2025 Rankings – Defensive Linemen Breakdown
In this article:
Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy! October is here and we have begun updating all of our prospect rankings throughout the website. Last week, we released our first watch list for the 2026…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingGet 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!
October is here and we have begun updating all of our prospect rankings throughout the website. Last week, we released our first watch list for the 2026 class. The first rankings for that class will come out in January. This week, it’s 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. In this post, we’re taking a look at some of the better defensive linemen in the state’s 2025 class. It’s still early, and we’re going to see more players emerging at this position. But here are some of the better sophomores in the state. Stay tuned throughout the week for more 2025 prospect breakdowns. And keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma throughout the month for the 2024 and 2023 prospect rankings.
We kick off the breakdown of 2025 defensive linemen with a prospect who we’re still high on, but have to wait to see perform on Friday nights. It’s been well documented on our website and other media outlets about the injury problems that Jenks has had and one of those injured Trojans has been Cash Jacobsen Cash Jacobsen 6’5″ | 250 lbs | DL Jenks | 2025 State OK . With Jenks losing the majority of their defensive line from last year’s state title team, Jacobsen was expecting to make an immediate impact this fall as a sophomore. Like several other starters this year, Jacobsen has missed time due to injury. But he expects to return later this fall for a possible playoff run. We’re not going to drop Jacobsen dramatically in the ranks just because he got hurt. We still want to see what he can do.
Highlights
So this could end up being the last time that Choctaw lineman Cody Voelker Cody Voelker 6’3″ | 210 lbs | DL Carl Albert | 2025 State OK is listed as a defensive lineman as it looks like he has completely moved to offensive line, as well as long snapper. When we watched the freshman film, Voelker stood out the most to us on the defensive side of the ball. But Choctaw has a really strong front seven on defense and Voelker has been a bigger help on the offensive side of the ball. So we could definitely see Voelker moving over to the offensive line during the next ranking update in January. Voelker is a prospect that could definitely jump up the ranks if he makes the transition to the offensive side of the ball look easy.
Highlights
You can make the argument that Edmond Memorial defensive tackle Devin Gillespie Devin Gillespie 6’0″ | 285 lbs | DL Choctaw | 2025 State OK has been the most productive of the defensive linemen on this breakdown. He’s the only prospect out of the four that have significant playing time as just a defensive lineman this fall and he’s an absolute load in the middle of the line of scrimmage. When it comes to defensive linemen in the state’s 2025 class, it’s hard to argue that Gillespie is the best interior lineman. And then you look at the success that Edmond Memorial has had on the field. Gillespie and the Bulldogs have not only turned things around, but they are closing in on a playoff spot and have a chance to be a dark horse in the 6A-1 playoff picture.
Highlights
We finish up the defensive lineman breakdown by going down to Class A with Hominy’s Elijah Gilley Elijah Gilley 6’1″ | DL Hominy | 2025 State OK . Like Voelker at Choctaw, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what side of the line of scrimmage Gilley is a natural fit for. He has good film on both sides of the ball but his size might lean to him being on the defensive side of the line of scrimmage. Gilley and the Hominy Bucks are one of the best teams in Class A and we’re impressed with what Gilley is able to do at the point of attack after checking out his film. He has precise hand placement and then you watch as the strength takes over. He has the ability to move his man where he wants them to go. It’s still a toss up on what side of the ball Gilley is at so we’ll want to see more film.