Which defensive tackles are the run stoppers to watch for Jacksonville and Northeast Florida entering the 2026 season?
As the clock ticks down toward the start of the season, here's a closer look at some of the area's best defensive tackles in Florida high school football. On Friday, Aug. 21, Jacksonville-area schools begin the march toward the Florida High School Athletic Association championships on deck for this December in Miami, the first season since the end of the Rural Class and the FHSAA's realignment to six classes. Last year, Raines brought home Jacksonville's first state title since 2021.
Vote for the best defensive tackle at the link below. This position ranks among the deepest in Northeast Florida, and several other interior players
are likely to compete in college football at some stage.
Here's the Times-Union's countdown ranking of the area's best DTs.
Anson Bivins, Bolles
Class: Junior
Height/weight: 6-3, 330
Huge run stuffer is in his first year with Bolles after transfer from Clay. Played both ways last year, recording 32 tackles, seven for loss, 1 1/2 sacks and a fumble recovery. Also made 16 pancake blocks on offense. Early offers include Liberty, South Florida and Wake Forest.
Geedarious Thomas, University Christian
Class: Sophomore
Height/weight: 6-1, 260
Hard to block already and likely to get even tougher in coming years. Had 48 tackles, 21 for loss, and 8 1/2 sacks as a UC freshman. Early offers include UCF, Syracuse and West Virginia.
Danny Torres, Bradford
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-2, 275
Mobile and versatile lineman contributed to big Tornadoes season on defense. Listed offers include UNC-Pembroke and Mesabi Range. Recorded 90 tackles, 13 for loss, with a pair of sacks in Bradford's run to regionals in 2025.
Jaylen Underwood, Columbia
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-2, 275
Part of a dominant interior for Tigers. Recorded 51 tackles, nine for loss, and three sacks in 2025, and has three career fumble recoveries. Listed offers include Liberty, North Texas and UMass.
Jaden McCray, Columbia
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-1, 295
Listed offers include Middle Tennessee, North Texas and UMass. Began high school career at Fort White (10 tackles for loss as a freshman). Last year, he had 49 tackles, 12 for loss, with eight sacks at Columbia.
Johnny Duckett, White
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-2, 265
Among Gateway Conference's best on the inside. Disrupted plays all year in 2025 with 80 tackles, 20 for loss, and nine sacks. Showed strength in Commanders' spring game against Bolles.
Julius LaRosa III, University Christian
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-1, 280
Rated as a three-star recruit for 247Sports and Rivals. Committed May 11 to N.C. State. Had 59 tackles (17 for loss), seven sacks and two fumble recoveries last year, and has 24 sacks and 43 1/2 tackles for loss through three varsity seasons. Has also played for University Christian baseball, hitting two home runs in 2025.
Kindrid Outland, Mandarin
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-3, 280
Committed May 4 to South Florida over more than a dozen other offers. Rated as a three-star recruit and a top-145 tackle in the 247Sports composite. A keystone of Mustangs' defense with 62 tackles (21 for loss), five pass defenses and 5 1/2 sacks in 2025.
Mason Thomas, Oakleaf
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-2, 278
More than a run-stuffer, Thomas was an all-around disruptive force on the defensive line as a junior with 96 tackles and 12 sacks. Listed offers include Florida State, Liberty and Western Kentucky. Also a district track and field qualifier in the shot put.
![Trinity Christian lineman Adrian Williams runs through warm-ups before a high school football preseason kickoff classic against Nease in Jacksonville, Florida, on Aug. 15, 2025. [Clayton Freeman/Florida Times-Union]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/authoring-images/2025/08/16/NFTU/85686027007-081525-tca-nease-4.JPG)
Adrian Williams, Trinity Christian
Class: Senior
Height/weight: 6-3, 295
Among Jacksonville's top-rated recruits for the 2027 class, Williams committed to Georgia Tech in June. Played both sides of line in junior year but often projected on D-line for college. Recorded 28 tackles, eight for loss, and three sacks in 2025 while spending much of his time on offense. Rated as a three-star recruit and a top-125 defensive tackle in the 247Sports composite for 2027.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Ranking Jacksonville area's best DTs in Florida high school football
