2024 Rankings: Top Five Defensive Linemen

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The latest 2024 rankings on Prep Redzone Oklahoma were released on Monday with the <strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/oklahoma/rankings/2024-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Top 125 for the state's 2024 class</a></strong>. Throughout the week, we'll be breaking down prospects throughout the rankings. From stock risers and newcomers to breakdowns by positions, it will be a busy week! So keep it locked in to Prep Redzone Oklahoma throughout the week for more on the 2024 class. In this post, we're putting a spotlight on the top five defensive linemen in the state's 2024 class. The top two overall prospects in the class remained the same and they are along the defensive line. In fact, three of the top seven overall prospects are defensive linemen. We break them down here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["154213"],"_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":"Edmond Santa Fe defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='154213' first='Bergin' last='Kysar'] is a prospect that we've seen quite a bit of in person at various camps and every time we see him, he impresses us with his deep bag of moves. Looking back at his junior season, it was an odd one for Edmond Santa Fe as they had a rare losing season but Kysar continued to put strong performances on film and what's impressive is some of his best performances were against Santa Fe's toughest competition. Kysar also spent some time on the offensive side of the ball as a physical tight end but don't get it twisted, we like Kysar on the defensive side of the ball and he continues to show that he's one of the best pass rushers in the state's 2024 class. Kysar is quick, powerful and he's just as dangerous with using his quick feet as he is overpowering an opposing offensive tackle. Kysar is one to watch moving forward as Santa Fe looks to bounce back in 2023.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["215195"],"_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":"Holding on to the top spot in the state's 2024 class is NOAH's [player_tooltip player_id='215195' first='Daniel' last='Okoye'] after a dominating junior season. Okoye has absolutely exploded as a true national prospect in the last 12 months and it hasn't slowed down at any point. Okoye was a prospect we first saw in person last spring and at that point, he was already turning into that national recruit. Okoye is an unbelievable athlete and the production on the field, combined with his unique athleticism makes him that top prospect in the class. When Okoye wants to take over a game, he can do it in the blink of an eye. We're looking forward to seeing more of Okoye coming up this spring and throughout the offseason. The battle between Okoye and fellow defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='344123' first='XaDavien' last='Sims'] for the top spot in the state's 2024 class is going to be a fun one to watch over the next 12 months. But for now, Okoye gets the nod for the top overall spot.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["154211"],"_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":"Our next prospect is the most intriguing prospect on this breakdown and it's because of the unknowns. Since the end of his freshman season, we've known about McAlester standout [player_tooltip player_id='154211' first='Malachi' last='Wrice'] and it's hard not to be impressed with his physical frame at 6'6 and around 230 pounds. Then you throw on his film from his junior season and you see a very disruptive defensive end that gives offensive tackles a lot of problems because Wrice can move for a big man and is very underrated as an athlete. But we're waiting for Wrice to take that next step as a prospect and be a consistent game changer coming off the edge. Based on his size and film, he has the potential to be an absolute game-wrecker on the defensive line but we want to see it happening more often. If Wrice puts it all together, he will absolutely sky rocket up this list and be considered one of the top prospects in the class.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["291011"],"_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":"It was around this time last year that we first saw Choctaw standout [player_tooltip player_id='291011' first='Will' last='Smith'] in person and we were convinced that he had the potential to be a top ten overall prospect. And as we've mentioned before, at that time, Smith wasn't even on the football field. We watched him in a basketball game and based on his size and extreme athleticism, it wasn't hard to see an elite defensive end or outside linebacker in the right system. Then Smith enjoyed a breakout season with the Yellowjackets in 2022 on the gridiron. He was on the other side of the line from 2023 standout [player_tooltip player_id='51854' first='RJ' last='Jackson'] and the two Yellowjackets made up arguably the best pass-rushing duo in the state, regardless of class. Smith is still starting for Choctaw's basketball team and he has some talent on the hardwood, but his future is on the gridiron. Smith already has the attention of power five programs and that should only continue this spring.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["344123"],"_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":"The other defensive lineman that's going to be battling it out with [player_tooltip player_id='215195' first='Daniel' last='Okoye'] for the top spot in the overall rankings is Durant junior [player_tooltip player_id='344123' first='XaDavien' last='Sims'] after he moved up to Oklahoma from Texas last summer. Ever since he was a freshman, Sims was considered one of the top prospects at his position and he eventually emerged as a true national prospect. Sims has always looked the part and passed the eye test, even when he was a freshman in high school. Sims has only improved from that standpoint as he continues to get bigger and incredibly stronger. Sims completely took away the middle of the line of scrimmage last season, in his first year with Durant. And even though the Lions struggled on the scoreboard, Sims was still a problem every single week. His strength can't be stopped and he's also too quick for most offensive linemen. He's one of the best defensive tackle prospects to come out of Oklahoma in a few years.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63d2af616c1cd"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->