Braswell Bengal Defensive Scouting Report

Shop in Seagoville — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:52:46 +0000

2026 Prep Football Preview

Braswell’s Defense Brings Proven Playmakers to Friday’s Season Opener

Crandall must solve a talented front seven and a rebuilt secondary under first year coordinator Eddie Moten

By Merv Moore • Shop in Seagoville • August 27, 2026

Denton Braswell’s defense produced real individual talent during the 2025 season, even though the Bengals finished with a 2-8 record and allowed 284 points overall. That overall number does not fully describe the unit Crandall will face in Friday night’s season opener. Braswell shut out Little Elm and held Flower Mound to just seven points, and the Bengals return several of their most productive defenders from a year ago.

Those players will now operate under a new defensive coordinator with an extensive background developing defensive backs. For Crandall, this is a defense with legitimate playmakers and enough uncertainty to make opening night genuinely interesting.

Defenders Crandall Must Account For

Emanuel Fuller

Safety

95 Tackles 5 Forced Turnovers 2nd Team All District

Fuller is active against the run and closes quickly on the football, making him far more than a deep safety. How Braswell deploys him against Darrik Ward Jr. could define the Bengals’ entire defensive plan.

Ivory Marshall

Edge

73.5 Tackles 13 TFL 2nd Team All District

Marshall’s ability to create negative plays is what Crandall’s offensive tackles must neutralize. One penetration on first down can derail an entire series.

Huran Brown III

Linebacker

47 Tackles 14 TFL

Brown’s 60-yard interception return supplied Braswell’s only touchdown in last year’s win over Flower Mound, and he remains a disruptive force between the tackles.

Grant Goshton

Linebacker

72 Tackles

Goshton gives Braswell a second highly productive linebacker, deepening what may be the unit’s strongest position group entering the opener.

Taven Brown

Linebacker • Senior

Downhill Athlete

Brown adds mobility to the linebacker corps, giving Braswell an option who can stay on the field against spread offensive looks.

New Leadership on Defense

Eddie Moten

Defensive Coordinator

Moten joined the Braswell staff after previously coaching cornerbacks at Texas A&M Kingsville, where he began in 2018. His coaching background is built almost entirely around developing defensive backs.

As a player, Moten was a two time First Team All Lone Star Conference defensive back at Texas A&M Kingsville, earned conference Defensive Back of the Year honors, and was named First Team All American before a lengthy professional career.

There is no regular season film yet of Moten coordinating this defense, which makes Braswell’s secondary one of the more intriguing storylines of the opener. Crandall’s passing game could force those defensive backs to defend the entire field from the opening snap.

Two Different Defenses in 2025

Braswell’s results last season show why judging this defense by its scoring average alone can be misleading. The unit was capable of dominant performances against certain opponents, and vulnerable against others.

Opponent	Points Allowed	Notes
Little Elm	0	Shutout in a 28-0 Braswell win
Flower Mound	7	Braswell won 9-7; Brown’s interception return scored the game’s only Braswell touchdown
Lewisville	46	One of four games Braswell allowed 40 or more points
Marcus	42	One of four games Braswell allowed 40 or more points
Hebron	42	One of four games Braswell allowed 40 or more points
Guyer	42	One of four games Braswell allowed 40 or more points

That inconsistency is the question head coach Justen Evans and Moten must solve. Braswell already has individual defenders capable of making plays. The challenge is turning those players into a defense that can execute for four full quarters.

Turnovers Give Braswell a Path

Braswell showed last season that its defense can change games even when the offense is struggling. Brown’s interception return produced six points against Flower Mound, and a later special teams turnover set up Braswell’s winning field goal in that same contest.

The Bengals also intercepted Coppell during a game Braswell nearly won against a 10-win opponent. Ball security is therefore critical for Crandall. Braswell does not necessarily need to stop the Pirates on every possession. One short field or defensive score can change the entire complexion of an opener.

Where Crandall Should Attack

Braswell’s defensive playmakers are concentrated primarily around the front seven and the safety position, which makes the perimeter particularly important. Crandall should make Braswell’s cornerbacks prove they can consistently cover, spread the field, and force linebackers to defend in space.

Making Fuller decide between supporting the run and protecting against explosive passes, and forcing Braswell to tackle Crandall’s skill players one on one, will be central to the Pirates’ game plan. The more field Braswell has to defend, the harder it becomes for Marshall and the linebackers to control the game.

Bottom Line

Players to Watch

Emanuel Fuller, Ivory Marshall, Huran Brown III, Grant Goshton, Taven Brown

Braswell’s Defensive Strength

Experienced playmakers through the middle of the defense

Biggest Question

Can the Bengals become more consistent against explosive offenses?

Crandall’s Offensive Priority

Stay ahead of the chains and force Braswell to defend the entire field

Crandall should have the offensive advantage on paper. But the Pirates cannot allow Braswell’s best defenders to dictate the game. Keeping Marshall out of the backfield, making the linebackers defend horizontally as well as vertically, forcing Fuller into difficult decisions, and protecting the football will all be essential. If Crandall executes on those fronts, the Pirates should create real opportunities for their offensive playmakers. If Braswell creates negative plays and turnovers instead, the Bengals have enough defensive talent to make opening night far more uncomfortable than the Pirates would like.

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