and is one of the best defensive tackles from the Class of 2021.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 280
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
The four-star defensive tackle had six tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks in Shelby's 46-6 season opening win Feb. 26 against East Gaston (Mt. Holly).
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
Status: Committed to USC |
Class: Junior (2022)
One of four from the Las Vegas power to make the list is one of the best cornerbacks from the Class of 2022.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 215
Status: Signed with Oregon State | Class: Senior (2021)
As a junior he posted 91 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 255
Status: Committed to Navy | Class: Senior (2021)
Finished his junior season with 50 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 220
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
Has played a major role on defense for the best team in Washington over the last two years.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 210
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Sophomore (2023)
Will be one of the top-rated linebackers in the Class of 2023 when it's over.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
Flies around on defense and is one of the most instinctive players in high school football.
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 215
Status: Signed with Florida State |
Class: Senior (2021)
The multi-sport standout flies around the edge on defense.
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 160
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Sophomore (2023)
Has dominated on both sides of the ball through the Sentinels first two games. Has five touchdowns on offense and quarterbacks rarely look his direction on defense.
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 170
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
One of the most talented defensive backs in California can play multiple positions at a high level.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 250
Status: Signed with California |
Class: Senior (2021)
The three-star defensive end posted 54 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and seven sacks as a junior.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 170
Status: Uncommited | Class: Sophomore (2023)
Snagged four interceptions and logged 43 tackles as a freshman.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 210
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
Already has over 20 FBS offers and is one of the best linebackers in the country regardless of class.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 215
Status: Signed with Virginia |
Class: Senior (2021)
Finished his junior season with 30 tackles for loss and 21 sacks.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 205
Status: Signed with Pittsburgh |
Class: Senior (2021)
The four-star defensive end is also an impact player on offense.
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 240
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Sophomore (2023)
The top-rated prospect in Washington from the Class of 2023.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 220
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Sophomore (2023)
Named to the MaxPreps Freshman All-America first team in 2019 after finishing the year with over 100 tackles and four interceptions. Edwards is the top-rated inside linebacker in the Class of 2023.
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 220
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
Expect a huge junior campaign from the four-star linebacker.
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 165
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
Chris Steele, Jaiden Woodbey, Jaleel Wadood, Traveon Beck and Trent McDuffie are a handful of the notable defensive backs to come through the Braves program. Beasley's turn is now.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
The four-star recruit finished his sophomore season with 75 tackles and six interceptions on defense to go with 35 receptions for 855 yards and nine touchdowns on offense.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 220
Status: Signed with Washington |
Class: Senior (2021)
One of the best all-around players in the country.
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 205
Status: Signed with North Carolina |
Class: Senior (2021)
Lines up everywhere on the field and has racked up 243 tackles, 34 tackles for loss and 18 sacks during his career.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 180
Status: Signed with Oklahoma |
Class: Senior (2021)
The top-rated defensive back in the state helps give the Springers one of the best defenses in high school football.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 185
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
Will be an impact player on defense for the best team in Northern California.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 220
Status: Signed with Michigan State |
Class: Senior (2021)
Has been making plays since his freshman season and is back in Las Vegas to close out his high school career after helping lead St. John Bosco (Bellfower, Calif.) to a CIF Open Division state championship as a junior.
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 265
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Sophomore (2023)
Expect a breakout sophomore season from one of the top prospects in the Class of 2023.
Height: 6-1.5 | Weight: 240
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
The third-rated inside linebacker in the Class of 2022 recently released his top five schools, including Arizona State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Stanford and Texas.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 195
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
Has 175 tackles and five interceptions during his first two seasons for one of Southern California's top programs.
Height: 6-2.5 | Weight: 190
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
Had five interceptions during his sophomore year and checks in as the third-rated safety in the Class of 2022.
Height: 5-11.5 | Weight: 175
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
Named to the MaxPreps Sophomore All-American second team in 2019 after intercepting six passes for one of the top programs in the state.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 220
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
The four-star linebacker will be announcing his college decision March 28. His final six include Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, North Carolina and Ohio State.
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 250
Status: Signed with Oklahoma |
Class: Senior (2021)
The four-star defensive end led the Springers to a 45-0 victory in their Feb. 27 season opener against Godwin (Richmond).
Height: 5-10 | Weight: 180
Status: Signed with USC |
Class: Senior (2021)
Impacts the game at a high level on both sides of the ball.
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 205
Status: Committed to North Carolina |
Class: Junior (2022)
Racked up 129 tackles, 39 tackles for loss and 19 sacks as a sophomore.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 250
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
Played a huge role on the defensive line as a sophomore for the No. 1 team in the nation.
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 220
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
The Las Vegas power has produced a lot of big-time players over the last decade and Moss is next up.
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 180
Status: Committed to Arizona State |
Class: Junior (2022)
One of the best all-around players in the country recently became a Sun Devil.
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
Checks in as the No. 1 inside linebacker in the Class of 2022.
6. ATH DJ Harvey, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 170
Status: Signed with Virginia Tech |
Class: Senior (2021)
Dynamic playmaker on both sides of the ball. Had 35 tackles, four interceptions, 1,400-plus receiving yards, and seven touchdowns in 2019.
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 310
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Junior (2022)
The five-star defensive tackle is the eighth-rated player overall in his class.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 175
Status: Signed with USC |
Class: Senior (2021)
The "Space Jam 2" star is one of the best lockdown cornerbacks in high school football.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185
Status: Committed to USC |
Class: Junior (2022)
The cornerback position is one of the best overall from the Class of 2022 and Jackson is the top-rated CB among all juniors.
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 215
Status: Signed with USC |
Class: Senior (2021)
Has been making plays at a high level the last two years for one of the top programs in the country.
Height: 6-4.5 | Weight: 280
Status: Uncommitted |
Class: Senior (2021)
Checks in as the No. 1 player overall on 247Sports.