Missouri 2022 Rankings Update: Defensive Linemen
We unveiled our updated Class of 2022 rankings earlier this week, which includes 300 ranked prospects and more than 650 total prospects including the Watch List. Click here to view the updated 2022 Rankings! There are 32 defensive linemen in…
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Continue ReadingWe unveiled our updated Class of 2022 rankings earlier this week, which includes 300 ranked prospects and more than 650 total prospects including the Watch List.
Click here to view the updated 2022 Rankings!
There are 32 defensive linemen in the top 300 and 77 defensive linemen overall for the Class of 2022 in Missouri in the Prep Redzone database.
Today we are taking a closer look at the top five defensive linemen. (Click on the player names to check out their prospect pages on PRZ, including links to their HUDL highlights.)
1. Marquis Gracial Marquis Gracial 6'4" | 310 lbs | DL St. Charles | 2022 State MO , St. Charles (Missouri)
Gracial, a 6-foot-4, 310-pounder defensive tackle, is a big man with rare quickness and athleticism who wreaked havoc on opposing offensive linemen during his time in high school and earned scholarship offers from coast to coast.
Gracial, who will compete in the Under Armour All-America Game on January 2, received offers from Alabama, Oregon, Penn State, Iowa State, Arizona State, Tennessee, Illinois and many more but chose to stay home and play for the Missouri Tigers.
In seven games as a senior, Gracial recorded 38 tackles, five sacks and three fumble recoveries. He also caught nine passes for 118 yards and a touchdown while playing tight end —yes, a 6-4, 310-pound tight end.
2. Domonique Orange Domonique Orange 6'3" | 295 lbs | DL North Kansas City | 2022 State MO , North Kansas City (Iowa State)
Orange is a 6-3, 295-pound defensive tackle who narrowed his college choices down to Texas A&M, Oregon, Ohio State and Iowa State in November before making a pledge and signing with the Cyclones in December.
Orange is a slightly smaller version of Gracial as a disruptive defensive tackle who will attract a lot of attention from opposing offensive lines and still wreak havoc. (Check out this link for a good example.) He recorded 41 tackles, including 22.5 tackles for loss, and seven sacks during his senior season.
3. Tyson Ford Tyson Ford 6'4" | 260 lbs | DL John Burroughs | 2022 State MO , John Burroughs (Notre Dame)
Ford, a 6-4, 260-pound defensive end, was another sought-after prospect who narrowed his recruitment down to Georgia, Missouri, Notre Dame and Oklahoma before committing to the Fighting Irish. Then he watched Notre Dame’s coaching changes right before the early signing period, but stuck with new head coach Marcus Freeman and the Irish.
He was a first-team all-state honoree this season after recording 43 tackles and a sack in eight games. As a junior, in five games, he had 19 tackles and three sacks. He had 52 tackles and one sack in 11 games as a sophomore and 17 tackles in six games as a freshman.
Ford was selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, which will be played on January 8 in San Antonio and broadcast nationally on NBC Sports.
4. Ikenna Ezeogu Ikenna Ezeogu 6'5" | 225 lbs | DL Blue Springs | 2022 State MO , Blue Springs (Iowa State)
Ezeogu, another standout defensive prospect headed to Iowa State, is a 6-5, 225-pound defensive end and wide receiver who has rare athleticism for his size and for the defensive end position.
His HUDL profile highlights are currently loaded with high-flying basketball highlights, including his seven-dunk performance in a game this season. His football highlights include a pick-six against Liberty North where he tipped a pass, caught it and out-ran everyone to the end zone.
Iowa State was the first to offer, back during his junior season, but several schools followed including Kansas, Kansas State, Michigan State, Arizona State, Nebraska and more.
5. Jaylen Banks Jaylen Banks 6'4" | 270 lbs | DL Lutheran North | 2022 State MO , Lutheran North (Southern Illinois)
Banks is a powerful 6-4, 270-pounder who was a handful for Crusaders’ opponents in his final two high school seasons.
Banks recorded 40 tackles and four sacks as a senior and had 34 tackles and two sacks in six games during a junior campaign shortened by COVID restrictions in St. Louis County.
Banks reported offers from Kansas, Minnesota and Syracuse in the fall of his junior year and then added Iowa State, Memphis, Southern Illinois and Murray State offers in the spring and summer before pledging to the Salukis in July.
Next five:
Ashtin Rustemeyer Ashtin Rustemeyer 6'2" | 285 lbs | DL Lutheran-St. Charles | 2022 State MO , Lutheran-St. Charles (Arkansas State)
Jaydon Wannstedt Jaydon Wannstedt 6'2" | 290 lbs | DL Lutheran-St. Charles | 2022 State MO , Lutheran-St. Charles (Murray State)
Payden Allen Payden Allen 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL North County | 2022 State MO , North County
Donovahn Watkins Donovahn Watkins 6'1" | 250 lbs | DL Joplin | 2022 State MO , Joplin
James Williams James Williams 6'7" | 225 lbs | DL Park Hill South | 2022 State MO , Park Hill South
Prep Redzone Missouri Rankings Updates Positional Breakdowns
Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Wide Receivers | Tight Ends | Offensive Linemen | Defensive Linemen | Linebackers | Defensive Backs | Athletes