Stock Risers: 2023 Defensive Linemen To Know

As the 2023 rankings are updated in the state of Georgia, there’s a good chance you’ll see plenty of defensive linemen see their ranking rise as we head closer to the summer. More and more lineman are starting to see some major interest coming their way and many have used the spring's camp circuit to highlight what they have to offer. Young players are getting bigger and bigger each year, so multiple prospects already check the physical boxes that college scouts look for. If they have a big offseason and an impressive junior season, these prospects could become nationally known this time next year. &nbsp; <strong>Zavion Hardy - Tattnall Square</strong> If there’s a pass rusher in Middle Georgia about to blow up on the recruiting scene, it’s Hardy. The lean, athletic 6-foot-5 235-pounder from Macon looks great physically and has really made a name for himself this offseason. He was outstanding at the MVP camp earlier this spring and is coming off a strong performance at the Under Armour Camp in Atlanta last month. He’s quick off the ball and quickly turned into an unknown prospect to one who is garnering interest from major programs across the South. As big as he is, he was still one of the best athletes on the field at all times as just a sophomore. He’s a hard hitter as a defender, but he was also used as weapon on offense as a receiver and blocker on the edge. He’s physical, but still growing and adding more muscle. He holds early offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, and Florida State. His stock is only rising and it wouldn’t be surprising to see more coming his was shortly. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="34078" first="Marquis" last="Hood"] - Decatur </strong> One of the top young athletes in the Atlanta area, Hood is a tough, physical player who made plays on both sides of the ball last season. He was a terrific edge defender on defense and ran the ball successfully on offense at running back. The 6-foot-2 235-pounder rushed for 726 yards on 68 carries (10.7 ypc) and found the end-zone 8 times. He was a bowling-ball of a back and broke tackles with ease due to his size and strength. His future will be on defense and he’ll likely play on the edge again at the next level. Even as a sophomore, Hood was relentless when getting after the passer and recorded 38 tackles and 11 TFLs on the season. More importantly, Hood sacked the quarterback 9 times, proving he was one of the top young pass rushers in the area. He may still be an unknown prospect, but once he gets some more tape out, colleges could start showing interest. &nbsp; <strong>Chris Herock - North Forsyth</strong> Don’t let the height fool you, the Forsyth County native is all muscle in his 6-foot-1 270-pound frame. Herock played against some impressive offensive lineman in 7A Region 6 last year and still showed the ability to blast though the line and blow up a play in the backfield. He made a big impact last year as an underclassman, totaling 30 tackles and 7 TFLs. The Cumming native knows how to get after the passer and led the team with 5 sacks on the season while adding 15 QB hurries. He plays with leverage well and was great against the run all season. The versatile defender has both the strength to play inside and the quickness to continue playing on the edge as well. He’s tough, physical, and is one of the top returning defenders in the region. Herock is also a warrior in the weight room, squatting over 500 -pounds and benching close to 400-pounds. Look for him to have an excellent season for the Raiders in 2021. &nbsp;