6 Defensive Recruits In The 2027 Class On The Rise

The 2027 class is quickly taking shape and today we're heading to the defensive side of the ball to check out a handful of guys who are playing at a high level and could be setting their futures up nicely.    Wickens is in the middle of his breakout season and putting himself in a great spot for the future. The sophomore linebacker got some work last year as a freshman, but now is not only starting for Edgewood but is 2nd in the class with total tackles through 4 weeks. He's a good athlete with a nose for the ball. He tracks it well and wraps up without an issue. So far on the year he's put up 60 total tackles, 31 solos, and half of a sack. He's confident, looks good on the field, and should be a stud for years.     Making the full-time transition to defense is Campbell, who is playing lights out football to start the year, and his defensive career. He's an explosive athlete who is great on or off the ball. He's got the speed to run down ball carriers and stay with receivers down the field. He's a tackling machine and always finds his way to the ball. He had 19 tackles this past week alone. On the year he's got 48 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 forced fumble, and 2 interceptions. I love where Campbell is now and think if he stays on this trajectory he could become a highly sought-after LB.     Forcing his way onto the field as a sophomore and making big plays is Oladipupo, whose older brother is a stud in his own right. With Praise, you've got a young and rangy linebacker who flies around the field. He tracks the ball as well as anyone and can wrap up in space as well as being the one to make the tackle in the pile. He's not afraid to go for the ball and try forcing the turnover. With 34 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble through the first month of the season, it's safe to say Oladipupo is developing right before our eyes.     Gibson Southern always seems to quietly have talented players who produce at a high level yet don't get the love they deserve. However, with Campbell, I like to think he doesn't go unnoticed and takes off here soon. He's got a relentless motor and doesn't take downs off. He can shed blocks, attack in the passing game, and shut down holes in the running game. He has 22 tackles to start the year and currently leads the 2027 class with 5 sacks and 7 TFLs.     Jones is a physical linebacker who likes to be near the ball. He's a strong and shifty guy who can get up underneath blockers and get right by them. He's not going to miss a tackle when it comes his way and when he rushes the QB he's at least going to pressure them. I also like his ability to communicate on the field and hand off receivers in zone. He seems to be ahead of schedule in a few areas which is good to see as well. With 24 tackles, a class leading 13 TFLs, 10 hurries, 3 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles it's pretty easy to see why Elkhart is excited about this young man.     Pullom is a guy we hit last year and who had a good freshman year. We were excited about that because it showed potential, but he's already exceeding those expectations as a sophomore and is on pace to blow out his freshman numbers. He's put weight on, he's worked on moves in the interior to get off blocks, and he's simply stronger. So far through 4 games he's put up 17 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 TFLs, and forced a fumble from the edge of the defensive line.

The 2027 class is quickly taking shape and today we're heading to the defensive side of the ball to check out a handful of guys who are playing at a high level and could be setting their futures up nicely.