2023 Class: Top 5 Defensive Linemen

The thing I noticed the most researching these top 5 linemen is just how talented all these guys are. Each prospect in the top 5 has a D1 offer, and I would argue they all have power-5 potential. Now, here's a look at the top 5 defensive linemen from the class of 2023! <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">#1 [player_tooltip player_id="162650" first="Jalen" last="Thompson"] (#1 overall, Cass Tech)</span></strong> There’s a reason why [player_tooltip player_id="162650" first="Jalen" last="Thompson"] is the #1 C/O 2023 player in the state. That reason is his dominance against the most elite competition. As seen in the below tweet, [player_tooltip player_id="162650" first="Jalen" last="Thompson"] had an outstanding Junior season posting 10 sacks and 30+ QB pressures. Thompson has an elite mix of speed and power, and again, he’s doing this against elite teams such as Detroit King. He’s an exciting prospect that holds dozens of D1 offers from teams such as Michigan, Michigan State, and Georgia. https://twitter.com/__4jalen/status/1466093594520047625 <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">#2 [player_tooltip player_id="226712" first="Mason" last="Muragin"] (#14 overall, De La Salle)</span></strong> Muragin’s stock has risen a ton over this past season. I was able to watch his talent first-hand at the State Championship, and he won most blocks against a very successful Traverse City Central offensive line. His speed really impressed me, and I would argue that great speed moves are a bit more attractive than great power moves when evaluating a high school prospect. Right now, he has some MAC offers with some GLIAC offers/interest. If he develops how I think he can/will, Muragin will get those looks from Michigan State, other D1 teams that he has an interest in. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">#3 [player_tooltip player_id="234417" first="Messiah" last="Blair"] (#19 overall, Detroit King)</span></strong> A 3-star recruit by 247, Blair is a massive 6’7" 225lb from Detroit King. Blair demonstrates a high degree of finesse and IQ having faced elite competition this season. He’s a lengthy lineman that lots of times uses his height to his advantage, but sometimes, he has a hard time getting low enough out of the line, which is a very common problem with tall linemen. The things that make him stand out most are his performance against elite competition during the season, along with good performances with offseason competition. I find Blair to be a very intriguing prospect and I am looking forward to seeing him play in 2022. <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">#4 [player_tooltip player_id="169537" first="Bruce" last="Williams"] (#20 overall, Huron)</span></strong> With D1 offers from Central Michigan, Bowling Green, Liberty, Louisville, Marshall, and others, [player_tooltip player_id="169537" first="Bruce" last="Williams"] is a great college prospect standing at a strong 6’3" 235lbs. One aspect of his game that I’m extremely impressed with is his getoff. Few players explode off the ball as fast as Williams, and with his arsenal of speed moves, he becomes a daunting threat. He blows past some very good linemen, and the Huron coaching staff sometimes draws up some effective stunts for Williams. The only blank space for Willaims is his performance at some elite camps. I expect Willaims to get more prestigious offers soon. https://twitter.com/AllenTrieu/status/1451230853145796614 <strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">#5 [player_tooltip player_id="30319" first="Kenny" last="Merrieweather"] (#22 overall, Detroit King)</span></strong> Merriweather displays a great mix of power and speed as a D1 DL prospect. He’s an outlier in passed tipped, as he’s able to get a hand up in passing situations often, even scoring a pick-6 in the state championship. Like I said, he’s a great, balanced lineman, and the 6’3" 235lb frame sure helps. Considering how stacked King is, along with them consistently facing elite competition, Merriweather will have ample opportunity to raise his stock in the near future.