Locked and Loaded – Indiana 2023 DL Recruits

The defensive line is quickly turning into one of the strengths of the 2023 class. Today, we’re looking at a bunch of guys who are impact players for their defenses and what could be coming their way after their Senior campaigns. [player_tooltip player_id="107083" first="Dilyn" last="Fuller"] - Anderson - DE - 6’2" 230lbs Fuller is a really fun prospect. He’s listed at 6’2" and 230lbs, but he absolutely looks bigger than that. Not only does he look the part, but he also plays the part. He’s able to use his size to his advantage more often than not. He doesn’t have the fastest get-off, but outside of that, he’s very twitchy and violent. He’s got very aggressive and angry hands and is willing to use them to rip, twist, and pull. He’s decent at setting the edge and forcing guys back inside. He’s able to shed some blocks at the point of attack and shift to the right gap to make the play. When he’s playing the run is when I think he’s at his best. He understands his gap and won’t overpursue. In the passing game, however, there are times he can get a bit too aggressive and overshoot his landmark and miss the QB. He’s a really good athlete and when he gets going downhill, he needs to come to balance so he can put himself in the best position possible to make the play. While Fuller isn’t someone I’ve seen drop back in coverage, I do think he’d be athletic enough to do so if they wanted to have him as more of a flex player. He’s got the speed to run with most TEs and some RBs the way it stands now. Coach him up and I think the upside is there as well. Fuller is best off of the line when he’s got the inside shade on his guy. He’s able to get small and split the gap and hit home really quickly. Fuller does a lot of things well and if he’s able to bulk up some over the coming year, he can be one of the better DEs in the state. Where he goes to school is anyone’s guess, but my guess is he ends up with offers from D1, D2, and D3 and will pick the best fit for him and his family. Russell Winchester - Warsaw - DE - 6’4" 245lbs Winchester’s tape is unexpected but in a good way. The first thing you see when you flip on the tape is someone who just looks bigger than everyone around him. He’s listed at 6’4" but I could see him creeping up towards 6’6" when it’s all said and done. He’s long, he’s lengthy, and is very proportionate. Typically when you have a guy this long and light, they are on the skinnier end. That is not the case with Winchester here. He’s well-built, thick, and is rather quick. Winchester is usually the one who wins his matchup first and gets into the backfield right away. He always seems to be right there to make the play. He’s got fast and violent hands and is able to shed the opposition’s hands rather easily. There are times when Winchester will rush high and not use his leverage which eliminates him from the rep. It could be a stamina thing but I’m not sure. If possible, I’d love to see consistency on every down. In the running game, he’s decent. He’s able to hold his gap, fend off his guy, and make the play if it comes his way. Winchester has been very well-coached in terms of getting your hands up. If you don’t get home, toss your hands up and see what happens. He’s tipped a few balls and even made a nice diving grab for an interception of his own after it was tipped. I’d love to see him bulk up and add some muscle. It’d help him be able to throw guys around more often and work as an anchor for his lower legs. I do also think there are times his body control can get a bit erratic and if he’s able to keep everything high and tight, it could sharpen some things up for him. Overall, with his size and motor, there’s a ton of promise with Winchester. My guess is the offers come hot and heavy this upcoming season. [player_tooltip player_id="185170" first="Kevion" last="Wellington"] - North Central - DE/OLB - 6’1" 247lbs Wellington is a ton of fun. His first play on his HUDL feels like the sack on the QB was personal. He blew around the edge, got home insanely quick, and just violently threw the QB to the ground at 100mph. On the first play, he showed that he is able to bend around the corner without losing any speed or momentum while staying balanced. He’s quick with his hands and understands how to swipe away the OL hands. Wellington is an insanely high motored player who doesn’t stop until the whistle blows. He’s going to sprint to the ball on every down. North Central does a good job moving him around and keeping the OL guessing. He’s able to play on the inside or outside of the line. He’s got the finesse ability and strength to win inside and the speed to win on the outside. He’s got a really fast first step and is able to get upfield right away. He doesn’t have much-wasted movement either. I will say, there are times he plays a bit too high and doesn’t keep his body under control, but it’s something minor. Normally, I’d say I’d love for them to hit the weight room. However, I know that Wellington is and since the season ended, he’s put on 6lbs of muscle. He’s someone who spends a lot of time in the weight room and you won’t have to worry about if he’s willing to put the work in. There is a ton to like with what Wellington already is. While he isn’t the most refined player, he does a lot of things well. As he enters his Senior year, if he can put together another performance like last year, he’ll be able to handpick where he plays college ball. [player_tooltip player_id="106987" first="Tyrone" last="Lofton"] - Pike - OLB/DE - 6’2" 227lbs Lofton is all over the field for Pike. 1 minute he’s lining up at MLB and the next he’s lining up at DE to set the edge. Wherever they move him, he’s capable to do the job. He’s a really good athlete who is long and quick. He’s thick, strong, and versatile enough to bounce around without an issue. While he doesn’t have the fastest first step at the line, once he gets full speed he’s really quick. Lofton is someone who can drop back into coverage or rush the passer. When he’s rushing the passer, he’s rather good. He’s got strong hands, is able to shed most blocks and get to his gap responsibility if and when the ball comes his way. When dropping back in coverage, there are times he will stop moving his feet, but he’s instinctive and trusts his eyes. When he comes downhill to make the play, he’s going to make the play 1 way or another. While he doesn’t have the cleanest footwork when pursuing, once he gets his hands on the ball carrier they aren’t going anywhere. Lofton understands how to get the offensive lineman’s hands out of the picture and is really smooth with his swipe. He’s also able to bend around the corner and is flexible enough to do so without an issue. Lofton also has decent speed and is able to run with pretty much any TE that steps on the field. While I’m not sure what position he’d prefer to play in college, I do know that he’s going to draw interest from schools and some will want him at LB and others will want him at DE. Whatever direction Lofton chooses, I’m hopeful he’s able to reach his ceiling. [player_tooltip player_id="185160" first="Kendrick" last="Gilbert"] - Cathedral - DE/DT - 6’5" 260lbs Gilbert is one of the most desired recruits in the state. He’s a 4-star guy who I’m sure most people know all about. While I’m going through and doing the rankings, I’m hopeful to cover everyone who gets ranked, even if most people know who they are. Gilbert is the real deal and schools want him for a good reason. Gilbert is a freak athlete who has no right being as fast, explosive, and as quick as he is. To stand at 6’5" and 260lbs and shoot off the ball at 100mph every down is just ridiculous. I think the wild part is that you can argue his body is still fairly raw. He's someone who could easily develop into an NFL-type body when he gets to college. He lines up all over the line but it doesn’t really matter where they put him. The opposing offense is usually so afraid they change the direction of the play away from him. Gilbert still ruins the game plan for opposing offenses. He can bullrush, bend around the corner, split gaps, and win at the LOS on every down. Gilbert is also really good with his hands. Not just with shedding blocks, moving guys, and swiping hands away, but also while making the tackle he’s going to try and strip the ball away. He’s good at it and that ball will absolutely come out if they don’t have both hands on that ball. Sometimes, they won’t even attempt to block him but run away from him. He’ll run down the ball carrier from 15-yards behind if he has to. Gilbert is a people mover. He’s going to move your guy out of the way and make the play. You can’t help but chuckle sometimes because it’s so obvious he doesn’t belong. I think he’s someone who could go D1 today, step on campus, and be a role player in week 1. Wherever he goes, he’s going to end up playing rather early. Right now, he’s sitting on offers from Kentucky, Boston College, Miami, Cincinnati, Duke, LSU, Wisconsin, and Tennessee just to name a few. To keep it easier, it’s safe to assume every school in the country would take him. Where he goes is a big guess for anyone, but I couldn’t be more excited to see where he ends up and if he can reach his full potential.