Showing out at the Showcase: Top D-linemen

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After covering my first Prep Redzone Stock Up Showcase I was not only impressed with the turnout and talent I witnessed, but also the way the event was ran. There were plenty of spins for the talent on-hand, the coaches were knowledgeable and passionate, and the competition was fierce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I spent most of my time down with my fellow big-bodied brethren in the trenches and got a real keen look at them. We already looked at the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/01/showing-out-at-the-showcase-top-o-linemen/">offensive line standouts</a>. Now we will look at the honorable mentions and MVP of the showcase for the defensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Honorable Mentions</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["606312"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='606312' first='Tristan' last='Hilman'] is a bit of a 'tweener. His 6'3u0022 230lb frame projects him at either DT or DE. Hilman did a nice job of routinely getting his hands on the man in front of him throughout drills. This is accompanied by his quick get off. He must continue to develop his block recognition skills and be set. Too often was the drill off-and-running before he was ready. Offenses do not wait for the defense.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["606208"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='606208' first='Dorian' last='Kelsey'] represented for the class of 2026. Measuring in at 6'1u0022 210lbs, Kelsey has a plus get off. Relative to others in his defensive line unit, he demonstrated a strong sense of body control, particularly in cone drills. In perspective, this is even u003cemu003emore u003c/emu003eimpressive given how young he is. Use of hands, as well as his agility, will improve with reps and age. Remember, Kelsey is a really young high school prospect. I am looking forward to tracking his progress over the next few seasons.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["575516"],"_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":"Another impressive stud from the class of 2026 was [player_tooltip player_id='575516' first='Omar' last='Mendez Jr']. One of the lighter d-linemen on the showcase's roster, this 5'11u0022 195lb plays line a demon off the edge. Aside from his quick get off, he is tight to corners when he rounds them. He has very quick reaction to movement and was coachable. When given feedback by coaches, he immediately applied that feedback to his next rep. Mendez also used his hands frequently and activated his hips to gain power and effectively flipped them to get around the edge.rnrnAs he gets older, I am curious to see whether he stays at d-line or if he moves to the second level of the defense. Either way, he will continue to be a twitchy player that we will certainly track moving forward.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63cf303984f9a"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>MVP</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jerome Foster","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Glassboro","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Don't judge a book by its cover. Jerome Foster was our showcase's living proof of that age-old adage. Coming in at 5'10u0022 285lbs, Foster is unassuming in stature; however, his attributes and abilities popped. Foster's get off was twitchy and sudden, only to be outdone by his immediate reaction to movement. He was fluid and smooth when changing directions. Out of all the d-linemen present, he mastered his hip-flips and bent tight to corners the best out of the bunch. Additionally, he was the most advanced d-linemen in terms of block recognition and fighting pressure.rnrnGiven his size and athleticism, I can see Foster either being a disruptive force in the middle or effectively setting the edge.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63cf303985031"} /-->