Top Uncommitted '26s: Mid-Atlantic Defenders

Use code ‘PREP30′ at checkout to receive 30% off your annual or two-year subscription! Class of 2026 defensemen flew off the board in September. Though only one Top 100 recruit remains uncommitted on defense, there's no shortage of high-caliber defensive prospects available, as one might imagine since it's barely October. In this piece, I take a look at six of the best ones in the Mid-Atlantic, covering a stalwart from the Inter-Ac in PA, a trio of Maryland private school defenders, and a pair from New Jersey that weren't covered in <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2024/09/defenders-to-watch-new-jersey-class-of-2026/">Eric Bretz's extensive early September post on some of the top names in the state</a>.    My favorite defender on this list, the young Ford impressed as a sophomore on one of the better teams in the country against high-level competition. He's listed at 6-foot, but he's deceptively rangy and uses those long arms to be disruptive in the passing lanes. For that reason, he's an asset on man-down with an active stick, and he's smooth off the ground. so he's an asset on man-down with an active. On top of that, he's a physical presence and knows the right time to lay the body and when to rely on position and footwork. Away from the ball, Gillin is always making heads-up plays, too. It sounds like he's deciding between three Top 20 programs, and a commitment is expected soon.        I had nothing but positive notes on Tanton in June at Best in Class, where I got a strong sense of his coachability and how hard he plays. Quite frankly, you know what you're getting from Tanton, who has consistently played well whenever I've seen him. He makes plenty of plays on-ball, in addition to thriving off the wing with some excellent groundballs, which is no surprise since he's an All-MIAA hockey player. On the field, Calvert Hall allowed him to show off his versatility as a sophomore, as he gained experience both at LSM and with a shortstick in his hands. I have a feeling that whoever gets him will be getting a steal, and he'll only get better as his role increases with the Cardinals.     At 6'1 and 180 pounds, Talbot is approaching 'baby giraffe' territory and is still growing into his body. He's a sensational athlete — over the years, he's tested off the charts at Best In Class — and he's rock solid as a defender. Talbot got better as the summer wore on, and I returned from the Long Island Summer Showdown feeling even better about him than I did in early June. The Northern Virginia native did some good stuff in transition and on the wings of face-offs, but I really liked his play down low. Talbot's approaches were on-point, he fills space away from the ball well, and he's always man-conscious.     Watching Mahoney on a few live streams this spring, it didn't take long to notice that the lefty has elite hands. He's always getting his stick on the ball to disrupt offenses, whether that means deflecting passes or making clean interceptions. He plays under control yet aggressively, often putting the ball on the ground when playing 1v1 defense. As a sophomore, Mahoney earned 2nd Team All-League and 1st Team All-Conference honors, causing 60-plus turnovers and scooping up 50-plus groundballs. I liked what I saw from him this summer both with Leading Edge and for the NJ squad at the Nike All-Star Games, playing with great hunch and even better instincts. I'll be curious to see where he winds up at the next level.     Although Conniff may not be one to throw many flashy takeaway checks, he's sensational at helping end possessions and getting teams out of their offensive rhythm. Tall and rangy at 6'3, I'd like to see him get to 200 pounds between now and his college career, but he's still a force with his sheer strength and size. On top of that, he's got an awesome stick. Another hockey player, Conniff frequently gets his stick on passes and does a nice job of getting the ball off the ground and rolling away from pressure. Part of a strong '26 class for the Kirst Cup champions, he's a great decision-maker with the ball in his stick, but even more, he's really intelligent as an off-ball defender and looks primed to serve as the glue for a defense at the next level.     To say that Verner never hesitates to lay a big hit would be quite an understatement. Bringing an excellent blend of Division I-ready size, athleticism, and strength, Verner constantly makes his presence felt and seldom overdoes it to the point that he finds himself constantly on one knee in the penalty box. He moves well for a bigger body, and his presence is felt at all times. In typical Loyola fashion, Verner is far from the only young Don defender on the radar of top programs, as a pair of his teammates have already committed to Big Ten schools. I'd imagine that Verner is up next and will find a great place to play college ball.

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Class of 2026 defensemen flew off the board in September. Though only one Top 100 recruit remains uncommitted on defense, there's no shortage of high-caliber defensive prospects available, as one might imagine since it's barely October.

In this piece, I take a look at six of the best ones in the Mid-Atlantic, covering a stalwart from the Inter-Ac in PA, a trio of Maryland private school defenders, and a pair from New Jersey that weren't covered in Eric Bretz's extensive early September post on some of the top names in the state.