2023 Georgia All-Underrated Team: Defensive Front

After finishing the offensive side of the ball, we move onto the defensive side of things. Here, we build what we consider to be a team consisting of the most underrated players in Georgia. Some of these players will blow up on the trail. Others will remain under the radar. Regardless, the following 11 players are players that we believe deserve more attention than they get. <strong>DL</strong> | <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="131795" first="Jeremiah" last="Sandiford"]</strong> - 6’2 - Miller Grove Metro Atlanta is a farm for underrated talent, and this Lithonia native fits that description. He might not possess the ideal size that big-time colleges want at 6’2 255, but he is more than big enough to be a force on the interior. He also makes up for that lack in size by playing a violent, physical brand of football. Wins at the point of attack with his brute strength and explosion, but also uses his hands well and shows nice bend when lined up at DE. He has a knack for getting to the ball carrier in a hurry, where he flashes his impressive speed for his size. Sandiford has garnered plenty of interest from FCS and mid-major schools, but the bulk of his recruitment is still ahead of him. He has the potential to be a late bloomer for some FBS programs on the trail. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13689630/612d88214bb2d80b64bfa1b6" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>DL</strong> | <strong>Joshua Barker</strong> - 5’10 - Kell Outside of his height, which is likely the reason he is so underrated, Barker checks all the other boxes. Before we even get to his film, he is an absolute freak off the field as well. On Twitter, you can see videos of him putting in work in the weight room, like squatting 500 for 6 reps. When you turn on the film, his athleticism definitely translates to the field. Last season, Barker finished with 37 TFLs and terrorized QBs to the tune of 10 sacks. Can line up all over the defensive front, but did most of his damage on the interior. There is no real science to how Barker plays, he simply just plays harder and more aggressive than everyone else. The fact that he is super explosive off the line with active hands compliments his motor extremely well. If Barker was 6’3 instead of 5’10, I have no doubt that he would be a blue-chip prospect. Regardless, he is a versatile prospect that plays with a chip on his shoulder. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/8156962/61311c4aa681c005487835cb" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>DE</strong> | <strong>Leslie Black</strong> - 6’6 - Statesboro We have two physical interior players on the defensive line, now it’s time to go get a defensive end. Black is a raw but athletic prospect that has a high ceiling. Black also happens to be a standout on the basketball court, which is not surprising when you look at his combination of size and speed. While Black is not a super physical prospect at the moment, he is still growing into his frame and does a great job of sealing the edge. Is a great form tackler and uses his long arms to swallow up the ball carrier. He is also a rangey prospect coming off the edge which means he can rush the passer efficiently and chase down ball carriers down the field. Right now, he plays at more of an OLB spot than DE. But at 6’6, he should eventually put his hand in the ground if he can continue to add weight. It will be interesting to see how Black continues to grow both physically and as a player throughout his senior season this fall. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11642470/6149d172d45eb7068c441d1a" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>EDGE</strong> | <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="34020" first="Isaac" last="Hubert"]</strong> - 6’2 - Creekview It is important to get Hubert on this list now because he might not be considered underrated for much longer. While numerous mid-major and FCS programs have offered Hubert recently, I would argue that he is one of the better players in the entire state across all positions. Hubert has been a standout for Creekview since he was a freshman, where he was named a Freshman All-American by MaxPreps in 2019. Since then, Hubert has continued to improve his stock. When you turn on the film, you can’t help but be blown away by his explosiveness. Whether he runs through or around you, there are hardly any players that can keep Hubert from making a play on the QB. Due to his physicality and explosiveness alone, there is no reason that D1 programs shouldn’t be lining up for Hubert. Keep tabs on Hubert in 2023 as he is due for a big finale at the high school ranks. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13394890/6138ddadbd6c170214907bff" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>