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In this grand sport of football, it always comes down to fundamentals, none more important than blocking and tackling.
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For the Sacramento-high school football scene in 2026, the efforts of defensive stoppers will play a role in how far teams go in their quest to win league and postseason championships.
Here’s a peek at 25 of the top returning defensive players from last season — varsity starters ready for another big season.
Travis Beatty, Folsom Bulldogs
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior is cat-quick on coverage, and he started on a CIF State championship team with fellow senior defensive back Daniel Eagleton.
Those players get tested daily in practice by Folsom receivers.
Wesley Besseghini, Dixon Rams
The 6-0, 190-pound senior and the son of the Solano County school’s coach of the same name, was in on 43 tackle.
A linebacker, Besseghini doubles as a versatile player on offense.
Troy Bowens, Sutter Huskies
The 6-4, 250-pound defensive lineman terror headed to Cal overwhelmed opponents on his team’s march to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division V championship as proof that small-school guys can draw national recruiting interest. He has a linebacker teammate to work with again in 6-2, 205-pound senior Andrew Barker, who had 123 tackles in 2025.
Bowens had 106 tackles in 2025, 33 for loss, including 13 sacks after recording 76 stops, 19 for loss and 13.5 sacks as a sophomore.
Julian Bruno, Grant Pacers
The 6-1, 225-pound junior is the next great linebacker for the powerhouse Pacers, and they’ve had a ton over the decades.
He has scores of national recruiting interest and is a 4.0-GPA student who had 110 tackles in 2025.
Chase Carmazzi, Del Oro Golden Eagles
The 6-1, 180-pound senior defensive back had four interceptions last season, including a late pick to seal a victory at Jesuit on the same night his grandfather Dan Carmazzi was inducted into the Jesuit Hall of Fame for his decades of football coaching leadership.
Carmazzi’s defensive teammates include the bruising Landen Parry, a linebacker/end.
EJ Coleman, Folsom Bulldogs
The 6-1, 215-pound senior linebacker had 116 tackles last season and started on Folsom’s state championship team.
He’s poised for a monstrous season.
King Concepcion-Copeland, Inderkum Tigers
The 6-0, 195-pound senior end had 8.5 sacks and helped power the program back into the Division I playoffs.
He has a defensive back teammate in senior Raymond Conrad who led the team with five interceptions in 2025 and is a team captain in 2026.
Lua DeBerry, Folsom Bulldogs
The 6-2, 255-pound lineman and three-year starter and Sacramento State commit can turn games with his pursuit, tackling and in forcing fumbles.
He had 89 tackles last season, 13.5 for loss, for a 14-1 team that played on the season’s final weekend.
Gage Esty, Placer Hillman
The 6-3, 275-pound senior anchor is headed to UCLA to play guard, but he’s also a load to deal with on the defensive line for the storied program in Auburn.
Esty has tackling teammates in linebackers Jesse Aday and Ryan Alonzo.
Billy Heinselman, Granite Bay Grizzlies
The 6-0, 205-pound senior linebacker made 92 tackles for the Placer County program that reached the section Division II finals.
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A repeat effort is the goal for the Grizzlies.
Giovanni Hodge, Grant Pacers
The 6-4, 250-pound senior defensive lineman is a run stopper and a load to deal with in the trenches.
He’ll be a leading force on the defense of a state-ranked program that expects another section and state-championship run.
DeShaun Jackson, Liberty Ranch Hawks
The 6-5, 300-pound senior headed to Nevada on scholarship was in on 65 tackles, 14.5 for loss, and he led the way for three 1,000-yard rushers as an offensive lineman.
The Hawks, who’ve become the pride of Galt, went 11-1 last season.
Mateo Martinez, Roseville Tigers
The 5-11, 175-pound senior linebacker was in on 91 tackles in 2025, doing his part to power the Placer County program to its first section championship since 1987.
He is flanked by returning linebackers Cash Fischer and Jude Navaro.
Lolo Mabalot, Jesuit Marauders
The 6-2, 300-pound senior and third-year starter is handful in the trenches as a two-way lineman, giving extra meaning to Big Red. Jesuit expects another playoff run.
Brayden Molloy, Oak Ridge Trojans
The 5-11, 205-pound senior comes from a family of football talent, and he did his part last season in recording 63 tackles for a team that finished No. 2 in The Sacramento Bee’s final rankings.
Damien Panteglow, Rocklin Thunder
The 6-0, 200-pound senior linebacker was in on 89 tackles for the longtime playoff regular in Placer County. Defense has allowed Rocklin to be a playoff regular over the years.
Evan Rickert, Bradshaw Christian Pride
The 6-5, 240-pound defensive end who also plays tight-end in the Pride’s run-heavy offense is the latest brother to march through the program under father and coach Drew Rickert.
Evan Rickert is a team captain, having made 85 tackles in 2025.
Brayden Quinn, Jesuit Marauders
The 5-10, 210-pound senior linebacker/strong safety and third-year varsity player was in on 69 tackles last season for a playoff team
Jayce Salazar, Sacramento Dragons
The 6-3, 210-pound senior defensive end/linebacker had 44 tackles and 8.5 sacks for a playoff team last season.
Jason Sasser, Golden Sierra Grizzlies
The 6-0, 210-pound senior and third-year starter made 149 tackles after posting 91 as a sophomore for the small-school nestled in Garden Valley.
His 6-3, 200-pound senior defensive end teammate had 15.5 sacks last season.
Isaiah Stephen, Grant Pacers
The 6-3, 330-pound senior lineman clogs the running lanes for the defensive-minded Pacers, and he has received recruiting interest.
Mason Towne, Franklin Wildcats
The 5-10, 170-pound junior linebacker and third-year varsity player had 117 tackles, 18 for loss, and 14 quarterback hurries for the upstart program in the Elk Grove Unified School District.
Dunedin Tupou, Casa Roble Rams
The 5-11, 190-pound junior linebacker was a tackling machine, making 145 stops, 15.5 for loss, for a team that expects to reach a section final for the fourth consecutive season.
Fellow returning starter Karter Coss had 92 tackles in 2025.
Nick Wegner, Folsom Bulldogs
The 5-10, 190-pound senior linebacker was in on 123 tackles last season.
He played a paramount role in the program winning a section and CIF state crown.
Justen Womack, Oak Ridge Trojans
The 6-3, 225-pound senior will add to his leadership role after older brother Jasen Womack starred for Oak Ridge (he’s now at Cal Poly).
Justen posted 65 tackles in 2025 and has defensive help from returning starters in lineman Nick Hunt and defensive end Blake Meggers, who had 76 tackles.
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