2022 Class Breakdown: South Georgia DLs
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Everyone knows about the talent down in South Georgia. It’s a different brand of football that breeds toughness, physicality, and a heavy rushing attack. The sun hits a little different in South Georgia, so you know the prospects down are…
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Continue ReadingEveryone knows about the talent down in South Georgia. It’s a different brand of football that breeds toughness, physicality, and a heavy rushing attack. The sun hits a little different in South Georgia, so you know the prospects down are strong both physically and mentally when giving it all in the middle of the summer. It’s easy for college coaches to find high-quality players in the trenches, and the 2022 class has many who will play at major programs down the road.
Here are some of the states top defensive line prospects from South Georgia…
Tyre West Tyre West 6'3" | 280 lbs | DL Tift County | 2022 State GA – Tift County
Ranked as the top defensive line prospect in all of South Georgia, West is a high-energy interior lineman who plays at a different level on Friday nights. He’s not overly athletic, but he’s got great instincts for the position and moves well for his size at 6-foot-3 280-pounds. He’s not the biggest or heaviest lineman in the area, but he’s certainly one of the most productive. He gets off blocks well, uses his strong hands to play with leverage, and is quicker than most would expect. He can get after the QB from the interior, but what he does best is stuff the run. He forces double teams and can overpower opposing offensive linemen in the region on power alone. The future Georgia Bulldog is a high four-star prospect overall due to his size, strength, toughness, and ability to get off blocks. He could play some defensive end in some situations, but he’ll likely play most of his snaps over the guard in the middle of the line.
Darris Smith Darris Smith 6'6" | 225 lbs | DL Appling County | 2022 State GA – Appling County
The long, athletic 6-foot-6 230-pounder is a raw pass rusher who already has the length of a future SEC defender. He’s a hard-working player who knows how to get after the passer. Smith is long, athletic, and checks all the boxes physically to be an impact edge rusher at the next level. His length and frame will allow him to put on more muscle mass over the next few years while maintaining his natural speed and athleticism. He’s a track and field star as well and the Appling County staff told Prep Red-Zone recently that they expect him to continue adding weight heading into the season and they absolutely rave about his athleticism. He competes in sports year round and is still not even scratching the surface of his potential. Look for Smith to possibly lead South Georgia in the sack department in 2021.
Kenwan Felton – Macon County
Macon County has produced one of the NFL’s best current linebackers in Chicago Bears star Roquan Smith, and they have another pass-rushing machine currently on the roster in rising senior, Kenwan Felton. Unlike other South Georgia defensive lines, when Felton comes close to the QB, he finds a way to make the sack. The 6-foot-2 210-pounder totaled 16 sacks on the season and made just 12 QB hurries. So when he went after the QB, he usually got there. He’s not the biggest pass rusher in the area, but he was absolutely one of the most productive. He has a long, lean frame that helped him get around the tackle with ease. He’s quick off the ball, he uses his hands well to get off blocks, and he showed great pursuit of the QB. Look for him to lead the region in sacks once again as a senior this fall.