20 prep football players to watch on defense
The high school football season is set to begin Aug. 21. Here is a look at 20 players to watch on defense this season.
Andrew Agapos, ECS, LB, Sr.: The DII-AA Blue Cross Bowl MVP was a firstteam all-region selection and has an offer from Dayton.
Jeremy Boyland, White Station, DL, Sr.: Boyland, a first-team all-region selection in 8-6A, posted more than 60 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and five sacks. He has an offer from Air Force.
Quincy Briggs, Freedom Prep, DB, Jr.: The 5-foot-9 athlete has offers from LSU and Tennessee, among others.
Dallas Brown, Lausanne, DL, Sr.: Brown had 52 tackles, three sacks and six hurries for the DII-AA state semifinalist Lynx last season.
DJ Brown, MUS, LB, Sr.: Brown led DII-AAA state semifinalist MUS in tackles with 81. He also has 16 tackles for loss, four sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble, and a safety. Offers include Army, Navy, Liberty and Southern Miss.
Ethan Dabbs, Lausanne, LB, Sr.: Dabbs was a first-team all-region selection for DII-AA West and posted 101 tackles with two sacks and a fumble recovery.
Christian Dowell, Christian Brothers, DL, Sr.: Dowell was an all-region selection in DII-AAA West and has offers from Indiana State, Southern Illinois, Southeast Missouri State and Jacksonville State, among others.
Ethan Hassler, Collierville, Sr.: Hassler made 69 tackles, seven sacks, one interception and one forced fumble last season. He has offers from Louisville, Memphis and Wake Forest, among others.
Dallan Hayden, Christian Brothers, DB, Jr.: The younger brother of former St. George's star Chase Hayden has offers from Florida State, Tennessee and Notre Dame, among others.
De'von Holmes, Southwind, DL, Sr.: The 6-foot-3, 260-pound lineman has offers from Missouri, Kentucky and Kansas, among others.
Robert Johnson, MAHS, DB, Sr.: The 6-foot-1 North Texas commitment helped MAHS reach the Class 2A playoffs.
Kody Jones, Germantown, DB, Jr.: Jones is the state's No. 5 prospect for the
Class of 2022. He has offers from Auburn, Tennessee, Florida State and Georgia Tech, among others.
Roderic Lewis, MUS, DB, Sr.: The Tulane commitment was an all-region selection in DII-AAA at defensive back last season.
Tony Mccray, Lake Cormorant, DB, Sr.: The Georgia State commitment made 34 tackles and picked off four passes last season.
Walter Nolen, St. Benedict, DL, Jr.: Nolen, who played at Olive Branch last season, is back in the area after a brief stint at IMG Academy. He's the No. 3 prospect in the nation for the Class of 2022.
Ariyon Paige, Cordova, DB, Sr.: The three-star cornerback has a Memphis offer.
Greg Rubin, White Station, DB, Sr.: The Memphis commitment made more than 40 tackles last season with three Interceptions and returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown.
Brandon Warner, Ridgeway, DB, Sr.: The Memphis commitment is a 6foot, 180-pound safety who is ranked as a three-star prospect.
Alexander Whitmore, Whitehaven, DL, Sr.: The 6-foot-2, 255-pound defensive end was a first-team all-region selection and has offers from Tennessee State, Morgan State, and North Alabama, among others.
Jelani Willis, East, DB, Sr.: The Western Michigan commitment was an all-region selection at defensive back for Region 8-1A.