2024 New England Rankings Update: New Additions, DL
Damola Owode NewE #62 DL #9 HEIGHT 6'2" WEIGHT 270 POS DL CLASS 2024 View Profile Damola Owode State: New England School: La Salle Academy A lot to like out of this young man. A 2024 ranking debut inside the…
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Continue ReadingA lot to like out of this young man. A 2024 ranking debut inside the top 50, nearly cracking the top five at his position. Had he been listed specifically at LB, he might have done so. Speaking on his position, that’s half the allure of Damola Owode Damola Owode 6’2″ | 270 lbs | DL La Salle Academy | 2024 State NewE , When I say he can align pretty much anywhere across the defensive line, I mean it. His tape backs up that notion too, this isn’t a projection. His build allows him to be a threat to win against any kind of blocker. Great blend of speed, finesse, and power. Awesome closing speed to the football, he’s a ferocious finisher at that. Tough to steer this kid any which way, Owode gets penetration and keeps it, he will not be blocked by leaning or grasping offensive linemen. Multi-gap defender, just when I think I like him with his hand in the dirt, his next rep shows him rushing the passer with his hand off. Coastal Carolina and Sacred Heart have pulled the trigger on the top 50 prospect.
This young man is quickly becoming one of my favorite prospects, especially along the defensive front. Athleticism, athleticism, athleticism. Johnson fits the prototypical pass-rusher mold, yet turn on the tape and the young man is fighting through trash and traffic to sniff our run plays. Then he’s working the seam at tight end and actually serving as a weapon on offense. I think the top 80 ranking was a modest one, there are a ton of freaks above him, yet not many that can show off the athleticism this young man can. There’s consistent effort seen, a clear motor to speak of. Johnson will be courted because of his pass-rushing skills before anything. The young man flashes an impressive get-off that wins his reps off the snap. Excited to see his sack numbers elevate, he had many pressures that could have added to his season tally.
Highlights
Berkshire’s Enzo Agostini Enzo Agostini 6’6″ | 270 lbs | DL Berkshire | 2024 State NewE places just outside the top 100. Huge kudos to him. Agostini is a massive human, standing at 6’6, weighing in at 260 pounds, the giant junior starts off his tape with an interception returned for a touchdown after back-tracking when diagnosing a screen play. Talk about athlete. Enzo might be a tad raw from a pass-rush repertoire perspective, but I think he’s further along than many think. This isn’t just a big kid that Berkshire placed in the middle of their defense, Agostini is flashing serious potential. There’s pursuit to the football, there’s hand-fighting being witnessed. I see him working inside and securing TFLs, I see him also keeping contain if need be when aligned outside. This kid is worth every camp invite. I’ll bet many programs will want to see him work at offensive line as well.
Dom Selvitelli is a pure interior defender. 6’2, 275 pounds of beef ready to clog holes rep in and rep out. Swift with his hands, often too quick of a swipe for some inexperienced guards that line up opposite him. Extreme power, I’d guess by his tape alone that he’s a weight room monster. He can press offensive linemen away from his chest with ease, I know he can only achieve feats like this if he’s working his tail off in the weight room. Selvitelli is a run-stopper at heart, he flashes the feel of flow/traffic really well. He’s a seasoned, reliable prospect inside.
Highlights
Here’s a kid I’m high on, a prospect that should have been on this list for some time. 6’4, 245-pound defensive lineman out of Buckingham Browne & Nichols, Kastriot Panariti Kastriot Panariti 6’4″ | 240 lbs | DL Buckingham Browne & Nichols | 2024 State NewE boasts the best name on this list. Panariti could easily see a jump into the top 15 at his position, we are splitting hairs when ranking defensive linemen because of the sheer quantity of quality pass rushers. Panariti can combo as an IDL or a 3-tech. Panariti’s size has him squaring up with elite tackles and matching them pound for pound. He can then utilize this frame and be kicked inside, where he is dominant at times. Panariti has a ways to go from a pure pass-rush perspective, yet he boasts one of the better motors I’ve seen on tape. The constant to-the-whistle effort makes up for any flaws.
Here’s a 2023 reclass formerly out of Boston College HS. At BCHS, Julian Pollard Julian Pollard 6’3″ | 240 lbs | DL St. George’s School | 2024 State NewE carried a much slimmer, 215-pound build that worked for him well. Now, reclassed at St. George’s School in Rhode Island, Pollard looks like a different animal. His tape weight was at 240 pounds, he now boasts a 6’4, 255-pound frame. Pollard’s weight gain has flowed throughout his body, not just belly fat he’s added on. He still looks good for his size. He’s now that much stronger and has transitioned to show off a much more powerful side of his game. His junior tape leaves a lot to be desired, however. There are two minutes of fabulous tape, if he can make that four-five plus minutes of production, I’d feel much more comfortable plugging him inside the top 200. Still, a fun prospect to watch, one that is on the rise.
Again, another one of my favorite prospects that has a bright future ahead of him. 6’4, a lean 220-pound frame, Ben Gorman Ben Gorman 6’5″ | 235 lbs | DL Suffield Academy | 2025 State NewE lands on the athletic side of the defensive line spectrum. Gorman’s reps with the ball in his hands will prove that notion to be true. Was tough for a bit, trying to decide if Gorman is a legitimate TE prospect, or should he be placed along with the defensive linemen. That being said, his tape answers this question quickly. Multiple sacks, great pursuit to the quarterback after shedding. Disciplined off the edge, he’s often left unblocked yet hardly bites on fakes. I can’t go without mentioning his blocking prowess at TE that he shows off later in his tape. If he can continue to block the way he does, he could be a legitimate TE prospect at the next level. I do wish the tape was 4-5 minutes longer, here’s to hoping the production will come next Fall.