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Four-star defensive prospects just outside Rivals250

Texas A&M commit Tyree Johnson
Texas A&M commit Tyree Johnson

The latest Rivals rankings are here, and while several players made moves in the Rivals100 and the Rivals250, there were plenty of players who earned bumps up to four-star status.

Here’s a breakdown of the defensive players who parlayed excellent seniors season into a move up in the rankings.

MORE: Updated Rivals250 | Risers | Sliders

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Johnson made some big plays in important moments this season and showed the ability to consistently get to the quarterback. The Texas A&M commit has gotten much stronger at the point of attack and is getting better at shedding blocks. Johnson is improving his balance, which has helped his edge rush be much more effective. - Rivals.com Mid-Atlantic analyst Adam Friedman

Graham has been committed to Texas since early September. Graham is an athletic weakside end that at times can overshoot his pass rush or get held up by physically stronger offensive tackles, but there are simply not many players built like him at his position. He has the potential to rack up eye-popping defensive plays in bunches. – Rivals.com Texas analyst Nick Krueger

Sanogo announced his commitment to Houston at the end of June, but he's considered to be a soft commitment. He isn’t the flashiest player at his position, but in the offseason he wowed coaches and experts with his unexpected ability to defend in pass coverage. He doesn’t always deliver the boom, but is as consistent of a tackler at inside linebacker as you’ll find. – Krueger

Rivers has always been a physical linebacker, but he showed progress in other areas of his game this season. The Penn State commit showed more athleticism and did a better job of covering in space this year. Rivers is a punishing hitter, sees running lanes quickly and gets there in a hurry. - Friedman

Murray has been committed to Oklahoma since August. His recruitment blew up in the spring once college coaches saw firsthand his athleticism and motor. Murray covers so much ground, his team will place him as a hybrid-safety in a cover zero-heavy scheme and trust him to finish off any play. – Krueger

Johnson has committed twice to Texas A&M since the summer. Johnson is an intriguing athlete as a linebacker prospect, where Aggies defensive coordinator John Chavis is making him a personal project. He plays for a high school team where he is the top playmaking option on both sides of the ball, but offers a ton of upside as a versatile weakside backer. – Krueger

Adebo has been committed to Notre Dame since late June. He plays for a run-the-ball, stop-the-run high school team in Mansfield, but given the opportunity on defense he is always a threat to create a turnover and is a willing tackler. His athleticism makes him a home run threat on offense as well. – Krueger

Thompson has been committed to Texas since the end of July, but is still being heavily pursued by several other programs. Thompson showed that he’s an athletic freak at camps in the offseason, and a turnover-making machine during the regular season. Thompson has a Honey Badger element to his game where he looks to strip the ball if he doesn’t make a play on it in the air. – Krueger

The Mississippi State commit played alongside newly-minted five-star safety Jacoby Stevens at Oakland High School, and the two paired to make one of the best safety tandems in the country. Oliver can play all over the field and may eventually develop into an outside linebacker, but his ability to hit as well as his football acumen makes him adept at reading, reacting and blowing up plays. – Rivals.com Southeast analyst Woody Wommack

McDonald, an Alabama commit, doesn’t have the length of some other top corners, but he carries a stout frame that allows him to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage. He’s as versatile as he is physical and recovers well on the occasion that he gives up a step. – Rivals.com Southeast analyst Rob Cassidy

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