2024 Rankings Debuts; Top Defensive Linemen

Today we look at the top defensive linemen in the 2024 class.  The class is talented and it’s deep.    There’s a good mix of defensive tackles and ends.  I expect many of these players to pick up several P5 offers this offseason. We start with [player_tooltip player_id="284549" first="Angelo" last="McCullom"] of Olentangy HS.  At 6’2 260 McCollum has good size and carries his weight well.  He really is a well-rounded prospect when it comes to the ways he can defeat blockers.  He has a great get off.  From the get off he can win with quickness and technique, or he can simply overpower the blocker and he easily transitions between the two, which is what makes him such a problem for opposing offenses.  I expect this to be a big offseason for Angelo that will begin to result in Power 5 offers. Links: <a href="https://twitter.com/AngeloMcCullom">Twitter</a>/<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14833371/61914e875caaca0460f62659">Hudl</a> At 6’4 220, [player_tooltip player_id="284547" first="Elias" last="Rudolph"], of Taft high school is a long and athletic Edge rusher.  He has the athleticism and body type that he could play DE in a 4-3 or OLB in a 3-4.  He’s twitchy off the snap and does a great job of winning the edge.  He flies around in space to run down plays.  In the run game he’s also able to stalemate and shed his blockers to make plays.  As Rudolph continues to fill out and get stronger, he’ll start to add the power element to his game which will add a totally different dynamic to his game.  Elias has D1 P5 offers from Tennessee, Boston College, Kentucky, and Pitt.  This offseason I think we could see Elias start to pick up some offers from some of the top P5’s around the country. Links: <a href="https://twitter.com/EliasRudolph6">Twitter</a>/<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15212202/61a85e280c5e09099ca24381">Hudl</a> The biggest Power 5 revelation this offseason in this class will be [player_tooltip player_id="284548" first="Andrew" last="Hanchuk"] (Berea-Midpark).  At 6’5 230 pounds, Hanchuk is well put together physically.  In his film he’s lined head up on the offensive tackle.  He does a great job of firing, shedding, and finding the ball.  He uses his hands well to disengage blockers.  I think the next step for Andrew is to add a bull rush to his repertoire to where he can transition from speed to power or vice versa.  At his size and with the athleticism he possesses, I expect Andrew to explode onto the power 5 recruiting scene this offseason. Links: <a href="https://twitter.com/andrew_hanchuk">Twitter</a>/<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11586640/618da6ce0dc0230b84dfdba2">Hudl</a> Archbishop Hoban defensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id="284551" first="Jordan" last="Pritchard-Sewell"] is a player who really came on this season.  I like him as a rush tackle at the college level.  Sewell is a bully on the defensive line.  He has a thick lower body that he uses to create power and drive, and that combined with a good get off he simply overwhelms blockers.  Sewell also does a great job in pursuit.  He doesn’t give up on plays and will run plays down from the back side.  Jordan is lined up at DE in a 2 point stance from time to time which just goes to show his athleticism.  With a good offseason I think Pritchard-Sewell will start to pick up D1 mid-major offers and start to come on the radars of the power 5’s. Links: <a href="https://twitter.com/PritchardSewell">Twitter</a>/<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14750869/61b7d0af176c590b3c2cb381">Hudl</a> Saint Xavier’s [player_tooltip player_id="284550" first="Ted" last="Hammond"] is a prospect that I really like.  I project him as a two gap defensive lineman.  Hammond could line up as a 4-3 NT or a 3-4 DE.  He just eats up space.  At 6’5 260 he is an imposing force.  Hammond does most of his damage by working power through the chest of the opposing center.  Once Hammond stands up the opposing center, he does a good job of disengaging and reading where the play is going.  He’s simply a handful and opposing HS offenses are going to have to double team him or he’s going to wreck a lot of plays before they really even have a chance.  I feel like a broken record, but I project Hammond to a high Mid Major to a Power 5 athlete and I think he’s going to start gaining major interests this offseason. Links: <a href="https://twitter.com/TedHammond14">Twitter</a>/<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14877163/61aa7a6f8cd3e804bc193ff6">Hudl</a> Saint Ed’s DT [player_tooltip player_id="284552" first="Devontae" last="Armstrong"]’s name should sound familiar if you read my article yesterday.  That’s because yesterday I highlighted Devontae’s twin brother Deontae as one of the top Offensive linemen in the 2024 class.  Devontae has really good size and athleticism and you see him flash at times in his film.  Devontae like his brother should start to see varsity action next season where he’ll be able to really start to show his wares.  He’s going to be really fun to follow as he continues to grow and refine his technique.  He also, like his brother, holds offers from Akron and Kent State. Links: <a href="https://twitter.com/Devontae_440">Twitter</a>/<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14906945/61ee31c36e81aa0aa896ba4a">Hudl</a> Others to watch [player_tooltip player_id="284820" first="Turner" last="Schmidt"] Links (Hilliard Davidson) 6’2 220: <a href="https://twitter.com/Turner_schmidt1">Twitter</a>/<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14763823/617d99da664b9b09d47542af">Hudl</a> [player_tooltip player_id="255290" first="Michael" last="Cannings II"] (Toledo Central Catholic) 6’3 265: <a href="https://twitter.com/cannings_m">Twitter</a>/<a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14773628/61abaa01bd6a1d077c0194d2">Hudl</a>