Georgia Defensive Linemen Destined to Earn D1 Offers

As we know, the key to success in football starts upfront. If your defensive line can't get pressure on the QB or clog up the run lines, the rest of your defense will be in trouble. Here, we look at some of the most under-the-radar defensive linemen in Georgia. <strong>Stephen Johnson</strong> | 6'4 | Whitewater Johnson has several D1 interests, but most of those have not turned into offers yet. Expect that to change. Johnson has an incredibly impressive frame. At 6'4 315. he is already built like a D1 defensive lineman. He uses that size to physically overwhelm blockers, but his skill set is not limited to just that. He has very long arms and active hands which allows him to keep blockers off him and swallow up ball carriers. Is not super explosive, but he accelerates very well for his size and can get after the QB in a hurry. Expect Johnson's recruitment to start picking up real soon, he is a PO5 talent. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16208610/6123f665da52800c48e3ee9a" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Renardo Lewis</strong> | 6'0 | Wheeler I turned on Lewis's tape with already high expectations, and he blew those expectations out of the water. He is unblockable. At 290 pounds with a low center of gravity, he packs a punch on impact and uses his aggression to get off blockers. Where does he separate himself? His speed. Every now and then you come across a 300 pounder that moves like a running back, and Lewis is just that. He has unreal explosiveness off the snap and can get to that QB in a hurry. When he does not make the sack at first, he uses his rare speed to chase down the QB from behind and make plays. At nearly 300 pounds with unreal speed, athleticism, aggressiveness, and pursuit, he should be one of the most sought-after linemen in the entire state. Has 1 recorded D1 offer to date, but that should grow. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13082635/6180275e967795021c9e1916" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Ty Holiday</strong> | 6'1 | Wheeler Holiday plays alongside Renardo Lewis. Between the two of them, you might not find a more aggressive and physically dominant DL duo in the state. Like a lot of people at his size, Holiday uses his strength to collapse the pocket from the inside. Still, his game is not limited to just his bullrush. He can dip around blockers to get after the QB, and he is super explosive off the line of scrimmage, which allows him to win at the point of impact. Holiday is built from the ground up. He has unreal lower body strength which allows him to get penetration, and he has a strong punch with his upper body as well. Add those qualities together with his athleticism and quickness, and you have a complete package upfront. Holiday has received plenty of interest from D1 schools as he heads into his senior season. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13024520/613ff77a5b47670a34bc9c17" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Leslie Black</strong> | 6'6 | Statesboro Black is an underrated South Georgia prospect that you need to keep tabs on. At 6'6 and hovering around 230 pounds, he has the type of frame that programs drool over. When you look at him, he has D1 written all over him. Black is also a standout on the basketball court, where he is a traditional big man. You can see his physicality and athleticism from basketball carry over to the gridiron. That physicality allows him to set the edge. Even when he is not actually making the play, he is impacting it in some way. His long arms also allow him to fight off blockers and stop himself from getting tied up. Black has already started to beef up since last year, so he is starting to get even better. If he can continue showing that growth, someone will be willing to bet on his upside. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11642470/6149d172d45eb7068c441d1a" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Cole Semien</strong> | 6'2 | Benedictine Military Semien is a versatile and athletic defensive lineman with all the tools. At around 275 pounds, he can play inside and easily be a force to be reckoned with. He is also quick and dynamic as a pass rusher. At times, he has lined up at the OLB spot thanks to his pass-rushing ability. Is not a super explosive player, but his long strides eat up grass and he uses his long arms to grab hold of defenders. Based on his film, I would say his football IQ is through the roof. Rarely overpursues and does not play out of control. Semien has 1 recorded offer from Georgia State, and plenty more should be on the way. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14370171/61a91484b018d00a2434d3f9" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Akeem Lane</strong> | 6'1 | Savannah Christian Prep Lane is an intense competitor that physically imposes his will in the middle of the line of scrimmage. He does this not only with his size and strength, but he does it with his explosiveness. Has an unbelievably explosive first step which allows him to create instant penetration. He plays from the ground up and maintains good pad level, something that a lot of high schoolers struggle with. All things considered, he ruins plays for the offense before they even get started. He is always in the back of the mind for offensive coordinators. Lane should start appearing on some radars very soon.