Class 5A All-State DLs: Talent Abound In The Trenches

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An oftentimes overlooked position in this current age of football is the defensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, as any coach would tell you, they might be the most important. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having talented players that can stop the run and get after the quarterback can really make all the difference in a winning season and a losing one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the Class 5A level, these players definitely made a difference each week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Team - [player_tooltip player_id='320540' first='Aidan' last='George'] - Johnston - Senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Getting after the quarterback can really help the your defense shine, and that is what Johnston senior [player_tooltip player_id='320540' first='Aidan' last='George'] accomplished this past fall. George recorded a Class 5A-leading 11 sacks, making 16.5 tackles for loss. He finished with 50 total tackles on the year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder also showed off his skills, catching a 23-yard touchdown pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Second Team - Ralston Rumley - West Des Moines Dowling - Senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing one of the toughest schedules in the state, West Des Moines Dowling recorded three shutouts and held five other opponents to 10 points or less. Ralston Rumley was a big part of that, as the senior recorded 26 tackles with 3.5 sacks and 12 stops behind the line of scrimmage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rumley is also an exceptional wrestler, using many of the same skills on the mats that he uses on the football field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Third Team - David Caulker - Des Moines North - Senior</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Des Moines North used a suffocating defense this year to win four games, with future Iowa State Cyclone David Caulker playing a key role in that. Caulker imposed his will, recording 34 tackles with four sacks and 23 stops for loss. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His ability to be a wrecking force in the backfield caused issues for opposing offenses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='247877' first='Andrew' last='Meyers'] from Cedar Rapids Kennedy, Ryan Kuennen of West Des Moines Valley, Pleasant Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='252328' first='Joey' last='VanWetzinga'] and [player_tooltip player_id='247989' first='Drew' last='Campbell'] of Cedar Falls all had standout seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->