5 Defensive Linemen From the 2021 Class Ready to Breakout in 2020

Defense wins championships! Today, we will start our look at the defensive side of the football in our series highlighting 5 players from each position who are going to breakout this season and need to receive more recruiting attention. Our first group that we are going to take a look at are the defensive linemen including both defensive tackles and defensive ends. There are several players who fit the idea of this article, but the five players here I believe have some of the largest gap between talent and current recruiting attention. Let's dive into our first player spotlight! [player_tooltip player_id="30799" first="Adam" last="Thompson"]<strong>- Northwestern, 6’1" 230</strong> Thompson is one of the more talented defensive linemen in the 2021 class. He is a stoutly built player who at this point could stay close to his current size and play edge or continue to add more weight and play more on the interior. Either way he has the traits that should translate to the next level, which is why it is a surprise that according to his twitter page he doesn't have any offers. It is time for Adam to start to receive the interest that he deserves based off what his film has shown. Let's take a look at what I saw when I watched Adam's tape. The first trait you see when you roll the tape is that he has a sufficient first step. He gets off the ball quickly leading to him being able to get his hands on the lineman instead of the lineman getting into his chest. From there, Adam flashes quick hands to create separation from the opposing lineman. Thompson also plays with a good level of awareness. When linemen pull in front of him he does a good job of getting in the puller's hip pocket and making a play in the backfield. He also has enough speed to be able to pursue from his position to the sideline on plays designed to go off tackle. To go along with all of these traits Adam also plays really well on the offensive line. With his versatility and athletic traits he should be receiving way more attention and I believe with another good season he will get that attention that he deserves. [player_tooltip player_id="30810" first="Demetrius" last="Walker"]<strong>- Robert La Follette, 6’3" 230</strong> Demetrius is what you look for in a high school defensive end. We will dive into the film in the next paragraph, but from what it shows his recruitment attention should be even higher than it is right now. Currently, Walker has offers from Upper Iowa and River Falls as well as interest from some other schools including Wyoming according to his twitter page. Walker is going to be a player to keep an eye on this season because if he can become more technically sound along with his impressive athleticism he is going to be a beast for a team at the next level. When I watch Demetrius' film I see a ball of clay that is ready to be shaped into a potential dominant defensive end. He already has good size with plenty of room on his frame to hold even more size, he has very long limbs, and he possesses a good level of overall athleticism. He also has the first step to be able to cross a lineman's face or rush the edge, he has the strength to set the edge against the run, and he is relentless in his pass rush. If he can continue to improve technique he will be one to watch not only this year, but as he continues on to the next level. His ceiling is high! [player_tooltip player_id="31017" first="Monta" last="Beamon"]<strong>- South Milwaukee, 6’5" 220</strong> Monta another physical specimen that you look for when you are recruiting high school defensive players. He has great arm length and has the athletic build that can hold more weight to mold himself into a strong edge defender. This is why it is such a surprise that Beamon doesn't have any offers according to his twitter page. He does, however, have several D2 level programs sharing their interest with him. I think that as this season goes on that interest will turn into offers because his fill tells me that he deserves the interest and the future offers. Monta is a natural athlete off the edge with the potential to continue to develop and become a three down defensive end at the D2 level. Beamon plays a million miles an hour every snap. His first step quickness is very good and it sets him up well to win each rep. He also has the long speed to pursue sideline to sideline, yet he has the strength to hold the edge against the run game. Monta's hand usage is another strong part of his game. He is able to create and maintain separation from offensive linemen making it easy for him to make a move in his pass rush or make a tackle against the run. He is an exciting prospect as he may just be scratching the surface on his potential. He is one to watch! [player_tooltip player_id="30789" first="Jared" last="Beilfuss"]<strong>- Muskego, 6’3" 218</strong> Beilfuss is an interesting case. He is an impactful defensive end for Muskego High School, but based off his current size he might be best if he rushes from a two point stance at the next level. Whether he does stand up or keep his hand in the dirt he is an electric player coming off the edge. Currently, Jared holds an offer from Culver- Stockton according to his twitter page. That should be just the beginning for him though. Jared's best trait is his speed and other traits that relate to his speed. Jared springs off the ball and jams the offensive linemen opposite him. After the jam, he wins with speed. Whether he is running around the edge or slipping across the lineman's face, it is all about his quick twitch and speed. Beilfuss also plays with one of the best motors I have seen. It is constant. Whether the play is coming at him or away from him, or if his first move wins or not. He is go go go all the time. He will be fun to track this season and as he moves on to the next level to see what position he ends up at. When the time comes I hope he has the offers and interest his play deserves. He is fun to watch. [player_tooltip player_id="31077" first="Anthony" last="Whitlow"]<strong>- Brookfield Central, 6’0" 255</strong> We may be getting to the Whitlow hype party just as it is getting started because three days ago, on July 24, Whitlow received his third offer to play college football. His offers being St. Norbert's College, Simpson College, and Carthage College. This should be just the start for Anthony as he enters his final season of high school football. Anthony is a stoutly built defensive lineman who I project to be best as a 3 or 5 technique. His size and strength along with his potential to fill out further while maintaining his athleticism should make him a prime D3 target and could even start to garner him D2 attention. When you first look at Anthony and go to start his tape you expect to see a player who wins with strength and is able to hold his ground. While he can do that, the biggest surprise is how smooth and twitchy he is. He has shown the ability to get skinny and slip through gaps to make plays and his lateral agility to make moves around linemen jumps off the screen. He has a great blend of strength and athleticism because when he isn't winning with the agility and quick movement he is able to drive offensive linemen into the laps of running backs and quarterbacks. He is impressive to watch and should become a hot target for colleges looking for an impactful presence along the interior of their defensive line. Tune back in for the next article where we look at the linebacker position!