High Potential DT Prospects Poised For Big Years

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The DT position is beginning to come up in conversations about the most impactful positions again after names like Aaron Donald, Chris Jones and Fletcher Cox have dominated from the interior of the line and had historically meaningful seasons for their teams. Those three and many other NFL and college players have lead the heart of their defense from the front and taken down some of the craftiest offenses each level has to offer. Here are five beasts who do just that for their high schools and will help colleges down the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["577733"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eRandall is a hard-nosed DT who keeps his head in the backfield but has the agility to get around OL as the play breaks down. He maintains gap integrity and can impressively hold his ground versus bigger linemen by leveraging his weight and shifting it quickly. He stays with the play and chases down smaller skill players regardless of his speed. Unselfish and cerebral player who understands the importance of doing his job and letting the play come to him, but can take over and impact the game first-hand when asked. He's still growing, and although he plays well at his current weight with a good get-off and footwork, colleges will look to recruit him for his physical potential just as much as his technique. Randall is getting dialed in at offseason camps as a sophomore and could garner state-wide respect with a great junior year at Washington.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='915317' first='Paul' last='Baltazar']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'5u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Aberdeen","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='915317' first='Paul' last='Baltazar'] is a true force on the inside with the ability to clog gaps and hold ground. He doesn't always get the tackle but is always controlling his gaps and men, and forcing the play back to his teammates, making him the ideal scheme fit as a 4-3 DT or 3-4 DE, with great hips that allow him to move at good angles and make him hard to push around. He's playing well at 285, and could begin to tap into more of his high-ceiling outcome by working on his lower body, back and core strength and getting lower in his tackling circuit and get-off. Baltazar is one of the better possibilities for an awesome DT recruit this fall.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["158380"],"_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eBarger is a ridiculously strong nose guard who moves well laterally. He can pile up pancakes as an OL but he's exciting as a DT at the next level, where he sheds blocks with relative ease and gets in front of ballcarriers before exerting his power. He can get up quickly and can rush from a 4-3 DT position or cover the A gaps integrally from a 3-4 Nose spot. He has good hands that can swat or bat away linemans arms well and he has the balance to get through or around the linemen when need be. He has good hand-eye coordination and moves well for his size, and can get upfield on the balls of his feet. Barger will still receive coverage as an OT, where he helped lead Yelm to the State Title last year, but his defensive prowess won't go unnoticed in his senior campaign either. College lineman coaches on both sides of the ball will vye for his services soon.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='915294' first='Jonathan' last='Holdway']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'7u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Reardan","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='915294' first='Jonathan' last='Holdway'] is a monster on the football field, and being from a town of about 650 people, he must be one of the biggest in the town. If you ever do find yourself there on a Saturday this fall, he should be the first one you want to spot. He also has awesome balance and great feet in a wide stance that bullies people off the line of scrimmage. Holdway should be one of the candidates for Northeast 2B Defensive Player Of The Year, as he could put Reardan on the map in his senior season this fall. The Screaming Eagles will need him to have a big year to be one of the top teams in the Northeast 2B conference, which a winning record could help them do. Although he can hold his own on both sides of the ball, he could be a great NG/NT at the next level, but it would be naive to stop considering his OL potential as well. Either way, he's a big time prospect at the next level for his huge potential, and needs to be watched.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='945862' first='Connor' last='Aney']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Glacier Peak","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='945862' first='Connor' last='Aney'] is a versatile DL for Glacier Peak's defensive front. He specializes on the outside but his skillset will translate to the inside as well. He produced such good tape in his Sophomore year at 290lbs, and is a 4A WIAA Finalist Wrestler in the 285lb class, he's a guy who can be counted on each play to show up and fight against some of the best OL the Grizzlies face this coming fall. He's usually a DE in their 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. He specializes in handfighting and has remarkable pad level, so he could be developed to duck inside as well and can destroy tackles on the inside or the outside, with the violence to keep himself going for four quarters. He'll be one to watch in Wesco 4A in his upcoming Junior season.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64251f9149dab"} /-->