Defensive lines to watch in 2021

Earlier, I looked at many <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2020/08/offensive-lines-to-watch-in-2020/">offensive lines</a> across the state and came up with a list of lines that look to be formidable in 2020. Today, I have flipped over to the defensive side of the line of scrimmage and highlight a few defensive lines that are going to be all kinds of trouble for offenses this spring. <strong>Fridley</strong> The Tigers play a 3-4 defense, and they return two of the best returning defensive linemen in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="18054" first="Cheick" last="Kaba"] lines up at one of the defensive end spots, and when watching him on film and the one time last year when I watched him in person – he is all over the field and will continue to be a handful for any offensive tackle. Also returning on the Tigers’ defensive line is nose tackle, [player_tooltip player_id="18085" first="Josh" last="Franklin"]. Traditionally, nose tackles in a 3-4 need to take up blocks and be a wall in the middle. Franklin does that well, but he is athletic enough to get down the line of scrimmage and as well as beat double teams. <strong>Minneota</strong> Minneota might be a bit of a stretch because I could not find much film on the Vikings’ defense online, but going off who they have back and who I can find some defensive stats on, the Vikings’ defensive line looks formidable. From what I can tell, Minneota returns four guys who either started or had plenty of playing time on the defensive front. They return All District first team honorees <b>Beau Banish</b> and <strong>Jacob Critterman </strong>as well as <strong>Joseph Rybinski</strong> – who might be classified as a linebacker/stand up defensive end, and defensive tackle <strong>Jayden Gamrak</strong>. That is a ton of experience coming back on the line of scrimmage. Especially for a defense that in ten games, allowed offenses to reach double digits exactly three times last season. <strong>Eden Prairie</strong> In the past, the Eagles defense has often been overshadowed by their battering ram, dominating offense. That was not necessarily the case last season. EP held their opponents to one score or less six times last season, and they return two of the best defensive linemen in the state. Iowa Hawkeye commit [player_tooltip player_id="18029" first="Justice" last="Sullivan"] has gotten better every year I have seen him play. He was thrown into the fire as a freshman. Remembering how he held his own early against some of the best tackles in the state – I should have seen his rise to or near the top in the state. His speed and explosiveness are two things that separate the senior. One of his running mates - [player_tooltip player_id="18058" first="Trent" last="Jones II"] – is no slouch in his own right. Jones is mainly a defensive tackle in the Eagles’ 4-3 base. Jones’ combination of size, quickness, and hands was often too much for offensive lines to handle. Good luck blocking him one on one this year. You are going to need some help.