2023 Austin Area Rankings: Defensive Linemen

These five defensive linemen are the definition of disruptive. They all have excellent awareness and the ability to jump off the snap. These are some of the best defensive linemen in the Austin area from the Class of 2023! 1. <strong>Alessandro Perez - East View High School (Georgetown, TX)</strong> 2021 Season: 87 total tackles, 67 solo tackles, 27 tackles for a loss, 12 sacks, 2 forced fumbles Perez was known for getting to the quarterback in his junior season. Not only that, but he was also constantly around the ball. Overall, Perez provided some of the best defensive play in the Austin area. Regardless of which team he was facing, he is able to spring off the snap to get a sack or create problems for the run. Perez can blow past offensive linemen with ease, so much so that it is possible that he will be double-blocked in the future. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13727479/61d7358e4bb2eb0954a2c38f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> 2. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="259524" first="Princewill" last="Umanmielen"] - Manor High School (Manor, TX)</strong> 2021 Season: 64 total tackles, 37 solo tackles, 25 tackles for a loss, 13 sacks, 2 forced fumbles Much like Perez, Umanmielen was a constant disruptive force for opposing offenses. Umanmielen brings his immense size and field awareness to the table as well. He is 6’5" and 220 pounds of muscle and speed. He often towers over opposing offensive linemen and he has such power that he can push through the o-line or just sprint right past them. He is fantastic at coming off the snap. On top of this, he also has great tackling form, decreasing the risk of broken tackles. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14882764/619c903b64df9d076809c734" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <span style="font-size: 1rem;">3. <strong>Aaron Gall - Bowie High School (Austin, TX)</strong></span> 2021 Season: 69 total tackles, 12 solo tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 8 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 2 blocked punts One thing that sets Gall apart is that he is a special teams’ nightmare. However, he is also another lineman that gets into the backfield frequently. Part of what helps these two points is his tremendous speed off the snap. His eyes are also always on the football and he is not easily distracted by linemen in his face. He also plays tight end on the offensive side of the ball, which helps showcase his athleticism on the field. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13008107/61c1f85f5b3d3b0810ceb18f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> 4. <strong>Colton Vasek - Westlake High School (Austin, TX)</strong> 2021 Season: 56 total tackles, 35 solo tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, 2 forced fumbles Vasek is notorious for getting into the backfield. He has excellent speed and agility, but he also has a great tackling form that does not allow for the ball carrier to break free. Vasek plays every play with 110% effort and is not afraid to take hits. Vasek is an athlete with a lot of momentum going into his senior season, especially after already having an impressive junior season. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13171163/61b1f1974debbc08e85159cf" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> 5. <strong>Griffen Willis - Lake Travis High School (Austin, TX)</strong> 2021 Season: 82 total tackles, 12 solo tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble Willis is one of the top tacklers in the Austin area and for good reason. He is constantly around the football and has a presence all over the field. He has great play recognition and field awareness. He makes the plays when they matter most and does not stop until he hears the whistle. Willis is an athlete with a lot of determination that should prove great for him during his senior season. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/469414/61bbeadeab924d01c0d76e55" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>