PRZ Iowa | 2024 Rankings Update | Top DL

There are plenty of Defensive Linemen in the class of 2024 who are already destroying blocking schemes and wreaking havoc in the backfield. Many have the measurables to play college ball at a very high level and some, at least in flashes, have shown elite ability. Get these guys on your radar and learn about who they are now as they are set to dominate the Iowa football landscape for the next couple of years. DL1 [player_tooltip player_id="247990" first="Draven" last="Woods"], 6’3" / 200, Southeast Polk, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12808742/61eb161e0c5da60dc04e7cac">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Draven_woods54">Twitter</a> Woods was one of the most technical and refined Defensive Linemen in Iowa last year and he was only a Sophomore. It is exciting to think about just how dominant he will be as he adds size and strength to what is already an excellent repertoire of technique. Woods is the number 1 ranked Defensive Lineman in the state. Woods posted 9 sacks and 27.5 tfl this past year and was a huge component of the Rams’ state championship run. His speed rush is exceptional; the way he attacks and knocks hands away is so well-trained. He is stout against the run, too. The way he separates, gets the outside hand free, and gets to the ball is textbook. DL2 [player_tooltip player_id="247991" first="Tyron" last="Wright"], 6’5" / 180, Des Moines East, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16419755/Tyron-Wright/highlights">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/bigmantyron24">Twitter</a> Wright is an exceptional athlete, has the ideal frame to be playing at the line of scrimmage, and is already skilled in his job description as an edge defender. He comes in at number 2 in the Defensive Line rankings after a 7 sack, 11 tfl season. Playing out of a two-point stance in a 5 technique to the field is advantageous for the young defender with his length and quick feet. A play that illustrates this is when Urbandale tried to reach him on a wide zone to the field, but he got hands on quickly and locked out into his gap. The way he reset the line of scrimmage vertically knocked other blockers off their path and he was able to make the tackle. DL3 [player_tooltip player_id="247989" first="Drew" last="Campbell"], 6’4" / 200, Cedar Falls, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GPQHJ">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/drewmcampbell33">Twitter</a> Campbell is destructive in the trenches against the run and does an excellent job of transitioning to pass rush. The number 3 ranked Defensive Lineman in the class of 2024 showed off some explosive ability within disciplined play this fall. Prairie brought three pullers right at him on a version of Power; Campbell squeezed the down block, got under the first puller, blew him up, and created a traffic jam in the backfield to shut it all down. The kind of instinct and toughness it takes to do that is not common. On a play against Centennial he recognized slide protection and beat a Guard wrapping back to set the edge with speed and hands for a sack. DL6 [player_tooltip player_id="247994" first="Trent" last="Patton"], 6’2" / 230, Glenwood, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14926889/6188938a9a9c4d09487ad810">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/trentpatton10">Twitter</a> Patton, who comes in at number 6 in the 2024 defensive line rankings, does an excellent job of wrecking inside gaps. His 22 tackles this season is evidence of someone who understands how to defeat blocks and disengage to the ball. What stands out and leads to Patton’s success is the low angle he takes out of his stance with hands out front. The way he beats opponents to the punch and separates allows him to squeeze, get knock back, and locate the ball. On several plays Patton can be seen fighting into the pressure of his block and then disengaging through his gap or across the face of his opponent depending on where the play is going. DL7 [player_tooltip player_id="245591" first="Franz" last="Reisz"], 6’5" / 215, Harlan Community, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11662688/619ae69a42061a0158ad3a6e">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/FranzReisz">Twitter</a> Reisz was one of two very impressive Sophomores to play meaningful minutes and downs for the state champion Cyclones this season. He totaled 25 tackles and joins the 2024 rankings as the number 7 Defensive Lineman. Reisz’s length is an excellent asset and he already uses it expertly. Many taller Defensive Linemen struggle to get leverage, but not Reisz. He gets his hands out in front to keep blockers off his chest and adjusts depth through his hips so he can run his feet and fight pressure. Reisz is very coordinated and mobile for his size and age, too. Reisz clearly understands gaps, how he fits, and how to react to what he sees. DL9 [player_tooltip player_id="247993" first="Cole" last="Blessman"], 6’3” / 185, Dallas Center-Grimes, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13336660/Cole-Blessman">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/BlessmanCole">Twitter</a> A big time building block for the future at Dallas Center-Grimes is Defensive End [player_tooltip player_id="247993" first="Cole" last="Blessman"]. The lengthy, highly athletic Defensive End had 21 tackles, 2 sacks, and 5 tfl for the Mustangs; he comes in at number 9 in the rankings. Blessman is twitchy at the snap and has a quick get off. What impresses right now is how he clearly understands his pass rush lane and how well he uses his hands within it. Blessman does a nice job of taking surface area away by getting small and attacking hips. He also keeps contain. On a play against Hoover he beat his Tackle, then stayed outside of a Back that came down to help and it led to a sack. DL11 [player_tooltip player_id="156622" first="Ethan" last="Thimmes"], 6’0” / 235, North Cedar, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14812695/61b7c89d7bddc20c18de29b9">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ThimmesEthan">Twitter</a> Thimmes was just too much for Offensive Linemen to handle at times last year. He is very powerful, has quick feet, has violent hands, and uses it all to be disruptive on inside gaps. Thimmes is the 11th ranked Defensive Lineman in the class of 2024; he had an extremely impressive 50.5 tackles last season. One of them came on a highlight reel play against Bellevue. He got hands on the near Tackle who was trying to pin him as the Guard he lined up on pulled into the field. His punch was so strong that it took the Tackle straight back, tripped up the Guard, and into the path of the ball carrier. Thimmes took them both to the ground. WL [player_tooltip player_id="156613" first="Tod" last="Geiger"], 6’3” / 240, Montezuma, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/14761046/61c0bbf0041e4b0588af8e19">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/geiger_tod">Twitter</a> Geiger looks to have developed and grown a lot from Freshman to Sophomore year. He terrorized offensive lines in the world of 8-player football lining up at Nose where he could impact every play. Geiger is a name to keep an eye on over the next couple of years. It is devastating for an offense to have to go against a Defensive Tackle who can throttle your Center straight into the backfield and Geiger does that often. To press someone back and work through either gap the way he does is no easy task. Geiger is also very quick for his size and has shown the ability to win with speed when opponents show their angle pre-snap. WL [player_tooltip player_id="156617" first="Drew" last="Hundley"], 6’1 / 190, Waterloo West, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GAmV3">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/drewhundley_">Twitter</a> Wahaks’ Sophomore Defensive Tackle [player_tooltip player_id="156617" first="Drew" last="Hundley"] looked very comfortable getting after it between the Tackles and is a name to watch heading into next year. He really excels in his first few steps through technique that allows him to establish leverage and battle with the bigger guys. The way Hundley stays square to the field and tight to the fight shows composure in a place where it is exceedingly difficult to do so. Hundley does an especially good job of staying flat and keeping the play in front of him. Ottumwa tried to trap him, but he stayed big in his gap, got under the Guard, and spun back when the play bounced to make a tackle.