STOCK RISERS: 2024 Defensive Line Prospects To Know
2020 was a big season for incoming freshman across the state of Georgia. We saw lots of impressive freshman earn plenty of early playing time at the varsity level, and many of them already own major D1 offers. The defensive…
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Continue Reading2020 was a big season for incoming freshman across the state of Georgia. We saw lots of impressive freshman earn plenty of early playing time at the varsity level, and many of them already own major D1 offers. The defensive line particularly is a very strong group in the 2024 class with multiple rising sophomores already holding big SEC offers. It’s an incredibly deep group compare to recent years, and there are more in the class who will have a chance to have breakout years this fall in their second season.
Here are a few under the radar 2024 defensive linemen to know for the upcoming season…
Champ Thompson – Meadowcreek
At 6-foot-3 275-pounds, Thompson is a big interior line prospect with impressive burst and quickness. He’s incredibly strong and powerful for someone his age, but his quickness off the ball makes him stand out among others in the region. He’s disruptive in the middle of the trenches and already demands double-teams as a rising sophomore. He sheds blocks like a veteran and is so tough for anyone in the area to handle him one-on-one. He plays violent, shoots the gaps well, and has a knack for making plays in the backfield. He uses his hands well and has shown already that he can get off blocks using either his raw power or quickness. He plays hard and is going to leave a bruise once he meets the ball carrier. Thompson already holds offers from Miami, Ole Miss, and Oregon.
Justin Greene – Mountain View
Looking for an edge defender who already looks the part physically? Justin Greene is your guy. Already a “first guy off the bus” type as a rising sophomore, the 6-foot-4 225-pounder is explosive off the ball and has a great frame, using his length to easily get off blocks from most opposing offensive tackles. Greene has plenty of time to add more weight and muscle, giving him a chance to overpower defenders while keeping his athleticism. He can reach out and grab the ball carrier and knows how to sling them to the ground. He’s a hard hitter when unblocked but knows how to get off them on the edge to help against the run. There’s a lot to like about his game, and his best football is ahead of him. He has some early offers from Boston College and Georgia Tech, but more should be on the way as he continues to develop over the next few years.
Cameron Matthews – Trinity Christian School
Trinity Christian is coming off one of their best seasons in school history last year as they were runner-up in the Single-A Private Championship last season. A big reason for that was due to their excellent QB play, and their strong defense. One of their biggest impact defenders last year was Matthews, who as a freshman, led the team with 7 sacks. He was absolutely dominant for his age and proved he can handle himself physically in the trenches. He was disruptive and could blow up any particular play in the backfield. An All-State Honorable Mention, Matthews was named 1st-Team All-County and 1st-Team All-Region as a freshman. He’s one of the best defensive line prospects in the Middle Georgia region and should be even bigger and stronger this upcoming season. His recruitment could blow up over the next few months with a good start to the 2021 season.