Class of 2023 Rankings Breakdown Top 4 DL – Central Texas

These four defensive linemen are amongst the ranked in Prep Redzone Texas’ Class of 2023 rankings and for good reason, as they all have already showcased their strength and speed to make the plays against increasingly athletic offenses. 1. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136133" first="Jayden" last="Cofield"] - Manor High School (Manor, TX)</strong> 2020-21 Season: 51 total tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 4 sacks Cofield leads the way for Central Texas defensive linemen due to his past performances with Del Valle and the potential he brings for Manor. He earned first-team all-district honors when he was a sophomore and second-team all-district honors when he was a freshman. He received his first Division I offer back in November from Kansas. Cofield has tons of power in his step, able to take on two offensive linemen and still make the play. He is also explosive off the snap, which can create chaos for any play. 2. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136135" first="Daniel" last="Obinna"] - Del Valle High School (Del Valle, TX)</strong> 2020-21 Season: 18 total tackles While he started out at Georgetown, Obinna now plays for Del Valle and the tape shows his potential which includes his strength to push past the offensive line and to make big hit tackles. He also knows how to close the gap on running plays before the back can cut through them. He also has excellent play recognition and great pursuit even if the player with the ball is down the field, Obinna will charge towards them until the whistle is blown. 3. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136137" first="Carmelo" last="Walley"] - Reagan High School (San Antonio, TX)</strong> Walley also displays great play recognition, knowing when the quarterback is going for a play-action screen instead of a run play. He is not easily fooled and also displays his pursuit in his tape. One thing that makes him unique is his ambition to strip the ball. Trying to create turnovers when wrapped up with the running back is huge. Walley also faces double blocks often but still manages to make a play despite this. 4. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="136143" first="Thomas" last="Colligan"] - Alamo Heights High School (San Antonio, TX)</strong> Colligan also has the strength factor but has also seemed to master the ability to get out of blocks in the same way that is a reminder of Arizona Cardinals defensive end J.J. Watt. He also has the size, strength, and speed to catch the quarterback, which in today’s game is a necessity with the continuing rise in mobile quarterbacks. Colligan is also arguably the biggest opportunist as when the opposing team misses a block or does not have a good grip on the ball, Colligan will almost certainly make them pay for it.