NextGen Showcase: Top Standout DL’s

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Show by NextGen Camp rolled into Atlanta last weekend. Here's a look at the prospects that stood out!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Gabe Chigwere - DT - 2024 - Cambridge HS / @ChigwereGabe</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His motor is excellent, and he's quick to locate the ball. Delivers a strong punch and uses his hands to shed blocks to make plays. Uses lower-body strength to anchor inside. Chigwere has a wide base and a low center of gravity to hold his ground, as well as the upper-body strength to shed blockers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Brandon Davis - DT - 2024 - Long Beach HS </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis is very instinctive when it comes to countering and solid with overall hand usage. While Davis has the flexibility to dip and bend under tackles, what makes him truly dangerous is his ability to counter. He challenges inside with quickness and strong hands. He has the potential to become a run-and-chase defender who can leave a mark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Marcos Morten Jr. - DT - 2026 - Arabia Mountain HS </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marcos is a high-motor player, and he shows good enough hand use, as well as a tight spin move, to win as an edge rusher. Combines excellent power with initial quickness, but one of his best attributes are his violent hands, which he uses with impressive precision. Morten moves well laterally, and shows great pursuit effort during drills.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Kaiden Russell - DT - 2025 - East Paulding HS / @D4G_Russ14</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arguably his best skill in the camp due to an extraordinary burst off the snap. Explodes out of his stance, demonstrating a burst upfield to slip gaps and the lateral agility once past the line to get to the quarterback shown in drills. Russell was able to time the snap up really well. He gets into the blocker quickly and makes his move from there on out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Vance Weaver - DT - 2024 - Dunwoody HS / @RobertVanceWeav</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>High-effort, thickly built defender with good strength Locates the ball quickly and pursues with passion, showing good lateral agility during 1v1 drills. Flashes strength at the point of attack with active, violent hand use. Forceful with his upper body to defeat blocks. Strong hustle player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Braylon Smith - DT - 2025 - Gaither HS / @trenchjunkie</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Has good power in hands and can anchor, shed, and chase. He's coordinated with smooth movement skills. High-effort rusher and works through the whistle. Relentless worker, fighting off blocks and battling to the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->