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5 defensive players who could make an impact for the Class of 2026 ft. Jahkeem Stewart
With the upcoming football season fast approaching, top defensive players who will make an impact for the Class of 2026 are preparing for the 2024 campaign. With some committing early to major college programs, these players will look to set the season ablaze. Often they will do it in the opposing team's backfield, impacting the game's momentum on the way to victory.
Here are five impact defensive players who are ready to lead their teams to this year's state championship.
5 defensive players who will make an impact for the Class Of 2026
#1. Jahkeem Stewart
Jahkeem Stewart has earned the nickname "Thanos" for his sheer size and mobility. The 6-foot-6, 280-pound rising junior is a one-man wrecking ball for St. Augustine High in New Orleans. He has impacted many opposing offenses since he made his varsity debut as a freshman.
The defensive lineman has been busy. He's made visits to Ohio State, Southern California and a few others showing how impactful he is expected to be when he steps on campus in 2026. He led St. Augustine with sacks, tackles and pass breakups on the varsity football field as a freshman.
Among all the accolades Stewart earned last season, the one that stood out the most was being named first-team defense on the MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Team. Stewart racked up 85 tackles, of which 33 were for losses, and 20 sacks to garner his four-star rating and the most highly sought-after defensive lineman recruit in the nation.
#2. Jett Washington, ATH
When your family tree has two former NBA legends and you are on track to follow in their footsteps, there is no surprise in the upside of your athletic capabilities. Jett Washington, the nephew and grandson of Kobe Bryant and Joe "Jellybean" Bryant, is impacting not only the football field but also the basketball court as well.
Washington is a wide receiver and defensive back who doesn't shy away from the contact at all. He attacks his routes and receptions with the same intensity as going for a rebound in basketball. He made his varsity debut as a freshman helping his Bishop Gorman Gaels to a 14-1 record in 2022-23 and 12-0 in 2023-24.
With his current height at 6-foot-5 and weight at 200 pounds, colleges are expecting him to come as a hybrid defender who can play edge, linebacker or inside the box as a roaming safety/ defensive back. Washington is already garnering heavy recruitment from the likes of Alabama, Michigan, UNLV, Oregon, Notre Dame, and Nebraska, to name a few.
#3. Jordan Thomas, DB
Jordan Thomas has been an impact player since his Pop Warner days as a youth athlete. He is now a rising junior in the class of 2026 with one of New Jersey's nationally ranked programs, Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.).
Thomas, who stands at a solid 6-1 and 175 pounds, found his way into the spotlight as a freshman. He made big plays in the defensive backfield which contributed to back-to-back state championships which includes an 22-2 overall record for the past two seasons.
Thomas has 29 offers from major D1 programs. With his height and versatility, he will likely continue to set the perimeter as a strong side safety or shut down corner, impacting the flight path and passing lanes of opposing offenses.
#4. Carter Meadows, DE
At 6-6 and 218 pounds, Carter Meadows has already started imposing his will, setting the edge as a weakside defensive end for Gonzaga College High School (Washington, D.C.). The standout rising junior has made impactful plays throughout his first two seasons as a varsity player.
Meadows is also the second two-sport athlete who plays basketball on an elite level that makes this list. He has been busy with Team Takeover for the Elite Youth Basketball League this summer. But his football stats during that time rival many top recruits: 32 tackles (17 solo, 15 assisted), 6 tackles for losses, 3 sacks, and dropping opposing offenses for 17 yards lost.
Meadows, at last count, had almost 19 offers, with Duke, Boston College, Vanderbilt, Florida State and Virginia Tech premiering as some of the top contenders.
#5. Colsen Gatten, LB
Colson Gatten has only 12 games on the books as a varsity player for Pittsburgh Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, PA). He made his debut as a sophomore last season and was very impactful on both sides of the ball. Gatten plays both tight end and outside linebacker where he is projected to play at the next level upon graduation in 2026.
Gatten, from his tight end position, has 3 receptions for 50 yards and 1 score. He averaged 16.7 yards per catch with 4.2 yards per game. His longest haul was 27 yards. Meanwhile, on defense, he was a problem for opposing offenses where he racked up 48 total tackles of which 27 were solo and 21 assisted putting his average to 4 tackles per game and 1 interception.
Gatten has several offers from top programs like Duke, Maryland, Kentucky, Michigan, and Michigan State, totaling 15 or more offers from mostly ACC and Big 10 schools. He has had a busy summer schedule going to different camps and combines along with 7v7 competitions. In one camp via x.com, @210ths, Gatten won the MVP for linebackers.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic will open the season at home when St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD) on August 24, 2024, at Wolvarena in Turtle Creek, PA.
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