2023 DLs Ready To Have Breakout Seasons

The Missouri DL class of 2023 is the deepest and most talented group in recent memory with players already committed to places like Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Iowa State, Kansas and Missouri among others. Here is a look at some of the talented defensive linemen in the senior class who have worked hard in the off-season and are poised to have breakout senior seasons.   Javon Smith | 2023 | 6'2" | DE | Liberty North The 240-pound Smith has been a beast in the weight room in the off-season and boast PRs of 565lb squat, 405lb bench press and 340lb clean. He has good explosion and get off on the snap to go along with his quickness and above average motor. Those tendencies should make him a real handful for his OT opponents and help him increase upon his junior season numbers of 3 sacks, 22 tackles overall and 8 TFL.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Javon-Smith.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-425819"/></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   [player_tooltip player_id='350378' first='Noa' last='Isaia'] | 2023 | 6'2" | DE | Seckman Another weight room warrior with outstanding personal numbers of 570lbs in the squat and 355lbs in the bench, Noa combined that with great speed (4.7 laser) and athleticism at 225lbs, and explosiveness with a 10-foot broad jump. And to that a tenacious motor and you have one of the most athletic EDGE/OLB prospects in the state in the 2023 class. I look for him to improve his 33 tackle, 7 sacks, 2 fumble recovery defensive stats from 2021.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Noa-Isaia.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-425825"/></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Osahon Ogbevoen | 2023 | 6' 2" | DT | Lee's Summit Big, powerful and quick are the words best used to describe the rising 300lb DT Ogbevoen. He's a player who will command many double, and sometimes triple teams this year. He had a very good Lindenwood camp in June and is on the radar of multiple colleges heading into his senior season. Osahon had 23 tackles and 3 sacks as a junior.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Osahon-Ogbevoen-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-425831"/></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Jeremy Lewis | 2023 | 6'4" | DE | St. Louis Lafayette Jeremy missed most of his junior season due to injury after having an impressive summer before that and looked like a player who was headed for a big year and get on colleges radars. He's long with a good motor and get off. Saw him again this summer and he looked better then the last one now that he is healthy. Could play DE or DT on the next level, and if he stays healthy, he should open some eyes and draw the attention of colleges.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Jeremy-Lewis.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-425828"/></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Trevon Piggee-Smith | 2023 | 6'1" | DT | De Smet I wrote about Trevon in the De Smet preview. Not much more to saw about him other then he really put the work in and has elevated his play that I have watched over the summer from last season. Very explosive and runs well for a 290lb DT prospect. He is a playmaker and will benefit from having some outstanding D-linemen with him.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Trevon-Piggee-Blake.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-422207"/></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Matt Craig | 2023 | 6'2" | DT | Wentzville Liberty Craig is an outstanding wrestler who won a conference championship in that sport. He really turned his attention to football following his wrestling season and has been tirelessly training to excel in that sport as well. It paid off with a couple of offers following camps, including a D1 offer from Dayton. Matt really explodes and use leverage very well to his advantage. Add to that he has that competitive fight and battles to the whistle. He's a cerebral player. I suspect he'll tally up more then his 38 tackles and 3 sacks his senior year.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Matt-Craig.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-425829"/></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   [player_tooltip player_id='311953' first='George' last='Gaston'] | 2023 | 6'3" | DE | Marquette Another nice edge rusher from the St. Louis area. George uses a quick first step and speed to get in the backfield in a hurry. I got the chance to watch him put in work to improve his skills and performance in the off-season. He quietly recorded 9 sacks and 41 tackles as a junior bookend to big-time DE prospect and college target [player_tooltip player_id='37700' first='Alex' last='Bray']. He could possibly reach close to 20 sacks as a senior.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/George-Gaston-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-425830"/></figure>   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   [player_tooltip player_id='172164' first='Marquis' last='Coleman'] | 2023 | 6'2" | DE | Lutheran North Coleman is fast and athletic. He looks like he is shot out of a cannon sometimes with how quick he gets across the line of scrimmage and is able to be in on plays. He missed most or all of last season and is ready to make up for lost time. He really jumped out at me at summer camps and scrimmages. He's smooth and runs exceptional well. Look for him to burst on the scene as one of the more productive edge rushers in the state.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/08/Marques-Coleman.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-425826"/></figure>

The Missouri DL class of 2023 is the deepest and most talented group in recent memory with players already committed to places like Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Iowa State, Kansas and Missouri among others. Here is a look at some of the talented defensive linemen in the senior class who have worked hard in the off-season and are poised to have breakout senior seasons.