By Cole Mantell (@LightningDragon)
We’ve talked about offense, now it is time for defense! While the names on offense might have been flashier this season, there is a lot of great talent on defense that is now eligible to go to the next level. The Pro Draft is always a chance for some of these guys to shine, and we have one last chance to grade and discuss all of these guys. So, as we did on offense, let’s discuss the defensive players available for selection in the fifth Pro League draft.
For newer readers of this series, I scout the draft-eligible players into four tiers. They are based on these tiers and while I never am 100% right on where the guys are picked, the stat-based evaluations take previous drafts into account and help guide drafters and draft viewers alike to judge where these many great players who have graduated will go. Players in each tier are listed in alphabetical order by last name. There is no ranking within tiers. With that said, here are the draft tiers we use for this series:
| Tier | Description |
| Tier 1 | 1st Round Draft Grade |
| Tier 2 | 2nd-3rd Round Draft Grade |
| Tier 3 | 4th-6th Round Draft Grade |
| Tier 4 | 7th-8th Round Draft Grade |
Defensive Line
Tier 1: Perry Harrison, Owen Moreland, Lacrisa Pettijohn
Tier 2: Myles Andrews, Jaxon Cobb, Vincenzo DeVito, Anthony Grant, Jack Hetherton, Cody Higdon, Owen Hudson, Jesse Stork, Bubba Wadsworth
Tier 3: Hayes Adams, Heinrich Kaine, Hom Kear, Rui Lang, Deuce LeClaire, Keith Leonard, Heath Moorman, Kekoa Rivers, Titan Thompson
Tier 4: LeMichael Black, Treylon Cooper, Nora Hill, JJ Hutchinson, Caden Laben, Canen Lee, Vladimir Luca, Carter Pillager, Maria Sebastiano, Barak Stone
It’s one of the largest defensive line classes I’ve ever graded. There is one clear guy at the front of this group as well. Owen Moreland was dynamite at Texas and graduated with three All-Americans to his name. He is a no-doubt first-rounder and argues to be the first defensive player of the board. We may no longer be in the era of 50 or 60-sack careers, but Moreland has led a bit of a renaissance movement at the position, and many current guys have looked to his model of consistent pressure and timely sacks.
Behind him, two defensive tackles argue for the first round as well. Perry Harrison and Lacrisa Pettijohn both bring two different types of strong play, but for their teams, they both were extremely valuable contributors as maybe the toughest position to recruit and play well in the CFSL. They’ll be great picks in the draft, and I project them jumping late into Round 1.
Behind them, Tier 2 and 3 might have a guy jump into Round 1, but I think among those middle rounds is where this class shines best. Names like DeVito, Wadsworth, Kaine, Kear, and Rivers are well-known players who have made impacts in some big moments. It really will come down to which GM likes which player. Tier 4 also has some hidden guys. I liked Nora Hill and JJ Hutchinson in the CFSL and could see a jump from them despite lower counting stats.
Linebackers
Tier 1: Bear Brown
Tier 2: Taye Allison, Tomlin Bettis, Drew Hardy, Stan Free, Jad McPherson
Tier 3: Connor Burns, Jesus Hanson, Isaiah Mosley, Jackson Rodgers
Tier 4: Reggie Bishop, Jon Harrison Jr
We go from one of the largest position groups in the class to one of the smallest. Without a doubt, there are very few linebackers available to draft this season. And surprisingly, not one of these LBs has as much as an All-American to their name, either. With that said, the middle of this class is just as good as almost any other position group, even if there are fewer guys. I also think Bear Brown is the only first-round lock here. Brown was excellent for four seasons at Kentucky and is very far ahead of the rest of this group in career tackle numbers. He will get a look in the 1st as GMs realize the lack of guys like him at the top.
Beyond Brown, I could see a name like Jad McPherson or Drew Hardy jump into the first if a team reaches. Jad McPherson, for the record, would be my 1st overall pick if we were scouting cool names. I liked all six of the Tier 3 and 4 guys, even if their film and stats are more limited. With only 12 total guys, the competition will be fierce, and there may not be any linebackers left by the later rounds. That will impact how high some of these guys get drafted.
Cornerback
Tier 1: Chuy Baca, Marcus Padgett, Elijah Pence
Tier 2: Joe Bady, Bill Bass, Trae Gaither, Tyr Gunderson, Jay Henry, Jourdan Johnson, Percy King, Corkey Wilder
Tier 3: Jackson Brown, Deshoun Catchings, Trevon Day II, Deshawn Harper, Noah Johnson, Frankie Ragland, Carter Smart
Tier 4: Zack Brandsted, Jace Carter, Zach Egg, Davius Greene, Mo Harris, Reagan Lee, Garrett Pemberton, David Perez, Brandon Scott
It’s another deep Cornerback class, featuring both top-end guys and a lot of depth gems. Starting in Round 1, Chuy Baca might be one of the most interesting players I’ve ever graded. On his cornerback play alone, Baca is a first-round CB with 15 interceptions over his career along with two All-American nods. Of course, that is only half of his game.
Over his career, Baca has been the best all-around special teams player in the CFSL. He won an All-American for Returner in Season 22. He’s always been a threat both on defense and special teams. And of course, he was the Season 21 Defensive Player of the Year. Baca is my highest-graded CB for all of these reasons and will be in the argument for the top defensive pick this season if for some reason it isn’t Owen Moreland. Marcus Padgett and Elijah Pence are also great if more traditional, CB talents. Both should get a look at the end of Round 1, if not higher.
Moving down the tiers, some great names are hiding among a large class. Guys like Noah Johnson, Frankie Ragland, Zack Brandsted, and Brandon Scott are players I like who didn’t rack up quite the interception numbers as some other guys. CB is a much more spread-out position group this season, with guys of quality available in every tier. The depth here should work to the advantage of GMs but may cause a glut of guys waiting to hear their names called later in the draft.
Safety
Tier 1: Benjamin Carter, Ryan Downie, Jarred Kline, Payson Parker
Tier 2: Justin James, Mark McNally, Jaylon Pemberton, Jeremy Schultz, Shelby Ware
Tier 3: Kareem Ali, John Brooks, Pierre Eldridge, Brian Singletary, Elijah Washington, Bandall Woods
Tier 4: Demontrey Bones, Andre Christmas, James Garcia, Dakota Glover, Cam Thomas, Tyrell Trust, Quan Wilson
The safety class is very similar to the cornerback class this season. Both are strong groups with plenty of first-round talent. Payson Parker is the name to watch among safeties. He’s won two National Championships with USC, and an All-American award too. He has more tackles and the 2nd most PDs in the group and joins Ryan Downie, Jarred Kline, and Benjamin Carter as my first-round locks.
Mark McNally is another name to watch, who might also jump into the 1st if there is enough room. Overall, this safety class will have talent just like CB around the draft, and teams will have more than a few options no matter where or when they look. Guys like Pierre Eldridge or Elijah Washington in Tier 3 are also guys to possibly see a jump. I liked Kareem Ali’s tape as well.
Kicker
Tier 1: N/A
Tier 2: N/A
Tier 3: Cody Brooks, Orion Ironside,
Tier 4: Jason Foote, Howie Hart, Stalin Lightfoot, Oleksandr Melinyshyn, Thomas Ohm, Boo Sheets, Charlie Ware
I know people love this section of the article. And to be fair, there is some great kicking talent this season available. Cody Brooks was a two-time All-American. Orion Ironside leads the class in field goal percentage. And the rest of the guys here have some Tier 1 names, to say the least.
I was always particular about Jason Foote and Oleksandr Melinyshyn, but let me know who you guys think should be the top kicker by name value. Needless to say, kickers are usually reserved for the late rounds, but this is one of the strongest kicker classes I have graded. Some guys will go earlier, to the delight of kicking fans everywhere.
