Here are The Baltimore Sun’s All-Metro football defensive teams for the 2024 season:

Player of the Year

Delmar White, Spalding, senior, defensive line: White’s season was nearly perfect until it wasn’t. In the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship game against McDonogh, the 6-foot-1, 285-pound defensive lineman tore his ACL while playing on offense. Until that point, however, the Maryland commit did everything for the Cavaliers’ defense, finishing with 34 tackles, including 12 for loss, eight sacks and two forced fumbles.

One opposing coach described him as “a monster” for his ability to clog up the middle of the field and make tackles. An MIAA champion wrestler who went 54-4 as a junior, his forte was stopping the run, though he also could be light on his feet and rush the passer.

“He was the strongest player I’ve ever coached in 16 years,” Spalding coach Kyle Schmitt said. “He is very coachable and wants to learn everything. When he wanted to, he could take over a game. He just wouldn’t be moved.”

White was a major reason the Cavaliers pitched eight shoutouts this season on their way to a 12-0 season and their third straight MIAA A Conference title.

He spent two seasons at Spalding after transferring from Chesapeake-AA. He finished his Spalding career with 91 tackles, 18 1/2 tackles for loss and 13 sacks in 21 games.

“It felt great to have the season we did,” said White, who recently underwent surgery on his injured knee. “I owe all my friends and family and my coaches, especially [Spalding defensive] coach [Tyrone] Forby, for all the help they’ve given me.”

When asked what he wanted his legacy at Spalding to be, White didn’t hesitate.

“I want to be remembered as a good student, a good athlete and a good Christian,” he said. “I have been very blessed along the way.”

First team

Eugene Cummings, Dunbar, junior, defensive line: Cummings held down a defensive line that took the Poets to a Class 2A/1A state championship game. He finished the year with 11 sacks, seven tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Sean Curtis, Mount Saint Joseph, senior, defensive line: A versatile player, Curtis led the Gaels with 71 tackles, including 29 for loss, 13 1/2 sacks and a fumble recovery. He will play football at Lafayette next season.

Zion Elee, St. Frances, junior, defensive line: Elee, a five-star recruit committed to Maryland, is ranked the No. 2 prospect in the 2026 class in the 247Sports Composite rankings, the No. 1 overall recruit by On3 and the No. 8 overall prospect in the ESPN Junior 300. He finished with 56 tackles, 28 for loss, 10 sacks, seven pass breakups and three forced fumbles.

Brandon Gorham, Arundel, senior, defensive line: A dominant force for the Class 3A state champion Wildcats, Gorham contributed 30 tackles, including 21 for loss, and five fumble recoveries with three being returned for touchdowns. The difference-maker will play at Delaware next season.

Darrion Smith, St. Frances, senior, defensive line: Known for being a menace to opposing quarterbacks, Smith did it all with 69 tackles, including 37 for loss, 16 sacks and 34 quarterback hurries. The three-star recruit is committed to Auburn.

Bryce Deas, St. Frances, senior, linebacker: Deas controlled the middle of the field for the Panthers with 104 tackles, including 21 for loss, six sacks and a punt block returned for a touchdown. Like Smith, he will also play for Auburn next year.

Kamden Laudenslager, McDonogh, senior, linebacker: The defensive leader for the Eagles, he had 101 tackles, three sacks and an interception this fall. Laudenslager is committed to play for Bill Belichick at North Carolina next fall.

Tyrin Chinn-Thompson, Broadneck, senior, defensive back: His coach said he was all over the field for the state semifinalist Bruins. Chinn-Thompson finished the season with 100 tackles, including 13 for loss, three pass breakups and four interceptions, three of which he returned for touchdowns.

Jireh Edwards, St, Frances, junior, defensive back: A tackling machine for the Panthers, Edwards contributed 92 tackles, 17 for loss, three forced fumbles and six pass breakups. He’s a four-star recruit in the Class of 2026.

Brandon Finney, McDonogh, senior, defensive back: Finney, an Oregon commit, was one of the most sought-after defensive back recruits in the area. The four-star prospect had four interceptions, 20 tackles and 14 pass breakups during the 2024 season.

Alijah Jones, Spalding, senior, defensive back: Jones played as part of an elite secondary that only allowed one passing touchdown all season. The Northwestern commit pitched in 53 tackles, including seven for loss, two sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception returned for a touchdown.

Jayden Shipps, Spalding, senior, defensive back: A leader for the top-rated Cavaliers, Shipps had 37 tackles, including six for loss, and one interception this fall. He has committed to play at Maryland.

Brian Checkley, Gilman, senior, punter: A game-changer for the Greyhounds who will play at Harvard next year, Checkley averaged 44.5 yards per punt with a long of 67 yards. He placed a quarter of his punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.

Second team

Elijah Crawford, McDonogh, senior, defensive line

Cameron Demma, Howard, senior, defensive line

Jabari Torbit, Dunbar, junior, defensive line

Bryce Wilson, Gilman, senior, defensive line

Evan Feeney, Bel Air, senior, linebacker

Nick Oliver, Arundel, senior, linebacker

Justin Snell, Spalding, junior, linebacker

Brian Collins, Dunbar, senior, defensive back

Trent Gillis,

Spalding, senior, defensive back

Wayne Henry,

St, Frances, junior, defensive back

Kasir Hicks,

Mervo, senior, defensive back

Angelo Ross,

Mount Saint Joseph, senior, defensive back

Blake Woodby,

St. Frances, senior, defensive back

Dylan Jordan,

Broadneck, senior, punter

Have a news tip? Contact sports editor Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13.