RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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One of the hallmarks of old-school Catholic League football was its blue-collar, physical brand of defense.
The sport has opened up in recent years, but Catholic League teams still win championships on the defensive side of the ball.
So it’s no surprise this alphabetical list of 12 defensive players to watch in 2026 includes a trio from Class 8A champion Mount Carmel and a pair from 7A winner Brother Rice.
David Folorunsho, St. Patrick
A native of Nigeria who grew up playing soccer, Folorunsho is the No. 1 senior in the state and the No. 31 player nationally, according to the 247Sports rankings. The 6-3, 280-pound lineman is committed to Notre Dame.
Tavares Harrington, Mount Carmel
The 6-3, 185-pound defensive back is one of two Caravan seniors committed to Michigan, along with receiver Quentin Burrell. Heading into his third season as a starter, Harrington has career totals of 89 tackles, four interceptions and 16 passes broken up. He’s the consensus No. 8 player in Illinois and the No. 124 player nationally.
David Hill, Homewood-Flossmoor
An exceptional athlete who has played baseball and wrestled, Hill is committed to Wisconsin. The 6-3, 300-pound lineman is ranked 17th among Illinois seniors.
Roman Igwebuike, Mount Carmel
The 6-3, 225-pound linebacker is part of an impressive local recruiting class for Notre Dame. In two seasons as a starter, he has 199 tackles, 17½ tackles for loss and 6½ sacks. He’s the No. 9 senior in Illinois and in the top 160 nationally.
Justin Johnson, Evanston
Johnson is one of the fastest players in the state, as evidenced by the two sprint medals he won at the Class 3A state track finals in May. The 6-2, 180-pound cornerback is committed to Illinois and is the No. 11 senior in the state.
Darrell Mattison, Morgan Park
The Public League’s top-ranked recruit in the 2027 cycle at No. 15 in the state, Mattison originally committed to Michigan before flipping to Ole Miss. The 6-foot, 160-pound safety is also a game-breaker on special teams, returning multiple kicks for touchdowns last season.
Kameron McGee, Brother Rice
McGee, who has 40 Power Four scholarship offers, is one of the two consensus five-star prospects in the state in the 2028 cycle. A 6-4, 245-pound edge, he is ranked No. 2 in Illinois and No. 25 nationally. He had 48 tackles, 9½ sacks and 17 tackles for loss last season.
Jameer Miles, Carmel
The 6-3, 192-pound linebacker had 74 tackles last season. He’s the No. 5 junior in the state and the No. 52 player nationally. His 15 scholarship offers include Indiana, Ohio State, Oregon and Notre Dame.
Brayden Parks, Brother Rice
Parks is committed to Notre Dame, where his godfather, Chris Zorich, starred. The 6-3, 305-pound lineman is coming off a big junior season in which he had 60 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 7½ sacks. He’s the No. 10 senior in the state and is a top-200 player nationally.
Dareion Prescott, Bolingbrook
The 6-4, 255-pound edge is a five-star prospect ranked No. 1 in Illinois and No. 17 nationally. He has almost 40 Power Four scholarship offers and was the first local star to commit in the 2028 cycle, picking Notre Dame.
Jake Thies, Fenwick
Thies had a game for the ages in December, leading the Friars past downstate power East St. Louis in the Class 6A final with 200 all-purpose yards, two touchdowns, 19 tackles and an interception. The 6-foot, 185-pounder is committed to Iowa as a safety.
Caleb Tucker, Mount Carmel
Tucker is known as ‘‘Bonecrusher.’’ A 6-5, 370-pound junior, he had 31 tackles, nine tackles for loss and 4½ sacks last season. He’s the No. 8 player in the state and a top-150 player nationally in the 2028 cycle.
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