High-upside Cincinnati DL with proven backfield disruption
James Early is a Cincinnati defensive lineman entering the 2026 season with a strong high school résumé—49 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and 9 sacks as a senior—backed by a consensus three-star recruiting profile and top-35 ranking in Indiana. He looks like a developmental interior defender with measurable size and a knack for creating chaos in the backfield, which makes him interesting for teams that value motor, growth potential and disruption over finished polish. EA Sports pegs him at a 65 overall, suggesting a player still early in his college arc but worth tracking for upside.
