Central Valley Elite Defensive Lineman

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Want 30% off of your subscription? Use promo code <strong><em>PaulG30</em> </strong>at checkout. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Looking at what the valley has to offer year in and year out, there is never a shortage of top tier box players with college level abilities. The 2024 and 2025 class is no different and brings a new influx of talent in the trenches. Below are five defensive lineman that are coming off elite Junior campaigns and who are some of the best defenders the valley has to offer. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"700"}}} --> <p style="font-style:normal;font-weight:700">DE Emanuel Jackson 6'1" 250, Hanford West HS '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Jackson is one of the best 2025 prospects across Northern California, regardless of position. He shows elite explosion off the ball, natural twitch and bend in the short area and is quick off the ball with a low hat, active hands and a sure tackler in the box while exploding through contact and taking good angles when chasing down backside. Able to set his hands inside and snatch, he locks out blockers and keeps a solid base with active feet in the run game while athletic enough to two-gap. A bit of a tweener right now between defensive end and defensive tackle due to length/size, it will be interesting to see where he ends up at the next level but is a no brainer college caliber kid. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"700"}}} --> <p style="font-style:normal;font-weight:700">Edge [player_tooltip player_id='1645775' first='Max' last='Mankins'] 6'3" 210, Hughson HS '25</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mankins has some of the more impressive tape of any sophomore across Northern California and is a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive and they can play a variety of different positions on the edge. Depending on how he grows and progresses, he could mold into a inside linebacker at the next level as well. A main component on the state championship winning defense for Hughson, he is a high motor kid with elite pass rush abilities using his speed and bend around the edge with a variety of speed and power rush moves at his disposal. A polished player for his age, he understands when to counter back inside, baits tackles into over-setting and shows closing speed and nice COD abilities in the box. Due to his length, speed, overall athleticism and twitch he could end up turning into a linebacker at the next level with plus pass rushing abilities. He is one of the top 2025 names to keep an eye on across Northern California and is in line for a huge Junior campaign. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"700"}}} --> <p style="font-style:normal;font-weight:700">DE Kai Preisendorf 6'3" 235, Redwood-Visalia HS '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Preisendorf has nice size and should draw D-III+ interest as he enters into his Senior season for Redwood. He is stout against the run, shows violent hands at the POA and quick block recognition while able to excel off the edge and when kicked inside. Another high motor player, he can take on bigger pullers and sheds violently while controlling blockers with his hands. One of the best pass rushers in the valley, he should see college interest come his way in the coming months. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"700"}}} --> <p style="font-style:normal;font-weight:700">DE Nick Ball 6'2" 215, Edison-Fresno HS '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Ball is a very physical, stout and violent edge player for Edison that had a stellar Junior campaign. He is one of the top returning defenders in the valley and is coming off a 12.5 sack season where he dominated every week. On tape, he shows that he is violent at the POA, plays with a strong punch, low pad level and closes quickly while bringing a nice thump at contact. He shows sudden quickness when countering inside and getting around blocks/redirecting. Ball could kick inside at the next level due to his size, strength and first step explosion while a mismatch nightmare inside. He should see college interest pick up this Spring and through his Senior season. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"700"}}} --> <p style="font-style:normal;font-weight:700">DE [player_tooltip player_id='273617' first='Connor' last='Warkentin'] 6'5" 260, Centennial HS '24</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Warkentin has nice length for the edge at 6'5" 260 and is a legit FCS+ prospect with his hand in the dirt at the next level. Using his first step get off and a quick use of hands around the edge to win in pass rush situations, he is a long strider that covers ground quickly when collapsing the pocket and is very physical with his hands at the POA. Able to rip underneath blockers in the run game and shed quickly, he is a still developing player that is raw, but has some untapped potential at the college level with very nice natural size/length. </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->