Trait Ranking Series - Defensive Line II

In part 2 of the defensive linemen series, we’ll look at the best pass rushers and run defenders in the state. All of the prospects in this segment really jumped out in how far ahead they are of their competition when you turn the film on, in terms of physical dominance and their football IQ. Of equal importance is the fact that they are all hustlers with high motors.     <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Athleticism</td><td>Demeanor</td><td>Pass Rush</td><td>Run Defense</td></tr><tr><td>Flexibility</td><td>Motor</td><td>Twitch</td><td>Footwork</td></tr><tr><td>Agility</td><td>Physicality</td><td>Bend</td><td>Point of Attack</td></tr><tr><td>Burst</td><td>Finishing</td><td>Speed to Power</td><td>Instincts</td></tr><tr><td>Strength</td><td> </td><td>Control</td><td>Hands</td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td>Hands</td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   Best Pass Rusher   [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 a twitchy, slippery pass rusher that confounds pass rushers with his quickness and activity. The most dangerous weapon (of many) in Spencer’s pass rush arsenal is devastating lateral twitch, which allows him to effortlessly cross the faces of his blockers before they can even get their hands up. Thanks to Spencer’s nimble and coordinated feet, his lateral quickness works in perfect unison with his lightening quick first step, allowing him to win the rep instantly off the snap. Once his blocker is beat, Spencer does an excellent job finishing plays in the backfield due to his excellent bend and ability to control his momentum, allowing him to maintain favorable angles to the QB. While not having ideal length for a pass rusher, Spencer has borderline elite mitigating this, and he should continue to give offensive linemen fits at the next level.     [player_tooltip player_id=’122941’ first=’Kaleb’ last=’Green’] – Gardner Edgerton High School, 6’1 220   It should come as no surprise to see the state leader in sacks on this list, and much like his predecessor on this list, Green has an array of traits that allow him to win pass pro reps on a consistent basis. Green is a slippery pass rusher, with excellent hands and a first step that puts immediate recovery pressure on his blocker. The sheer hand speed really jumps off the screen when he attacks the ball and forces fumbles. Green also has the flexibility and twitch to suddenly flatten the angle to the QB, making it very difficult for tackles to recover their base once they’re beat. Green can use his twitchy stop/start ability to throw tackles off balance when bull rushing and flashes some speed to power for a smaller pass rusher. Arguably the most impressive aspect of Green’s game is going into his senior year in high school, he’s a very savvy pass rusher, with a good feel for a blocker’s body position. He knows when and how to set up his blocker, and when to simply all-out attack his chest. This level of intuitiveness is not easily found in pass rushers at this stage of their development and should be a head turner for coaches at the next level.   [player_tooltip player_id=’126736’ first=’Adam’ last=’Parks’] – Blue Valley North High School, 6’3 220   Parks’ inclusion here is admittedly a bit of a projection, but in today’s game defensive linemen with his skillset are becoming highly valuable. The BVN product brings a little bit of everything to the table in terms of where he can line up on the LOS to threaten the opposing QB. It all starts with an explosive short area burst that allows him to blow by blockers before they can set. This also translates to speed to power, which makes him a threat to bull rush off the edge. In addition, Parks flashes quick and coordinated hands, as well sneaky agility, which in tandem make him a speed threat off the edge, whether in a 2, or 3-point stance. Parks has very good reach and footwork that work in unison, allowing him to use his lateral twitch to cross faces of blockers before they can get any substantial contact on him. Simply put, if you have an offensive lineman with a pass pro weakness, expect [player_tooltip player_id=’126736’ first=’Adam’ last=’Parks’] to bring something out of his arsenal to exploit it. This will make him an asset on a defense at the next level, and with a big senior year he should have his pick.   Best Run Defender   [player_tooltip player_id=’127724’ first=’Jordan’ last=’Allen’] – Olathe South High School, 6’4 240   [player_tooltip player_id=’127724’ first=’Jordan’ last=’Allen’] is an absolute menace at the point of attack, and it starts with the violent burst we touched on the previous segment. Because he has the ability to win so authoritatively, Allen can then flash his explosive upper body and tremendous balance, allowing him to stack and displace offensive linemen with ease. Allen’s hands are fundamentally sound in the run game, with precise fits that allow him to take advantage of his explosiveness, and in harmony with his feet, allow him to consistently out leverage his opponent and quickly gain clean angles on the ball carrier. Allen’s instincts are finely honed when it comes to finding the football, and he looks to have a sixth sense for ‘seeing through’ blockers on his way to leveling the ball carrier, with excellent balance that allows him to stay under control when getting in position to make the tackle. [player_tooltip player_id=’127724’ first=’Jordan’ last=’Allen’] is an edge setting machine that doesn’t so much contain running plays as he completely wipes them out before they can ever get going, and he looks like a man amongst boys vs the run in the toughest league in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id=’170056’ first=’Devan’ last=’Lowe’] – Olathe North High School, 6’3 330   We’re staying in Olathe and heading north on Ridgeview road for the second prospect on this list, who offers a lot more than formidable size. Lowe does posses traits you want in a traditional nose tackle, such as an effortless ability to anchor, as well as overwhelm the point of attack, playing with excellent leverage, and showing the ability to get up an under his blocker’s pads with surprising fluidity for a 6’3 kid. What’s even more impressive, especially for a kid his size, is the nimble footwork and balance that allow him to flow down the line and chase down ball carriers, which will come in handy as opposing offensive coordinators understandably continue to scheme around him. If Lowe can polish up his hand fits and play with more consistent placement, he has a chance to have a special senior year, which with his physical traits should garner the attention of a plethora of D1 schools.   [player_tooltip player_id=’122945’ first=’Caden’ last=’Miranda’] – Maize High School, 6’0 260   The aspect of Miranda’s (pictured) run defense that really stands out on film is how difficult he makes it for offensive linemen to get any kind of substantial contact on him. The MHS standout is a blur of relentless activity. With quick and coordinated feet that are harmonious with his upper body, he gets in position in a blink, and has the quickness and agility to rip down ball carriers in their tracks. Miranda also shows excellent instincts, with a sixth sense for reading offensive linemen and staying one step ahead to evade the block and disrupt running plays in the backfield. Coaches at the next level will fall in love with [player_tooltip player_id=’122945’ first=’Caden’ last=’Miranda’]’s motor when it comes to his run defense, and when you throw in the footwork and instincts of a mike linebacker, it is easy to see him consistently wrecking running attacks at the next level.

In part 2 of the defensive linemen series, we’ll look at the best pass rushers and run defenders in the state. All of the prospects in this segment really jumped out in how far ahead they are of their competition when you turn the film on, in terms of physical dominance and their football IQ. Of equal importance is the fact that they are all hustlers with high motors.