The 4A Watchlist: Defensive Linemen

The 4A Watchlist is where I list out my top 75 football players coming into this season in Class 4A. This year, I have 10 players who primarily played on the D-Line last season that are worth noting heading into the 2020 season   Dominic Caggiano, Southeast Polk, SR Caggiano was an underrated part of Southeast Polk’s defense in 2019. Last season he made 48.5 tackles with 8 TFL including 2.5 sacks. The 6’4 220 lb defensive end uses his strength and hands to break away from blocks and get into the backfield whether the defense uses 4 or 3 men on the line. Not only does Dominic have NAIA offers from Graceland and Grand View, but he has D-2 offers from Central Missouri and Missouri Western as well.   [player_tooltip player_id="23892" first="Togeh" last="Deseh"], Muscatine, SR Deseh has been a presence on Muscatine’s defense for the past couple of years and is looking to make 2020 his best season yet. In his junior season, he made 32.5 tackles, 10 TFL, with 1 sack to go along with it. Listed at 6’0 265 lbs, the Muskies nose tackle not only used his weight and strength to overpower tackles, but he has underrated quickness to squeeze through the interior line for a tackle for loss. Currently, Togeh has offers from Upper Iowa, Simpson, and Grand View.   Kaden Klemme, Bettendorf, SR Klemme has been a starter since his sophomore season playing opposite [player_tooltip player_id="23815" first="Griffin" last="Liddle"] on the D-Line. In his junior season, he made 28.5 tackles, 3.5 TFL, and made half of a sack. The 6’2 220 pounder has good strength and leverage against opposing linemen, he has some swatting moves to get past the line, he’s just a solid defensive tackle. Currently, it doesn’t look like Kaden has any offers yet, but a player whose been a three-year starter on a perennial state title contender like him shouldn’t be without some college interest for long.   [player_tooltip player_id="23883" first="Cade" last="Kuennen"], Johnston, SR Kuennen is looking to build off a solid junior season with an even bigger senior campaign. Last season he made 34.5 tackles with 8 going for a loss and 4 counting as sacks. As a 6’2 240 lb defensive tackle, he can blow up the play with his quickness off the starting gun and squeeze through the interior line and disrupt the backfield. While he does have some interest from Sioux Falls, no school has officially given him an offer yet.   [player_tooltip player_id="23815" first="Griffin" last="Liddle"], Bettendorf, SR Ever since [player_tooltip player_id="23815" first="Griffin" last="Liddle"] immediately became a starter for Bettendorf as a freshman, he’s been one of, if not, the best player in his class. as a junior, Liddle made 49 tackles, 9 tackles for loss, with 2.5 of them being sacks. In addition to being a DT, he is also their starting left guard on offense too. The 6’3 270 lb Liddle is pretty quick for his size and has a nasty swim move to get past opposing o-linemen, not to mention his strength and footwork help him get through double team blocks too. It wouldn’t be until after his junior season when Griffin announced his commitment to Iowa, becoming the latest player to make the Bulldog-Hawkeye connection.   [player_tooltip player_id="23809" first="Max" last="Llewellyn"], Urbandale, SR Llewellyn saw his stock rise after being a first-year starter for the J-Hawks last season. As a junior, he made 25 tackles, with 11.5 of them for loss, and 4 of those being sacks. Not to mention<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>At 6’5 235 lbs, Llewellyn has the speed and moves of an edge rusher, and enough strength and leverage to hold up as a 3-4 defensive end. After a big surge of Power-5 offers coming in after last season, Max would end up staying in-state by announcing his commitment to Iowa in April.   [player_tooltip player_id="23901" first="Cayden" last="Lovett"], Dubuque Hempstead, SR Entering his senior season, [player_tooltip player_id="23901" first="Cayden" last="Lovett"] should be one of the best defensive tackles in his class. Last season he made a team-high 44.5 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks, all the while lining up as their right guard as well. The 6’1 270 lb DT is quick off the snap and strong enough to push opposing guards out of the way for a tackle for loss. Currently, Cayden has four offers from NSIC schools like Bemidji State, Minnesota State, Upper Iowa, and Wayne State.   Micheal Robinson, Waterloo West, SR Micheal ‘Deuce’ Robinson is one of the more underrated players in Class 4A heading into this season. Last year Robinson made 45 tackles with 18.5 tackles for loss and 7 sacks for the Wahawks. He’s a bit undersized, being listed at 5’11 210 lbs, but he uses his size to his advantage as it gives him a lower center of gravity to get around tackles and make a play behind the line. Currently, Deuce has only one offer coming from Simpson, but if he can top last season statistically, then you should expect plenty of more interest to come through.   [player_tooltip player_id="23829" first="Nasir" last="Washington"], Valley, SR Nasir broke into the varsity lineup last season, became a starter Valley’s state runner up team, and is now arguably Class 4A’s best defensive end coming into the 2020 season. In his junior season, he made 25.5 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. At 6’3 240 lbs, Washington uses a deadly combination of speed, moves, and power to get past the blindside tackle and into the backfield. In April Nasir would end up committing to Miami of Ohio over a host of MVFC, MAC, and Ivy League schools.   [player_tooltip player_id="23961" first="Dominic" last="Wiseman"], Davenport North, JR The only non-senior entry into my watchlist for defensive linemen, [player_tooltip player_id="23961" first="Dominic" last="Wiseman"] has certainly earned his place among the best at his position. Last season, he made 44.5 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks, while also occupying the right tackle position on offense for the Wildcats. At 6’1 271 lbs, Wiseman is powerful in the trenches, and when he gets into the backfield, he can totally use the hit stick. He currently has no offers yet, but don’t expect that to be for too long. Other notable names [player_tooltip player_id="23920" first="Finn" last="Claypool"], Des Moines Roosevelt, SR [player_tooltip player_id="23995" first="Diego" last="Cortes"], Bettendorf, JR Luke Gaffney, Linn-Mar, JR [player_tooltip player_id="23910" first="Caleb" last="Paulus"], Waukee, SR Max Tafolla, Iowa City Liberty, SR