Ranking the Top 25 Midlands HS football defensive players for 2025
The 2025 high school football season is upon us.
To get you ready for the upcoming season, The State sports staff compiled a list of the Top 25 defensive players for 2025 and others to keep an eye on.
Also check out Monday’s Top 25 offensive players list.
Top 25 Defensive Players
1. Julian Walker, DE, Dutch Fork: Four-star prospect had a big end to the season and is ranked as the third-best prospect in the state for 2026. The Michigan commit finished 2024 with 50 tackles (19 for loss), tied for the team lead with 11 sacks and had five quarterback pressures.
2. Jaiden Bryant, DE, Irmo: Four-star prospect for Class of 2027 is a top-100 national recruit and has plenty of Power 4 offers. The junior had 86 tackles (18 for loss), 15.5 sacks, seven pass break-ups and three caused fumbles.
3. Jordyn Best DB, Ridge View: The senior defensive back committed to NC State this summer and had 22 tackles (3 for loss) and two interceptions last season.
4. Azal Banag, DB, AC Flora: The senior defensive back committed to Harvard in the summer and 101 tackles, (4) for loss, two interceptions and three caused fumbles.
5. Dontrell Wilson, DE, Camden: Senior had 70.5 tackles (11 for loss) and six sacks last season.
6. Jaden Wuerth, DE, Dutch Fork: Junior transferred to the defending state champions after playing last season at Aquinas High School in Georgia. Wuerth had 286 tackles, (74 for loss) and 27 sacks in his first two seasons.
7. Jackson Ross, LB, Hammond: Junior has picked up Power 4 offers from Duke and Vanderbilt and had 97 tackles (14 for loss), 11.5 sacks, six pass break-ups, two interceptions and 10 quarterback pressures last year.
8. Tyrone Jennings, DL, Irmo: The junior transferred from White Knoll after a productive sophomore season. Jennings had 92 tackles (9.5 for loss) and 3.5 sacks last year.
9. Jordan Boston, DB, Hammond: Senior had 24 tackles and two pass break-ups last season.
10. Michael Boulware, LB, Gray Collegiate: Senior was again Gray’s top tackler last season after 133 tackles (8 for loss), five sacks and two forced fumbles.
11. Caleb Pinkney, DB, River Bluff: Junior had 32 tackles and led the team with seven interceptions.
12. KD Whitt, DB, Batesburg-Leesville: Senior had a team-high six interceptions and was a Class 2A All-State selection. On offense, Whitt had 27 catches for 475 yards and a school-record 10 touchdowns.
13. Wynn Meetze, DB, Gilbert: Junior safety had 126 tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack. Meetze was a Class 4A All-State selection.
14. Jarrell Turner, DB, Richland Northeast: The senior is RNE’s top defensive back and committed to play at Charlotte.
15. Major Taylor, DE/LB, Irmo: The senior plays on opposite side of Jaiden Bryant and could be primed for a big year. The Yale commit had 38 tackles, five sacks and an interception last season.
16. Hugh Manning, LB, Hammond: Junior transferred to Hammond after leading AC Flora with 114 tackles (23 for loss).
17. Raleigh Salters, LB, Dutch Fork: Senior had 84 tackles (15 for loss), four sacks, two interceptions and seven quarterback hurries.
18. Palmer Flake, LB, Chapin: Senior transferred from AC Flora and had 80 tackles ( nine for loss) and an interception last season. Flake is a Wofford commit.
19. Peyton Bishop, DL, AC Flora: The junior had 70 tackles (10 for loss), five sacks and 12 quarterback pressures.
20. Corey Murphy, DB, Lugoff-Elgin: The junior had 33 tackles, six interceptions and 12 pass break-ups last season.
21. Darius Dixon, LB, Keenan: Junior had 126 tackles (10.5 for loss) last season for the Raiders.
22. William Geddis, LB, Swansea: Senior had 65 tackles, four sacks, 14 quarterback pressures, five forced fumbles and an interception last year.
23. JP Sweatt, LB, Gray Collegiate: Senior had 102 tackles (seven for loss), two fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown.
24. Drake Porter, LB, Ben Lippen: Senior had 141 tackles and four pass break-ups last season.
25. Sergino Samuels, LB, Lower Richland: Senior had 61 tackles (10.5 for loss) and seven sacks last season.
Others Midlands players to watch
Bubba Alexander, LB, Hammond; Jaiden Brown, LB, Ridge View; Demarion Brown, DB, Gilbert; Jordan Davis, LB, AC Flora; Daniel Gee, LB, Lower Richland; Quency Grant, DB, Ridge View; Ophir Hill, LB, Lower Richland; Julian Hughes, LB, Heathwood Hall; Dillon Hutcherson, LB, Blythewood; Douglas McCloud, LB, Fairfield Central; Caleb Raysor, DB, Gray Collegiate; Preston Rhodes, LB, Lugoff-Elgin; Isaiah Saxon, DL, Lexington; Fernando Simuel, LB, Lugoff-Elgin; James Smith, DB, White Knoll; John Stokes, DL, Hammond; Davon Toney, LB. Ridge View; Dre Walker, DB, Fairfield Central; Breone Whitaker, LB, Fairfield Central; Royce Williamson, DB, Gray Collegiate
This story was originally published August 12, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
