New Jersey 2023 DL Rankings: Breakdown of the Top 6
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Prep Redzone breaks down the defensive linemen currently in the New Jersey Class of 2023 prospect rankings. PRZ NJ will add more defensive lineman prospects to the list throughout the summer. For now, I’ll break down each defensive linemen currently…
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Continue ReadingPrep Redzone breaks down the defensive linemen currently in the New Jersey Class of 2023 prospect rankings. PRZ NJ will add more defensive lineman prospects to the list throughout the summer. For now, I’ll break down each defensive linemen currently ranked on our list.
Key: Great, Good, Average, Below Average, Poor
No. 6 Adekunle Shittu Adekunle Shittu 6'1" | 255 lbs | DL Edison | 2023 State NJ /6-1/240/Defensive End/Edison
Shittu made 50 total tackles (31 solos) and sacked the quarterback 5 times in six games last season.
Explode/Point Strength: Average
Reaction: Good
Shed: Average
Lateral Quicks/Change of Direction: Good
Stay on Feet: Good
Acceleration: Good
Pursuit: Good
Tackle: Good
In-Line: Average
Shittu had one of the most productive 2020 seasons out of all of the 2023 defensive linemen in New Jersey.
No. 5 Logan Barnes Logan Barnes 6'1" | 265 lbs | DL St. Peter's Prep | 2023 State NJ /6-2/256/Defensive Tackle/St Peter’s Prep
Barnes has an offer from Temple. He made 23 total tackles (12 solo) in six games last season.
Explode/Point Strength: Good
Reaction: Average
Shed: Good
Lateral Quicks/Change of Direction: Average
Stay on Feet: Good
Acceleration: Average
Pursuit: Average
Tackle: Good
In-Line: Good
I like the way Barnes fights through double-teams to become a disruptive force in the opponents backfield. He needs to work on becoming a bit quicker off the football.
No. 4 Jimmy Mullen Jimmy Mullen 6'2" | 245 lbs | DL St. Joseph's | 2023 State NJ /6-2/245/Defensive End/St. Joseph
Mullen has an offer from Rutgers.
Explode/Point Strength: Good
Reaction: Good
Shed: Good
Lateral Quicks/Change of Direction: Good
Stay on Feet: Good
Acceleration: Good
Pursuit: Good
Tackle: Good
In-Line: Average
Mullen can play both the defensive end and defensive tackle positions. Despite not having a bunch of offers, Mullen has shown that he’s one of the top 2023 defensive linemen.
No. 3 James Heard/6-2/210/Defensive End/Eastern
Heard has offers from Maryland, Nebraska, Penn State, Rutgers, Temple, Texas A&M, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and West Virginia. He made 25 total tackles (20 solo) and 3.5 sacks in the three games he played in last season.
Explode/Point Strength: Good
Reaction: Good
Shed: Average
Lateral Quicks/Change of Direction: Good
Stay on Feet: Good
Acceleration: Good
Pursuit: Good
Tackle: Good
In-Line: Average
Heard is a linebacker that plays like a defensive end. Basically, he’s an edge defender whose job is to find and attack whomever has the ball.
No. 2 DJ Samuels DJ Samuels 6'0" | 240 lbs | DL Bergen Catholic | 2023 State NJ /6-0/245/Defensive End/Bergen Catholic
Samuels’ 10-plus offers include Penn State, Rutgers, Syracuse, Michigan, West Virginia, Temple, and Rutgers. Samuels finished with 24 tackles (14 solo) and an incredible 10.5 sacks in five games last season.
Explode/Point Strength: Great
Reaction: Great
Shed: Good
Lateral Quicks/Change of Direction: Good
Stay on Feet: Good
Acceleration: Great
Pursuit: Good
Tackle: Good
In-Line: Good
There’s a substantial case to be made for Samuels when you talk about top players in New Jersey’s 2023 class. Despite being an undersized defensive end, there are plenty of Power 5 schools in the east showing interest in him.
No. 1 Sydir Mitchell Sydir Mitchell 6'5" | 350 lbs | DL Bergen Catholic | 2023 State NJ /6-5/350/Defensive Tackle/Bergen Catholic
Mitchell’s 15-plus offers include Michigan, Ole Miss, Penn State, Florida State, Boston College, USC, and Virginia Tech. Mitchell made 32 total tackles (9 solo) and sacked the quarterback twice in six games last season.
Explode/Point Strength: Great
Reaction: Good
Shed: Good
Lateral Quicks/Change of Direction: Average
Stay on Feet: Good
Acceleration: Average
Pursuit: Good
Tackle: Good
In-Line: Great
Mitchell is an immoveable force in the middle. I think if he dropped down to the 315-325 pound range, he would become even quicker coming off the ball.