The Puget Sound’s Top 2023 DLs and EDGEs

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Everyone loves a flashy offense, but what can truly make or break a team is their ability to disrupt that offense by getting to the quarterback. Look at last year's Super Bowl for no better example of that: the Bengals were red hot going into the game, but their inability to contain Aaron Donald, Von Miller, and the rest of the Rams' pass rush ultimately spelled doom. If that game didn't underscore the importance of a dominant defensive line and edge group, I don't know what will. All that is to say that this might be the most interesting group of players that I've had the chance to cover yet: the guys tasked with getting after the QB. That's not to say they're one-trick ponies, though; all of these guys also excel in disrupting their opponent's run games too and being truly dominant forces in the front seven of the defense. In this piece, I'll be looking at which senior defensive linemen and edge players from the Puget Sound you should have an eye on going into the season, as they could all be making plays on the college football gridiron very soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_62f6fa05a32ef","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["333662"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Lane is a true do-it-all force on the defensive line for Emerald Ridge, lining up with his hand in the turf and in a two-point stance on the edge. A lot of players that are as versatile as he is tend to be jacks of all trades, masters of none, but Lane is a truly dominant force wherever he lines up. That starts with his motor, which is one of the most impressive I've seen from a defensive player in the state and a big part of the reason he is already committed to play for Washington next fall. He can win with both speed and power off the edge, and he possesses impressive athleticism and bend when going after the quarterback. Lane is going to be a playmaker for the Huskies in the coming years, but for now, he'll have to settle with dominating his high school competition.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["87457"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Another Puget Sound defensive lineman with multiple Division I offers, Lee immediately stands out on tape in large part due to his size. Lee possesses an impressive frame that separates him from his competition and allows him to make exceptional plays with his power and length. However, that's not to say that he is just a big guy; he is also very athletic and routinely makes plays in the backfield due to his get-off and explosiveness from the 5-tech position. He is an absolute force to be reckoned with in the run game, as runs both to his side and the backside are constantly at risk of being blown up. Lee is a guy I am really looking forward to seeing in his senior season, as he possesses all the tools to be an All-State caliber player and really make some noise on the recruiting trail.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["333673"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"While Faaiu may not possess the pure size of other guys on this list, one trait he brings to the table that separates him is his twitch. He is constantly firing his feet and moving towards the ball, something which will definitely endear him to college coaches. Another thing I like about Faaiu's game is his pass rush arsenal; a lot of younger players don't really have a plan for getting to the quarterback, but he is able to use a variety of moves to get offensive linemen off of him. When you combine that trait with his athleticism and twitch, it's hard for linemen to even get a hand on him, let alone block him long enough to keep him out of the backfield. Faaiu is another guy with Division I offers already on the table, but with another season of tape under his belt coming soon, I think that number can continue to climb.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["155584"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Afalava combines impressive length and physicality in his game, both of which make him a dangerous force off the edge for Emerald Ridge. His experience on the offensive side of the ball has allowed him to showcase his natural athleticism, but his ability to play at any position on the defensive line is his greatest asset. He is not afraid to stand up and play 7-tech or even flex all the way down to a 3-tech depending on the offensive formation, which should give his stock a boost on the recruiting trail. While he has not been getting a ton of attention thus far, I fully expect that to change this fall as he teams up with [player_tooltip player_id='333662' first='Jacob' last='Lane'] to create one of the top defensive duos in the state.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["155587"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Masunu is coming off of a stellar season in 2021 which saw him earn First Team All-Conference and help lead Bellevue to a state title, and it would not surprise me in the least if he is able to build on that and have an even stronger 2022. Masunu is a formidable force in the middle of the defensive line, as he is extremely tough to get off his base with his stockier frame and impressive get off. While he may not have the size of a prototypical nose tackle at the college level, Masunu brings quickness, tenacity, and motor, something which will certainly get the attention of evaluators at the next level. Masunu will be a force in the middle of Bellevue's defense this coming fall, and if he and his team can match their success from last season, college coaches will start to take notice.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["155603"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Dhaliwal was a name that I was not as familiar with going into this series, but after watching some of his game film, I am really excited to see him in person this coming season. While he does have a skinnier frame for an edge guy at only 215, he makes up for this with relentless tenacity when it comes to get after the quarterback and making plays in the backfield. He also has really impressive speed for the position, showing that he is able to chase down running backs going at full speed. While he can sometimes struggle to get off blocks, he is athletic enough to make plays and get around blockers. Dhaliwal might be one of the most athletic edge defenders in the area this year, and he is someone I am really looking forward to seeing in his senior season.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /-->