Class of 2023: Defensive Line Superlatives

<strong>Best Pass Rusher- [player_tooltip player_id="162650" first="Jalen" last="Thompson"] | <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2G50s5">Hudl</a></strong> Thompson has good quickness off the line of scrimmage. He is tremendous at combining strength and quickness to effortlessly get off of blocks when rushing the passer. Thompson does not only look to bring quarterbacks down, he will deliver hard hits and make quarterbacks think twice about sitting in the pocket. Thomspon is as good of an athlete as you will see at the defensive end position. There are not many high school players that move like he can at his size. His skill set brings him the top spot as the best past pass rusher out of defensive lineman in the 2023 class. <strong>Best Motor- [player_tooltip player_id="226712" first="Mason" last="Muragin"] | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12866025/617d737634531601789e5c54">Hudl</a></strong> Muragin has a motor that is always running. He is a guy that with his speed and relentlessness will chase down the ball carriers way down the field. I love how he will aggressively take on blockers. He does a good job of playing with good leverage as well. There are never any plays on his tape where he shies away from taking on a blocker or helping finish a tackle. Muragin is very good against the run and rushing the passer. I love his game and the physicality he brings. That is why I will rank him number one for the best motor. <strong>Best First Step- [player_tooltip player_id="234417" first="Messiah" last="Blair"] | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14521700/61a663b6c1250b0670e58982">Hudl</a></strong> Blair does a great job of flying off the ball and getting into the backfield. He has the speed to chase down quarterbacks in the backfield. Blair is a guy that you have to block or he will disrupt plays in the backfield quickly. Blair has great size at 6-3, 235 lbs. He has an outstanding muscle build and has a frame where he can continue to add muscle. Blair’s first step has allowed him to not only fire into the backfield but also quickly get into position to set the edge. Blair is a physical tackler as well and does a great job of wrapping up and taking down ball carriers. Blair is a great football player and will come in as the best first step in my opinion. <strong>Best Hand Usage- [player_tooltip player_id="169537" first="Bruce" last="Williams"] | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13378524/615be788bee1640718726d06">Hudl</a></strong> Williams does a great job of always keeping his hands active and fighting to get off blocks. He plays with outstanding effort and is always looking to make plays in the backfield. Williams has powerful hands and uses them to rip past blockers. His hand strength is also a key factor in his ability to push and spin-off defenders. Williams has a good strong build at 6-3, 235 lbs. Williams is good at shooting gaps and stopping runs in the backfield. He does a good job of holding his ground and not allowing blockers to pushing him back. Williams is my number one player for hand usage in this class. I look forward to watching him play next season. He has been one of the many great players that Ann Arbor Huron will feature next season. I expect a big year from Willams and the Ann Arbor Huron team as well.