2023 Rankings Newcomers: Defensive Line and Linebackers Edition
We’ve now taken a look at the ranking’s newcomers to the Defensive backs and offensive line positions. Today we take a look at the defensive line and linebackers’ positions. There’s lots of front 7 talent here that I’m really excited…
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Continue ReadingWe’ve now taken a look at the ranking’s newcomers to the Defensive backs and offensive line positions. Today we take a look at the defensive line and linebackers’ positions. There’s lots of front 7 talent here that I’m really excited about.
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Sidikaba Kaba Sidikaba Kaba 6'3" | 260 lbs | DL Kipp Columbus | 2023 State OH (Kipp Columbus) 6’3 260- Sidikaba Kaba Sidikaba Kaba 6'3" | 260 lbs | DL Kipp Columbus | 2023 State OH or “Sid” as he is affectionately known, has exploded onto the D1 recruiting scene after a strong junior season. Kaba is an explosive interior defensive lineman. He does a great job of transitioning speed to power. He’s starting to get MAC interests at this point and with a strong offseason I could see that start to lead to Power 5 interest. Kaba checks in at the 4th ranked defensive lineman, and the 20th player overall.
Kamari Burns Kamari Burns 6'4" | 245 lbs | DL Gahanna Lincoln | 2023 State OH (Gahanna Lincoln) 6’4 245- I see him as either a strongside defensive end, or a rush tackle. Burns is a bull of a defensive lineman. He plays with great leverage and power. Time after time you see him just simply overpower and physically dominate blockers. Combining his physicality with his motor and you have a special kind of talent. Going forward I think the bigger questions becomes, where does he fit positionally? Right now, I’m projecting him to a 3 tech rush tackle. I think he has the opportunity to be a very disruptive interior lineman. In his junior season, and there’s no other way to say it, he’s exploded onto the D1 P5 recruiting scene. He’s picked up offers from the likes of Pitt, Kentucky, and Tennessee among others. Burns has gone from the unranked to the 5th rated defensive lineman and 21st player overall.
Dalton Gustwiller Dalton Gustwiller 6'5" | 270 lbs | DL Fairmont | 2023 State OH (Kettering Fairmont) 6’5 270- Gustwiller is a young man I had a chance to see live against Kettering Alter in the battle for Kettering. Dalton really stuck out to me. He’s every bit of 6’5 270. He’s just a load to handle for offensive linemen. I like him as a two-gap defensive lineman, so I project him to a 5 tech in a 3-4 or a 1 tech in a 4-3. He’s a strong, space eater, with above average athleticism. He’s starting to get D1 mid-major interest right now, and I look for that to continue with a strong camp season. Gustwiller has earned the 8th spot amongst defensive lineman and 52nd player overall.
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Jakob Williams Jakob Williams 6'0" | 210 lbs | DL Hilliard Darby | 2023 OH (Hilliard Darby) 6’0 200- Jakob Williams Jakob Williams 6'0" | 210 lbs | DL Hilliard Darby | 2023 OH is an undersized defensive end who probably projects to Outside Linebacker at the college level. Williams shows good explosion off the line of scrimmage and does a good job of using his quickness to defeat blockers. I project him as a low D2- high D3 caliber athlete. Alot of his projection to position will come down to how he continues to grow and develop. Jakob Williams Jakob Williams 6'0" | 210 lbs | DL Hilliard Darby | 2023 OH appears in the watch list.
Owen Davis Owen Davis 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB North Union | 2023 State OH (North Union) 6’3 210- Davis is a high-level athlete who could play OLB in a 3-4 or DE in the 4-3 at the D1 level. He has the athleticism to drop and cover and the size/strength to play the run at the line of scrimmage. If he can continue to add weight/strength, I think his greatest upside is in moving inside to the DE position. His combo of size and athleticism would make him a handful coming off the edge and he’ll have the strength to hold up against D1 offensive tackles in the run game. Owen currently has offers from Marshall and Kent State. I see him picking up more D1 mid-major interest this offseason. Marshall debuts at 7th among linebackers and 37th overall.
Nigel Glover Nigel Glover 6'3" | 205 lbs | LB Northmont | 2023 State OH (Northmont) 6’3 200- I project Nigel as a highly skilled power 5 outside linebacker. He plays deep safety in the Thunderbolt defense, but with his size he’s one of those rare versatile athletes that’s going to have the size/speed combo to both cover and play the run at the Power 5 level. He does a great job of covering in space and taking pursuit routes to make plays on the ball in the pass game and make tackles. He’s a guy you can line up on a WR and have slide down pre-sna to rush the quarterback or run blitz. He’s blown up this season earning power 5 offers from the likes of Pitt, Washington, Indiana, Northwestern, Purdue, and many others. Glover checks in as the 3rd overall linebacker and the 20th player in the 2023 class.
Buba Bangura Buba Bangura 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Westerville Central | 2023 State OH (Westerville Central) 6’2 200- Buba (pronounced Boo-Bah) is a linebacker who’s really flying under the radar. He’s starting to pick up D1 interest, but he doesn’t currently have offers. Buba is an interesting story. This was his first year playing football. Yes, you heard that right., his first year playing football. He played hockey growing up, and that was where he learned how to hit. Bangura has great length and athleticism. He loves contact. Not just his story is unique, but his skillset is as well. Not only can he cover in space, but he can also cover wide receivers man v man. In coverage he has natural hips and feet. His ability to flip his hips and run at his size is uncanny. He has the explosiveness and physicality to play in the box and play the run. Buba is about to make a big BANG in the D1 P5 recruiting scene! Bangura flew up the board to the 27th player overall and the 4th ranked linebacker.
Malik Ray Malik Ray 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Pickerington North | 2023 State OH (Pickerington North) 6’0 200- I like Malik as a Mike Linebacker at the college level. He has good instincts and is explosive to the hole. He loves physicality and you see him consistently stand-up running backs at the line of scrimmage. Ray has an innate ability to create turnovers, be it through the air or forcing fumbles in the run game. He just has an ability to make game changing plays and does it without sacrificing the tackle. Malik has genetics on his side as his father, Marcus, played Safety on the 1997 National Champion Michigan Wolverines. Ray is another player who is flying under the radar at this point. I project Malik to the D1 FCS-D1 Mid-Major level. I’m very interested to see what this offseason holds for him when it comes to camps and his recruiting process. Ray has ascended to the 10th ranked player at his position and the 54th overall.
Kyle Jackowski Kyle Jackowski 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Olentangy Berlin | 2023 OH (Olentangy Berlin) 6’0 190- When you watch Kyle Jackowski Kyle Jackowski 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Olentangy Berlin | 2023 OH ‘s film you see a linebacker who does a great job of read and react. He flows downhill and is a dependable tackler. He does a good job of eluding blockers to make the play. Jackowski shows up in our watch list.