2018 All DMV Preseason Team – 1st Team Defense

Written by Josh Ilori – @jilori_22

Defensive Line

Bryan Bresee – 6’5” 290lbs (Jr) – Damascus High School [MD]

Twitter: @bryan_bresee

2018 MaxPreps Junior 1^st Team All-American,

2017 Stats: Unavailable

There’s not much to say here, Bresee destroys offensive game plans on a weekly basis. The only way to describe the top prospect in the class of 2020 is an athletic freak. Right now, he leads Maryland’s most dominate public school defense, and he’s on pace to be a high first round pick in about 5 years.

Tre Williams – 6’3.5” 308lbs (Jr) – St. John’s College [DC]

Twitter: @_TreWilliams

2017 Stats: Unavailable

After spending the first 2 years of high school at Connecticut’s St. Thomas More School Williams will be joining the Cadets for their 2017 Title defense. Coming in with a Power 5 frame Williams should have no problem competing against some of the nation’s best offensive lines. On tape it’s clear how Williams dominates his gap assignments.

Hakeem Beamon – 6’3.5” 254lbs (Sr) – Manchester High School [VA] Penn State Commit

Twitter: @hakeem_beamon

2017 Stats: Unavailable

Beamon does everything you want from a prototypical Defensive Lineman. Thanks to an explosive first step the future Nittany Lion can shoot gaps and disrupt plays as they develop when he’s in the interior. When Beamon lines up at Defensive End you see incredible lane discipline as he sets the edge and stops cutbacks before they start.

Tre’Mon Morris-Brash – 6’3” 220lbs (Sr) – St. John’s College [DC]

Twitter: @dolladrop

2017 Stats: Unavailable

Morris-Brash provides a lot of speed for the front of the Cadets defense playing the hybrid edge rusher role and consistently keeps running backs inside the edge he sets. But don’t think that Morris-Brash is a one trick pony. His WCAC leading 19.5 sacks [self-reported through Hudl] show that Morris-Brash knows how to use his athleticism and hand fighting skills to overwhelm Tackles on a regular basis.

Linebackers

Aaron Willis – 6’0” 200lbs (So) – St. Frances Academy [MD]

Twitter: @44crzy

2018 MaxPreps Sophomore 1^st Team All-American

2017 Stats (per MaxPreps): 5 Games, 24 Tackles, 24 Solo Tackles, 2 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Fumble Recovery, 4.8 Tackles per Game

With how stacked the Panthers were on defense in 2017 we’ve only gotten a preview of what Willis’ potential is. Understand that as a 9^th grader Willis wasn’t just able to see the field for St. Frances but was an impact player. If the Central Virginia Hurricane alumni isn’t accounted for at the snap Willis will wreck the play before it.

Shane Lee – 6’0” 253lbs (Sr) – St. Frances Academy [MD] Alabama Commit

Twitter: @leeboy1212

2018 MaxPreps 1^st Team All-American

2017 Stats (per MaxPreps): 4 Games, 29 Tackles, 29 Solo Tackles, 1 Fumble Recovery, 1 Defensive Touchdown, 7.3 Tackles per Game

If you’ve followed DMV High School for the past few years this selection comes as no surprise. The future Crimson Tide linebacker is one of the most complete prospects in the nation. Lee looks as confident when he’s dropping into coverage as he does when committing to run support. What sets Lee apart from the pack are his instincts, he’s always in the right place to make a play.

Brandon Smith – 6’4” 228lbs (Sr) – Lousia County High School [VA] Penn State Commit

Twitter: @brand0n_smith12

2018 MaxPreps 2^nd Team All-American

2017 Stats: Unavailable

Smith is the best pure athlete in the DMV and standing at 6’4” has rare length for the middle of a defense. Smith flies to the ball carrier like a seek and destroy missile. Smith’s unique skill set mean that he could develop to play any position in the Nittany Lions front-7.

Mekhail ‘MJ’ Sherman – 6’3” 234lbs (Jr) – St. John’s College [DC]

Twitter: @JuicedUpK9

2018 Maxpreps Junior 1^st Team All-American

2017 Stats (per Hudl Self Reporting): 11 Games, 51 tackles, 18 Tackles for a Loss, 7 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Interception, 4.6 Tackles per Game

Playing opposite of Mooris-Brash Sherman returns to a defensive unit which allowed 16.64 points while playing one of the nation’s hardest schedules. When he’s setting the edge Sherman sheds blocks with ease and keeps everything inside of him. When you drop him in zone coverage Sherman covers as well as any Linebacker in the Nation.

Defensive Backs

Salim Turner-Muhammad – 6’0” 170lbs (Sr) – Episcopal [VA] Stanford Commit

Twitter: @TurnerSalim

2017 Stats: Unavailable

If you’re looking to find the DMVs best man coverage corner Turner-Muhammad is a good starting point. Whether you have him playing up in press coverage or catch and release the future Cardinal will keep pace with his assignment. Turner-Muhammad’s ball skills can take care of the rest at that point, either cause a pick or incompletion.

Bryson Shaw – 6’2” 175lbs (Sr) – The Bullis School [MD] Ohio State Commit

Twitter: @bryson_shaw2

2017 Stats: Unavailable

Shaw’s impact on the 2017 Bullis season can’t be understated as they went 8 – 2 and had a 5-game winning streak. While the future Buckeye is a talented receiver and can swing games with his returns Shaw’s biggest impact is at safety. His phenomenal instincts are on display when he makes plays in run support. And if an errant pass goes through his zone Shaw’s liable to take it the other way.

Nick Cross – 6’0.5” 207lbs (Sr) – DeMatha Catholic [MD]

Twitter: @Nick_Cross26

2017 Stats: Unavailable

Along with DeMarcco Hellams, Cross gives the Stags the top Safety tandem on the East Coast if not the nation. He patrols the back half of Dematha’s defense like a centerfielder and the speed which made Cross an elite sprinter allows him to fly around the field. It’s not just the crushing hits that has Cross as the top prospect in Maryland, but how his game has progressed over the past 3 seasons.

Sheridan Jones – 6’1” 175lbs (Sr) – Maury High School [VA] Clemson Commit

Twitter: @SJones6_

2017 Stats: Unavailable

Jones has been one of the DMVs best Defensive Backs since he was an underclassman, so his appearance here should surprise no one. The first thing which grabs you when watching his tape is how skilled Jones is at baiting passers into terrible throws. Jones anticipation allows him to break on the ball at the best moment; that leads to one of 2 things. Either Jones forces an incompletion with a timely hit or is going the other way with the ball.

Tayvion ‘Tank’ Land – 5’8” 166lbs (Sr) – Ocean Lakes High School [VA] Maryland Commit

Twitter: @espntankkk

2017 Stats (per Maxpreps): 2 Games, 6 Catches, 60 Receiving Yards, 9 Tackles, 8 Solo Tackles, 1 Interception

A future Terrapin Land has been one of the most consistent coverage cornerbacks in the Virginia Beach area. He is one of the best defenders I’ve seen when it comes to baiting passers into dangerous throws. Land also shows exceptional anticipation when he’s using timely hits to break up passes. With the speed to keep up with any wide receiver and above average tackling ability Land will frustrate Virginia coaches this season.