Up and Coming 2023 Michigan Defensive Linemen

We’re looking at a handful of players in the trenches that deserve some more love. These guys are loaded with raw ability and untapped potential as they enter their senior year. John Jokisch - Seaholm - DE - 6’3" 235 lbs Jokisch is a very lengthy DE who has a pretty explosive first step off the line. If he’s given a free release he’s able to cover a ton of ground in a hurry and is able to shed his block by typically just going around him. The first step off of the line where Jokisch is so fast is what gives him the ability to win so quickly. If he’s not able to get off the line quickly he is able to shed most blocks and win to the side he needs to make the tackle. He isn’t the most polished prospect and could use a ton of teaching with the little things, but that very well may just come with time. Jokisch also plays his run fits very well and doesn’t ever over pursue. He’s typically able to force everything back inside and allow his reinforcements to come. Jokisch is best when he is able to let loose and just come after the QB. He’s able to take the first explosive step, bend around the edge, and hit home. Problem is, he doesn’t get very many 1 on 1 situations in the passing game because the other team is usually so worried about him blowing the play up. Overall, I do think he could benefit from a really good summer in the weight room. If he’s able to bulk up some and refine his craft, Seaholm has the natural ability to play D1 football. [player_tooltip player_id="30319" first="Kenny" last="Merrieweather"] - Martin Luther King - DE/OLB - 6’3" 230 lbs Merrieweather is a very intriguing prospect because he’s able to play on the line and off the line. He’s able to drop back into coverage and play the LB role, or line up on the edge and rush the passer. He’s a great athlete who is just learning and understanding how to train and develop his frame. He has really strong hands and is able to shed just about any block. Typically the MLK coaching staff just lets Merrieweather go. They put him on the line and let him ruin the game for opposing offenses. He’s typically the best athlete on the field and is able to win every 1 on 1, when he gets them. Merrieweather is a sack machine who has a very pretty spin move in his repertoire. He spends time working on pass-rushing moves and it might be the thing that helps him the most. He’s able to anticipate the OL hands and make the whiff while blowing right past them. Merrieweather’s upside is as high as he wants it to be. When you have that level of raw ability and the type of work ethic he has, only good things can happen. [player_tooltip player_id="243401" first="Luke" last="Aniel"] - Utica Eisenhower - DE - 6’3" 200 lbs We keep talking about explosive players and we have another one. Aniel has the ability to jump off the line like I haven’t seen in a few years. He’s someone who is able to immediately win his 1 on 1 and ends up in the backfield leveling the quarterback before he finishes his drop. He has very fast hands and has an even prettier swipe move to fend off linemen’s hands. Aniel has been very well-coached all of his life and it stands out on his tape. While his footwork, body mechanics, and ability to maintain balance aren’t perfect, they are all very good for his age. Aniel is someone who is very refined for his age and has to spend a lot of time working on ladders as well. His feet are very fast, not choppy, and are always eating up ground. When he doesn’t hit home, he is throwing his hands up and trying to bat a ball or deflect the pass. He’s also very successful with that as well. I do think there are times where Aniel is so fast off the line he can over pursue and miss his target. Sometimes he will get up the field a little too far and it allows the quarterback to step up. Again, just minor things for an overall very good recruit. I’m very excited about Aniel’s future and where he ends up. He has all the tools in his toolbox and it’s up to him to use them. [player_tooltip player_id="169537" first="Bruce" last="Williams"] - Huron - DE/OLB - 6’3" 235 lbs I just finished up Aniel’s tape and talked about how explosive he was. I flipped on Williams tape and we have to add another one to the explosive list. I heard Bruce was explosive off the line but I didn’t know to what degree. The answer quite literally jumped out at me on the first play. Bruce isn’t just explosive, he’s quick and twitchy. He’s got great quick and sudden short-area body movement and control that allows him to win faster than anticipated. He’s got a nice block shedding technique already as well. He’s only going to get better over the next year as well. Huron lines him up in a few different spots on the line but the coverage always shifts towards Williams. Bruce is a game wrecker and if you allow him to get confidence early in the game it is going to be a very long night for the offense. On the off chance he doesn’t blow his guy up right away and dominate the rep, Williams is relentless. He will chase down the ball carrier or quarterback on second and third efforts. Right now, he plays with his hand in the dirt but he’s so athletic I wouldn’t be surprised to see him move an OLB spot permanently in college. There is no doubt that Williams is a D1 player moving forward. If he keeps working at it and getting better he’s going to have a plethora of offers to choose from at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="243394" first="Luke" last="Fletcher"] - Port Huron - DE/OLB - 6’3" 229 lbs While Fletcher is explosive, he isn’t quite as such as Aniel and Williams. He’s able to get off the ball pretty quickly and win his blocks most of the time. He lives in the backfield when he gets there. Sometimes it just takes him a second or 2 to get there. I do wish he had another reliable move to help get around or through his opposing linemen. That is something that can very well come with time. Fletcher’s best move in my opinion is his straight bull rush. He keeps his head down and powers through his guy and will drive him right back into the quarterback. The amount of strength and power alone that takes is incredible. What he doesn’t have in speed and explosiveness he has power in his upperbody. I do think if he spent a good summer in the weight room he would man handle just about every lineman he comes across. He isn’t the most refined prospect, but he’s a very good player with an extremely bright future. Right now, I’d say he’s a good D2 player and has starting D1 potential.