2023 DL Prospects to Watch

Nebraska's 2023 crop of prospects is loaded with defensive line talent from all over the state. With the departure of the 2022 class, several players are hungry to take advantage of their opportunities. Here are 5 DL prospects in the 2023 class that you need to keep an eye on. <hr /> <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="227074" first="Caleb" last="Kinkaid"] | North Platte | 6’3" 205 lbs </strong></em> <em><strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13263051/Caleb-Kinkaid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Calebkinkaid99" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> </strong></em> Caleb is a player that QBs need to watch because he is such a dangerous edge presence. The dominant defensive end from North Platte is the returning leader in sacks with ten during his junior year. Along with his 10 sacks, he totaled 79 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles in 11 games played. He can be used in various ways, either with his hand on the ground like a traditional DE, or he can line up upright and play the OLB/EDGE role. Kinkaid is very explosive off the snap and knows how to work his angles when attacking the rushing the QB. He’s got a nice shoulder dip that gives him enough of an adjustment to bypass linemen. He is on the leaner side for DE and could see a move to LB, but for now, I think he fills his role nicely and is going to be hard to gameplan for. Caleb is getting looks from local FCS and FBS schools with junior day/visit invites from South Dakota State and Kansas. Kinkaid is going to shoot up several teams’ radars. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13263051/6191dcd39680f603f8b8ddd4" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="245583" first="Noah" last="Bustard"] | Elkhorn South | 6’2" 225 lbs </strong></em> <em><strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/10329915/Noah-Bustard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/noahbustard" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> </strong></em> Noah is a player I am excited to see more of in 2022, and with some senior departures along the DL, I’m expecting an uptick in production for Bustard. He is a versatile DL that can play anywhere from on the line. Whether he’s lined up head-on with the center, in a 3-tech, or 5-tech he’s going to bring tons of energy and a high-motor. Noah is incredibly strong and can bully his way into the backfield, but on top of his strength, he utilizes his hands very well and can force mistakes by the linemen which he can capitalize on. Noah attended the PRZ Stock Up Showcase, where he was one of the more impressive prospects with good numbers in the testing portion, especially in the agility drills, where I was impressed by how twitchy he is for a bigger guy. Currently, there are several schools interested in Noah, with North Dakota State, Bemidji, Dartmouth, Columbia, Augustana, and others all keeping tabs on this talented defensive prospect. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/10329915/6189743fb5347c07e4b02a67" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="227067" first="Darin" last="Williams"] | Omaha Central | 6’2" 225 lbs </strong></em> <em><strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12782723/Darin-Williams" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/darinwilliams__" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> </strong></em> Darin is a player I think has a high ceiling and will make a splash in 2022! After sitting out his sophomore season (COVID year), I feel Darin gave us a good glimpse of the type of player he can be. In a deep DL rotation, Darin was able to tally 24 tackles and forced/recovered a fumble for the Eagles’ defense. He does a great job staying engaged throughout the play and keeps his feet moving until the whistle blows. Darin works his way into the backfield really well and has a "violent" patience when setting contain, meaning he can sit patiently on the edge before exploding at his target, instead of over-shooting and forcing himself out of the play. Williams still has some green to his game but will have several opportunities to polish his game this spring/summer. Darin has received camp/junior day invites to South Dakota School of Mines and Wayne State. Williams is going to be a riser this offseason. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12782723/6185ad98b018f50370d6d196" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="245602" first="Bryson" last="Zimmerman"] | Millard South | 5’11" 205 lbs </strong></em> <em><strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13074589/Bryson-Zimmerman" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/bzimmerman51" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> </strong></em> Zimmerman is fun to watch on film as he is always flying around the field looking to make a play. Bryson racked up 29 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and recorded 4 sacks while playing from the DE position. He has a sneaky quick get-off and does an excellent job applying pressure on the backfield. Bryson plays with good leverage and has a good anchor that allows him to stay put when setting the edge. Zimmerman was also at the PRZ Stock Up showcase and was quite impressive in the DL drills. He plays with violent hands and is very crafty when working his way into the backfield. Overall, Bryson is an underrated DL prospect who will rise up the ranks and turn heads throughout the offseason. Zimmerman is already getting some looks from P5 schools and visited Kansas State in the fall. Things are looking up for Bryson! <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13074589/61784af3f560280ae0260e37" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="227545" first="Cohen" last="Evans"] | Grand Island | 6’3" 225 lbs</strong></em> <em><strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12439227/Cohen-Evans" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CohenEvans1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a> </strong></em> Cohen is an ATHLETE! He is not just a monster in the trenches for the Islanders but will likely assume QB1 duties with the departure of [player_tooltip player_id="167158" first="Kytan" last="Fyfe"]. Cohen has a long, athletic frame that helps him create separation at the line of scrimmage when combined with his speed and quickness, making a dominant DE that can wreck a game. Evans racked up 47 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and even snagged an interception during his junior year. Cohen plays like his hair is on fire and can be seen running all over the field chasing down backs and QBs. When he meets his target, he uses his long arms to wrap up and bring down the ball carrier with a violent hit. Evans is a player that more coaches need to get on their radars ASAP because he will break out in a big way. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12439227/618c95e12aa7ac0bb84e8c53" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>