Trait Ranking Series: Defensive Line

The trait ranking series finally crosses over to the dark side, setting the tone with the defensive line. There is one early power five signee so far, with one or two more prospects that might follow suit. Overall, this is a solid group of high motor, aggressive prospects, with a handful of kids that are on a significant upward trajectory even if they are not hot names at the moment. Stay tuned for part two, which will breakdown the makeup of the best run stuffers and pass rushers in the state.   <table> <tbody> <tr> <td width="312">Athleticism</td> <td width="312">Demeanor</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312">Flexibility</td> <td width="312">Motor</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312">Agility</td> <td width="312">Physicality</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312">Strength</td> <td width="312">Finishing</td> </tr> <tr> <td width="312">Burst</td> <td width="312"> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> Best Athlete [player_tooltip player_id="123081" first="Samuel" last="Same"] – Darby High School, 6’5 210 The standout with the junior Iowa State commit is his combination of flexibility and burst for an angular, 6’5 edge rusher prospect. Same creates considerable pop at the point of attack, firing into his blocker with very good leverage, allowing him to jar and win quickly. He has impressive upper body strength, with long, wiry arms that he can use in unison with his explosiveness to stun and displace in the run game. Same also has excellent agility, allowing him uncoil his frame suddenly and snatch down ball carriers. His agility also allows him to get into his stride in a blink and track down ball carriers when the play goes to his opposite side. Same is a similar prospect to current Cyclone Will McDonald IV, who has developed into a legitimate NFL prospect, and Same should be looking to follow a similar path. [player_tooltip player_id="127724" first="Jordan" last="Allen"] – Olathe South High School, 6’4 240 Allen is an explosive defensive line prospect with a violent, twitched up closing burst that allows him to decleat ball carriers on a consistent basis. Allen can also use his burst to blow up plays before they get started, putting immediate pressure on his blocker, and disrupting timing on run plays as well as force the quarterback to reset. Allen has played some tight end for the Falcons and shows impressive ease of movement. He possesses an impressively smooth stride when chasing down ball carriers, and has the range string plays out on outside runs. If Allen can improve his upper body strength, he has the athletic tools to play multiple positions on multiple fronts, including a run stuffing WILL in a 3-4, which will make him a valuable asset for a defense at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="122945" first="Caden" last="Miranda"] – Maize High School, 6’0 260 One of the more fun to watch prospects in this class regardless of position, Miranda (pictured) may not pass the eyeball test in the way that the two prospects that precede him on this list do, but once the ball is snapped, Miranda goes from Clark Kent to Superman before his blockers know what hit them, as he possesses a devastating first step, allowing him to be shoulder to shoulder with his blocker before he can set his base. At 6’0, Miranda’s natural center of gravity makes it extremely difficult for blockers to recover when they’re beaten off the snap, allowing Miranda to rain down devastation snap after snap over the course of a game. While most defensive linemen under 6’1 are hampered by their height for a variety of reasons, there are the exceptions that have the physical attributes that allow them to use their stature to their advantage, and those are the ones that are a nightmare to block. [player_tooltip player_id="122945" first="Caden" last="Miranda"] fits the latter billing.   Nastiest Demeanor [player_tooltip player_id="127767" first="Wade" last="Spencer"] – St James Academy, 6’2 220 [player_tooltip player_id="127767" first="Wade" last="Spencer"] is walking, breathing, untamable havoc at the defensive line position, and is the type of defensive lineman that will require opposing linemen to engage in some post whistle protection for their quarterback. Spencer is as physical as they come in the way he finishes sacks, rarely surrendering his grasp once he reels in his target, and he doesn’t miss the opportunity to “accompany” an opposing passer to the turf. Spencer also shows ferocity when attacking much bigger blockers, and will fight his rear end off, to the whistle and beyond, with a legitimately elite motor. We will delve deeper into Spencer’s exploits in part II of the defensive line segment, but his demeanor on the field as a defensive lineman is nothing short of ideal. [player_tooltip player_id="122585" first="Walt" last="Gray"] – Bishop Carroll High School, 6’3 215 Gray is an edge prospect that arrives in the backfield with nothing but the worst of intentions, fearlessly flying into ball carriers and delivering jarring hits on a consistent basis. Gray also takes advantage of his reach by violently ripping down ball carriers, and he is not afraid to approach the edge of the right side of the rules to do so. Gray has a very strong motor when it comes to tracking down the ball carrier and finishing plays, and he’ll finish with authority when he gets to his target. [player_tooltip player_id="122585" first="Walt" last="Gray"] plays an angry brand of football and is the type of tone setting defender that will ask questions of his opponents will over the course of four quarters. [player_tooltip player_id="242627" first="Caden" last="Ross"] – Wichita Northwest High School, 6’0 225 You don’t line up at H-back in the state of Kansas without relishing the physical part of the game, and Ross’ film did not disappoint. Ross has a whistle-to-whistle motor that will not drop below full speed until the play is over. He is also a fearless hitter that will launch himself into ball carriers like a linebacker, as well as attack blockers head on that heavily outweigh him. Ross is a blue-collar player that should grab the attention of coaches at the next level with his tireless and fearless brand of football.