PRZ Next Midwest Showcase: Defensive Line Preview
Prep Redzone Next is holding the second, of three, one-day showcases this upcoming Sunday, April 24th, at Commisioners Park in Naperville, Illinois. The camp is designed for middle school athletes to compete in combine testing, individual position work and competitive one on work. Over 100 athletes are slated to come and compete.
Here’s a preview of some of the Defensive Linemen who have registered.
When looking at the Defensive Line, the obvious place to start is with 2026 prospect Dominic Funke. Funke is making the trip from Massachusetts along with his younger brother Rory, a 2028 we included in our Quarterback Preview. Dominic is one of the top Defensive Ends in the country for the class of 2026. Fresh off the MVP at the Under Armour camp in Baltimore a few weeks ago, he’s a great combination of lean muscle and quickness off the edge. I expect nothing short of another dominating performance.
Speaking of brothers, Isaac Beaver and twin brother Mason Beaver are making the nearly five hour drive from Norwalk, Iowa to the showcase. Sporting identical matching sized at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, I’m very excited to watch at the showcase. Very new to the game of football, they were both terrors on the field for opposing offenses this past year. They’re always in the weight room and should continue to thrive.
Dante Williams is an interior Defensive Lineman that I’m looking forward to seeing in person. Listed at 6-foot and 230 pounds, he’s starting to get in very good shape ahead of beginning his freshman year in the fall at St. Joseph Catholic Academy. He’s a thicker body with active feet, which, he likely gets from his work on the basketball court.
Another Wisconsin prospect making the trip will be 6-foot-6, 180-pound Defensive End Mason Black Mason Black 6'5" | 215 lbs | DL Waukesha West | 2026 State WI . Black has incredible size and length for just being in the class of 2026. He is putting in a lot of very noticeable work in the weight room and is really transforming his body by adding muscle mass. With his size and continued development, the future is bright for Black.
Kellen Gamble is a local Illinois prospect that I’ve heard about, but am yet to see in any capacity. There’s no denying his size at 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds. Going by strictly by what I see in pictures, he has very long limbs and appears to carry his weight well. We’ll all find out more about Gamble together, at the showcase.
Minnesota’s Khyren Haywood is one of the 2027 prospects I’m looking forward to checking out. He’s an athletic prospect who actually plays 7v7 despite being a 6-foot, 217-pound athlete. On offense he sees reps at a number of positions, including Tight End. On the defensive side, he’s a quick and violent kid who looks like would be an ideal Defensive End in a 3-4 scheme.
Mark Gonzales out of Indiana is another interior guy that should have a nice showing. At 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds he’s on the smaller side but he is lightning quick off the snap. Anticipates the snap well and has a few advanced moves that allow him to clear his hips and get in the backfield quickly.
Before heading off to Brother Rice in the fall, King Liggins is a 2026 Edge player with a tremendous upside. He’s raw when it comes to the position but he’s had tremendous success just by being athletic. Also one of the top wrestlers in the state, Liggins is explosive and delivers bone-crushing hits when he gets to the ball carrier. As he develops some pass rushing moves on the high school level, watch out.