2023 Rankings Risers: DL & LB

With the release of the update 2023 PRZ Rankings, here's an in-depth look into the DL and LB prospects that are climbing the rankings. [player_tooltip player_id="190272" first="Tiumalu" last="Afalava"], DL, Bishop Amat At 6'3” 250 lbs. Afalava is a versatile defensive lineman that can be a difference maker from the interior or off the edge. He's a plus athlete for his size that is agile and shows good natural movement skills and bend to redirect as the play develops. Shows good natural strength and power in his hands and lower body to disengage from blocks and be a violent tackler. He's a competitor than can win with natural ability or technique given his strong fundamentals and command of different moves. Was a new addition to the 2023 PRZ rankings last update and has continued to rise with a strong junior season. Currently holds six Power 5 offers to his name including Georgia, Miami, Ole Miss, Michigan, and Florida State and will look to add more this offseason. https://twitter.com/TiuAfalava/status/1465409644029874177?s=20 [player_tooltip player_id="145211" first="Ashton" last="Sanders"], DL, Cathedral Sanders had a great junior season and saw his recruitment skyrocket with major D1 offers coming in from Notre Dame, Cal, Washington, ASU, and Colorado. At 6'3” 295 lbs. he possesses elite level size, strength, and athleticism that allow him to play multiple positions on both sides of the line. For his size, he flashes great initial quickness off the LOS and short area burst to redirect and disrupt plays in the backfield as they are developing. He shows outstanding natural strength and leverage to explode through contact and overpower opponents at the POA. Great year over year improvement in terms of his mobility and fundamentals that has shown in the rise of his recruiting stock. Offer count currently stands at eight but that number will continue to increase this offseason. https://twitter.com/ChampSanders55/status/1458193512600465411?s=20 [player_tooltip player_id="25363" first="Grant" last="Buckey"], DL, Liberty Buckey checks a lot of boxes as a major D1 prospect with his athleticism and length coming off the edge. He possesses a well-balanced and built frame at 6'5” 270 lbs. with good growth potential as he continues to develop. He flashes quick feet and good lateral mobility to avoid contact and beat blockers around the corner. Understands how to use his length and quick hands to his advantage when fighting off blocks and locating the ball carrier. Shows good leg drive at the POA and does a good job of keeping his feet active while the play develops and he's making his read. Started off his recruiting in the summer with two group of five offers from UNLV and San Jose State, since then he has added six power five offers from Michigan, Washington, Cal, Stanford, Oregon State, and Colorado. https://twitter.com/GrantBuckey/status/1470532349955772420?s=20 [player_tooltip player_id="145249" first="Cameron" last="Brandt"], DL, Sierra Canyon Brandt is another DL prospect that has shown great year over year improvement. He has always possessed the raw athletic ability and size at 6'4” 265 lbs. but has shown major improvement in his get off, technique, and motor over the course of this season that has translated to an increase in his recruitment. He's a tough block especially one-on-one with his strength, balance, and leverage at the POA. He's able to anchor down and neutralize blockers while holding his gap and staying square to the LOS so he can react to the ball. He's a strong body tackler that is tough to break once he gets his hands on the ball carrier and continues to drive his legs through contact. Currently holds two PAC12 offers from Cal and Arizona with the upside and potential to keep building on that number. https://twitter.com/CameronGBrandt1/status/1466152482673868800?s=20 [player_tooltip player_id="190338" first="Blake" last="Nichelson"], LB, Manteca Nichelson made a big jump in the rankings after being a playmaker on both sides of the ball at Manteca. Was the work horse running back in a high scoring offense and finished the season with 2,230 yards and 36 touchdowns while averaging 10.7 YPC. On defense, where he projects at the college level he racked up 50 tackles and 11 TFL's. He's a pure competitor and football player that finds ways to be a difference maker no matter where he lines up. A strong and savvy athlete at 6'3” 200 lbs. he shows great natural movement skills and range in pursuit with the short area burst and lateral agility to close space on the ball carrier. Flashes a high level of awareness and key play diagnoses to be a decisive read and react LB. Colleges will love his relentless and always attacking style of play. Recruitment has steadily been on the rise with five D1 offers most recently from Washington and Arizona. https://twitter.com/NichelsonBlake/status/1473494931570233346?s=20 [player_tooltip player_id="145201" first="Victory" last="Johnson"], LB, Cathedral Catholic Johnson was a big time defensive playmaker in Cathedral Catholic's run to the D1AA State Championship. He possesses ideal size, length, and frame to build on for a major D1 LB at 6'4” 230 lbs. Downhill and attacking style of play that is extremely violent and physical at the contact point. He's a plus athlete that can run and move laterally with sideline to sideline range to make plays all over the field. He uses good eye discipline to quickly diagnose plays and trigger. Does a great job taking on and fighting off blocks to locate and chase down the ball carrier. Holds six D1 offers including USC, Arizona, Oregon State, SDSU, Colorado, and ASU with the skillset and ability to add many more power 5 programs. https://twitter.com/VictoryKaleb/status/1471638908026777600?s=20 <hr /> Be sure to follow <a href="https://twitter.com/JReyes_NP">Jordan Reyes</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneCA">Prep Redzone CA</a> for more PRZ content and news for California High School Football. Want to be ranked? Fill out our FREE <a href="https://prepredzone.com/prospect-index/">Prospect Player Index</a>, another tool to help you in your recruiting journey.