2024 Rankings – Defensive Linemen Breakdown
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October is here and we have begun updating all of our prospect rankings throughout the website. Two weeks ago, we released our first watch list for the 2026 class. The first rankings for that class will come out in January. Last week, it was all about the 2025 class. We’ve updated those rankings to feature the top 75 sophomores in the state. You can check out the full rankings RIGHT HERE. This week, we take a look at some of the top juniors in Oklahoma with an update to the 2024 rankings. You can check out the full rankings RIGHT HERE.
In this post, we’re taking a look at the top five defensive linemen in the state’s 2024 class. This position has turned into a truly elite one for the ’24 group. Four of the top ten overall prospects are defensive linemen, including the #1 and #2 prospects for the second straight update. Stay tuned throughout the week for more 2024 prospect breakdowns. And keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma next week when we release our 2023 prospect rankings.
We kick off the prospect breakdowns with the first of four defensive linemen that find themselves in the top ten for overall prospects. Edmond Santa Fe defensive end Bergin Kysar Bergin Kysar 6’4″ | 245 lbs | DL Edmond Santa Fe | 2024 State OK is one of the more technically sound defensive linemen in the state, regardless of class. He’s in a position group that features absolute physical freaks like the other linemen in the top ten. Kysar isn’t in the top ten because of those physical traits. He’s in the top ten because he knows how to beat his opponent and he does it in a variety of ways. Kysar has camped with us a few times and his last performance at our April camp is one that still sticks out to us. He was routinely beating his man off the ball and using a variety of moves to do it. That’s what was so impressive. Not only can he beat his man, but he can do it with a spin, a rip move, going right through him. He has a deep bag of tricks and he uses them all incredibly well.
Highlights
The new number one overall prospect in the state’s 2024 class is NOAH defensive end Daniel Okoye Daniel Okoye 6’4″ | 225 lbs | DL NOAH | 2024 State OK . It was probably around this time last year that we first got a chance to throw on the film for Okoye and we understood immediately that he had the potential to be one of the state’s prospects. From there, he’s continued to get better and his film, combined with seeing him in person, there isn’t a lot not to like about his game or his frame. Okoye has become a truly national prospect, earning offers from all over the country. Okoye is a match-up nightmare when he’s coming off the edge and it’s a necessity to have two players in charge of staying in front of him. And sometimes, that’s not enough. Okoye does play for NOAH, a home-school team, so the level of competition could be up for debate. But the deciding factor of him at the top is the eye test in person. It wouldn’t matter if he played for NOAH or Bixby, this kid would be a star.
One of the earliest 2024 prospects that we watched was McAlester’s Malachi Wrice Malachi Wrice 6’6″ | 245 lbs | DL McAlester | 2024 State OK during his freshman season. Wrice has also camped with us a few times in the last year and you can see that from a frame sense, he has the tools to be one of the better prospects coming off the edge. And after talking with McAlester coaches, there is still belief that Wrice could end up on the other side of the line of scrimmage if he continues hitting the weight room and is able to put on some weight. But for now, we keep him on the defensive line and at defensive end to be specific. Wrice is at his best when he’s coming off the edge and he plays the game with a high IQ. He doesn’t just blast his way ahead and try to be more physical than his opponents. He keeps his head up and his eyes in the backfield, identifies where the ball is going and makes a play. The ceiling for Wrice continues to be high and we’re excited to see more from his junior film.
One of the best overall athletes in the state, not just the state’s 2024 class is Choctaw standout Will Smith Will Smith 6’4″ | 240 lbs | DL Choctaw | 2024 State OK . We’ve mentioned a few times before how we first saw Smith while he was playing basketball for the Yellowjackets. Based solely on that, we thought he was one of the better football prospects in the state’s 2024 class. Then we’ve gotten a chance to see Smith on film and in person with the pads on and he’s lived up to expectations. Smith is a freak athlete and has the type of twitchy explosive start that makes him one of the truly elite pass rushers in the state. Whether he’s lining up as a defensive end or an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, Smith is a match-up nightmare because of his unique blend of size, speed and strength. As he continues to get more and more comfortable on the football field, his recruitment should absolutely skyrocket. It’s already begun for the Choctaw standout and should only continue from here.
In late May, one of the best defensive linemen in Texas moved north of the red river and instantly became one of the top defensive linemen in Oklahoma and one of the top overall prospects in the state’s 2024 class. Durant defensive lineman XaDavien Sims XaDavien Sims 6’4″ | 275 lbs | DL Durant | 2024 State OK is right there with Okoye at NOAH as the state’s top overall prospects. There isn’t much that separates the two of them. Like Okoye, Sims is a national prospect and is only getting better and better every time he steps on the field. We first checked out Sims in person when he was just 14 years old. It was pretty apparent even then that Sims was on a fast track to being one of the top prospects in the state. While Durant has struggled in the win-loss column this season, Sims has still been a dominating force along the line of scrimmage. He’s a prospect that requires plenty of attention from the offensive line. Whether he’s on the interior or edge of the defensive line, Sims has been causing havoc all year.