Meet the 16 players who made the 2026 Butler County Football Preseason Sweet 16 Defense
The 2025 high school football season featured many standout efforts on the defensive side of the ball. Some of those players graduated, but others are back to add to their already impressive careers.
And there’s also players who seek a breakout season to put their name into the ranks of the elite.
The following is the Butler Eagle’s best guess at who the top players will be, along with 2025 statistics if available. Meet the Preseason Sweet 16 Defense.
He tallied 55 tackles, with five coming behind the line of scrimmage from his end position. A starter on both sides of the ball, look for Adams to play a major role in Knoch’s resurgence.
The unquestioned leader of Knoch’s defense, Beres tallied 75 tackles, 16 going for a loss, with four sacks. He has received offers to play in college from West Liberty University and Case Western.
After tallying 77 tackles (eight for loss) last year as a linebacker, he makes the move to strong safety this season. Will serve as the “tone setter on a hard-hitting defense,” according to Mars coach Zachary Benedek.
At 6-feet-2 and 175 pounds, he has imposing size for a corner. DeFelice had 24 tackles and three interceptions as a junior. He will also start at receiver for the Knights.
For the second straight season, Galan will be a difference-maker on offense, defense and in the return game. He intercepted six passes in 2025.
Garvin totaled 75 tackles with nine going for a loss in 2025. He will also be a bigger factor in the ground game this season, but his impact on defense pivoting to a 5-1 front will remain.
Raiders’ defensive coordinator Rob Densmore forms his game plan around the fact Hunt is a true lockdown corner. He’s verbally committed to the University at Albany.
Eighty-four tackles would be an impressive season for a senior, but that’s what Kindel turned in last year as a freshman. He moves from safety to linebacker this year, and his nose for the ball will continue to cause headaches for offenses.
King takes over as the starting quarterback this season but already has clutch defensive plays under his belt — 50 tackles and a team-leading three interceptions.
A four-year starter on the offensive line, his length (6-3) allows him to effectively drop into pass coverage on defense. Manke tallied 57 tackles and two sacks in 2025.
He’s a student of the game, and his film study helped him make nine of his 69 tackles behind the line of scrimmage last year.
Reich was one of the Rockets’ top tacklers a season ago. Now with a new coaching staff, he will use his recognition of offensive formations and vocal leadership to steer the defense.
A returning starter at defensive end, he is very athletic at 6-1 and 225 pounds. First-year Slippery Rock coach Steve Monteleone said: “He has the potential to play on Saturday afternoons.”
After playing outside linebacker and totaling 57 tackles (seven for loss) as a sophomore, he will move to the inside this year.
He is a returning starter on both lines for the Warriors, playing tackle on defense. At 6-2, 235 pounds, he is a difficult 1-on-1 blocking assignment.
He accounted for five turnovers last year, including three interceptions. While making the move from linebacker to the defensive line in 2026, he will continue to have a nose for the ball.
