Beyond the Top 100: My Favorite September Commits on D, Part II

On Wednesday, <a href="https://preplacrosse.com/2026/09/beyond-the-top-100-my-favorite-september-commits-on-d-part-i/">we highlighted five players on the defensive side of the ball</a> who, while they didn't crack the national top 100, made their way into the regional rankings and ranked among my favorite commitments of September. Today, we've got four more, including three poles, a shortstick d-middie, and a top goalie.    Cooke looks like someone who could turn into a killer — that is, if he isn't already. Though he wasn't on the summer circuit as much as many of his Big Ten- and ACC-bound peers, he made an impression whenever he was out there. His highlight tape shows off his ferocious mindset and athleticism, and he kicks it off by laying the boom in vicious fashion. He plays defense with purpose and controlled aggression, covering a ton of ground and playing lights-out defense both below and above the goal line. Cooke can throw takeaway checks while running full-speed, which isn't always as easy as it sounds, and it's one of many qualities that highlight how well he moves for someone of his stature. He's got excellent hips, along with the footwork and hands to match. I love how Cooke plays the position, and I'm excited to see where his game goes. I've always been a fan of how Michigan recruits the position, and he looks to be next in line.     One of the aspects of this new era of recruiting — amid 5-for-5 and roster caps — that had me most curious was what it would mean for players with raw potential. With fewer spots in each recruiting class, would coaches still be willing to take risks? Well, Georgetown's decision to snag a 6-foot-4 defender who has only been playing lacrosse for two years speaks to the belief Kevin Warne has in Lombardi, and I can't help but be intrigued by where his development goes from here. So many clichés can be thrown around with a guy like Lombardi, but they're true in that he's just scratching the surface of what he's capable of and could be a monster as he continues to learn the game and commit himself to the weight room. His arms are crazy long, and he knows how to use them to his advantage, causing disruption and using his stick to his advantage. He does so many things well already, and it's exciting to think about what he could look like in a few years.     Nyman to Air Force stands out as one of the biggest steals of the '28 cycle, considering the reality that he was being recruited heavily by multiple Patriot League schools and getting some Ivy interest. Between Nyman and Knox Ramstein, one of the very best players in the South, Bill Wilson's Falcons have won big on the defensive end. The younger brother of former two-time Hopkins captain Beaudan Szuluk has shades of his game in terms of the way he moves and communicates, among other qualities. He's not as long and rangy, but he makes up for it with high-level footwork and an active stick. He's smooth off the ground and, when he goes up to the wings of face-offs, Nyman is incredibly impactful and knows what to do with the ball once it's in his stick. Projected as a starter on a stacked Big Red backline in the '27 season, he's cerebral and instinctive, and will help round out that unit in complementary fashion while inevitably taking on a number of big-time matchups.     We'll be writing more about Utah's 2028 class in the coming days, as the Utes are crushing it with some under-the-radar pickups. That said, Riiber isn't exactly sneaky, though he is the headliner of Drew McMinn's class at the moment. The Nevada native has made a name (a great name, might I add) for himself at both Bishop Gorman as a 2027 and Lawrenceville as a 2028 with his gritty play as a shortstick. With game-breaking athleticism and a relentless compete level, he's all over the field making an impact, and it's clear he loves playing the position. Riiber plays hard and mostly under control, though there are times when he could stand to rein in his aggression, which feels rather fixable and is, quite frankly, one of those so-called good problems. Formidable both within a system in the spring and on the more loose summer circuit, he's constantly jamming up dodgers up top, preventing rollbacks and straight-up putting the ball on the ground, while also serving as a tremendous asset in the clearing game. This should almost go without saying, but Riiber will only get better with two more years at Lawrenceville against the schedule the Big Red plays every year.     Robinson, who plays for former Princeton head coach Chris Bates at St. Andrew's, became yet another highly touted recruit to pick the Tigers when he announced his decision on the 18th. Interestingly, he was one of two Ivy League commits on his high school roster, stepping in and playing when current Brown freshman Thomas White was sidelined by injury as a senior. From there, Robinson was flat-out ridiculous on the summer circuit, excelling at showcases and with the Annapolis Hawks. Coaches who have worked with him rave about his positive energy and coachability, attributes he combines with high-level athleticism, sound fundamentals, and tremendous hand speed. He's as steady as they come, with a knack for stymying would-be scorers on the doorstep before triggering transition with quick outlets. At Princeton, he'll compete with another fantastic goalie recruit in New Canaan's Jack Crowell, who ranks in the Top 25 of the senior class. Robinson, though, has every reason to feel confident in his ability to earn time, and he should only continue to improve and add to an already strong body of work in the years to come.

On Wednesday, we highlighted five players on the defensive side of the ball who, while they didn't crack the national top 100, made their way into the regional rankings and ranked among my favorite commitments of September. Today, we've got four more, including three poles, a shortstick d-middie, and a top goalie.