2023 Midseason Stock Risers: DL

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have now completed the first half of the 2023 season and there have been plenty of athletes that have seen their stock rise through the first six weeks of the season. Here are some defensive linemen that have really stood out during the first half of the 2023 season!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["891254"],"_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":"Jefferson senior defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='891254' first='Quintin' last='Goins'] may be the biggest DL stock riser in the state this season and has been very impressive through the first half of the season. The 6'3 250 converted quarterback has all of the tools and natural ability to be a high-level defensive lineman at the next level. Goins has the size, athleticism, and has really developed his game the past year at a new position. His technique is very good for someone who hasn't been playing the position for very long and you see flashes of greatness on film. I fully believe that he is a Division 1 prospect and certainly worthy of some D1 offers.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["891257"],"_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":"It was a bit controversial according to some people with us having Hurricane defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='891257' first='Aaron' last='Clark'] ranked as the #2 DL in the 2024 class but he has been on a tear this season. The 6'1 280 interior lineman has 26 tackles, 14 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks through the first five games with him only being needed in the first half of three of those games. Clark is so athletic for his size and even saw running back carries in previous seasons. He's very quick off the ball which makes him very tough to stop in the interior of the line. Clark is often fighting off double teams and splitting two offensive linemen but still creating a lot of TFLs. He's often already in the gap before opposing linemen can get a real hand on him which is a testament to his athleticism. The 2024 WV DL class is loaded and [player_tooltip player_id='891257' first='Aaron' last='Clark'] is at the top of that group.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["891267"],"_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 interior lineman who has been dominant in the middle of the line is Linsly senior [player_tooltip player_id='891267' first='Jamie' last='Riedel']. Riedel is a very physical and strong athlete who plays defensive tackle the way it's meant to be played. I was also very impressed with his athleticism to go with his physical play and it's made him unblockable this season. Linsly plays a very tough schedule so he's not beating up on soft competition either. At the midpoint of the season, Riedel has totaled 46 tackles, 14 TFLs, and 2 sacks with a forced fumble as well. His block shed is very good and the big man has the speed to track down runners too. I was able to see him in person in their game against Fort Frye (OH) and Riedel completely blew up the interior the entire game. He's already ranked as a Top 5 defensive lineman in the 2024 class and is pushing others in front of him to increase that ranking.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["891261"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Washington senior defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='891261' first='Brock' last='Meadows'] just picked up his first college offer from D3 Capital University (OH) but the 6'3 240 big man should be seeing some scholarship offers soon. At the midway point, Meadows has racked up 40 tackles, 15 TFLs, and 7 sacks. Meadows still has room to grow with his technique which is scary given how much production he's had this season. He's a good overall athlete who also plays tight end on offense and at 6'3 240 he has a high ceiling with those attributes. Once he fully utilizes his length and athleticism and fine-tuning his fundamentals and technique, Meadows should be a high-level player at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["908107"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Hurricane junior [player_tooltip player_id='908107' first='Shalik' last='Hampton'] is currently in our rankings as a tight end where he's #1 overall right now but has primarily played on the defensive line for his new team the Hurricane Redskins. His potential at that position was always very high given his size and athleticism and Hampton has really performed well there this season. Through the first five games of the season in limited action due to scores, Hampton has tallied 24 total tackles with 8 going for a loss and he's racked up 5.5 sacks. Hampton measures in at 6'4 225 and easily has the frame to hold over 250 pounds in time. He's a natural athlete whose best days at defensive line are ahead of him, but he's quickly put himself in the conversation as potentially the top 2025 defensive lineman in the state which has some serious talent in that class.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["370330"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"You don't often see the combination of defensive line and running back for one player but University's [player_tooltip player_id='370330' first='Melique' last='Lewis'] holds that rare honor. Believe it or not, the 6'2 275 senior sees a lot of time at running back for the Hawks and honestly for his size it's quite impressive. Obviously, he's not going to blow by you for an 80-yard touchdown but the big man can really move for his size and is pretty nimble. Lewis has more of an interior defensive lineman body too and although he sees a lot of time on the end in high school I like him to be inside at the next level. At his size and with his level of athleticism to match it, Lewis has the potential to be a very high-caliber defensive lineman in college. They'll even throw him the ball out of the backfield usually in the flats and it's just a spectacle to watch him play running back on offense and is a testament to how athletic he is.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["888165"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Martinsburg senior defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='888165' first='Rashad' last='Reid'] has been one of the state's best DL for a while now and the Elon commit hasn't slowed down any this season. The 6'1 285 big man is really quick off the ball for his size and has a great bull rush. I can't praise him enough for just how fast he is once the ball is snapped which makes him a nightmare to block for opposing teams. Reid is splitting double teams often because he's already in their gap before they can get their hands on him. His hand fighting is also very good and Reid's motor is really high and shows a lot of effort on every snap. His feet are also always moving and he's always running to the ball with maximum effort. Reid also does a nice job of getting his hands on offensive linemen first and asserting control over them.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["908605"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Someone that we're really high on is Washington junior [player_tooltip player_id='908605' first='Isaiah' last='Osafo-Mensah']. The 6'2 260 big man is currently ranked as the #3 defensive lineman in the 2025 class and his play this season has backed that claim up. Through six games, Osafo-Mensah has 31 tackles, 12 TFLs, and 5 sacks. The best thing about his game this season is it appears he has performed his best against the better teams on Washington's schedule. I thought he was really impressive in their games against John Marshall and Hedgesville who have some real talent on their offensive lines. Osafo-Mensah has put on more size this season and is playing with a hard edge and physicality that I really enjoyed watching. He comes downhill with a purpose and you'll feel it when he makes contact with you. The Top defensive lineman right now in the 2025 class are very talented and Osafo-Mensah certainly has proved he's in that group.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["487106"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Speaking of 2025 defensive lineman, Fairmont Senior's [player_tooltip player_id='487106' first='Trevor' last='Bigelow'] is currently ranked as our #1 DL in the junior class. The 6'4 250 Polar Bear has been garnering some D1 interest this season and has been on visits to Kent State and Elon. I would say his pass rush is more advanced and developed right now compared to his run defense when he's on the play side, but his pass-rushing abilities for his age are quite advanced. With his length and athleticism, Bigelow is a nightmare to block one-on-one for an offensive tackle and his chop and rip moves are deadly. He'll even throw in a spin move during his pass rush after he's already engaged with the blocker which is fun to watch too. Bigelow has great bend which speaks to his level of athleticism and is a big reason why he's a very good pass rusher.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["891265"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='891265' first='Markell' last='Jones'] is an intriguing defensive line prospect out of Huntington and is a pure pass-rush edge defender right now. Jones is in that 6'4 200 range but still plays with his hand in the dirt as a traditional defensive end. He's mostly a pass rush specialist right now and with his length and athleticism, it's understandable. Jones can really get after the quarterback and although he might not always be in the box score with sacks and tackles, he's constantly harassing the quarterback in other ways. Huntington hasn't needed to play all four quarters with their starters yet but Jones has still tallied 13 tackles, 12 QB hurries, 4 sacks, and 3 TFLs at the midseason point. He'll also see time as a tight end where he could also possibly play at the next level but I like him as a pass-rush edge defender the most.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["891259"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"Hedgesville senior defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='891259' first='Durrell' last='Johnson'] just picked up an NAIA offer from Peru State (NE) and he's beginning to realize the potential that I knew he had. At 6'4 235, Johnson has the length and athleticism that you're looking for in a defensive end and still has room to get bigger and stronger. Johnson is really quick off the end and his pass-rushing abilities have gotten much better. He's farther ahead in that aspect of the game than run defense but he's shown the ability to stop the run too on film. They'll line him up over the offensive tackle and shade him inside at times but I feel he's at his best as a 5-tech where he can tee off on the tackle one-on-one.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_11_player":["891264"],"_player_evaluations_11_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"I've been impressed with Bridgeport senior defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='891264' first='Beau' last='Ford'] this season and he's taken his game to the next level for the Indians. The 6'0 245 Ford doesn't have elite length or size but his toughness and motor are high-level. Ford plays with an edge and physicality that is typical of players for the Bridgeport program and a testament to their program. Through the first six games, Ford has totaled 26 tackles, 7 TFLs, 5 sacks, and 1 forced fumble with some games playing mostly in the first half. Ford saved his best for potentially the best team on their schedule this season with Fairmont Senior and dominated in that game earning him a spot in our weekly big man standouts that week. He's a relentless player who's always hustling and running to the ball with maximum effort.","_player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_12_player":["487112"],"_player_evaluations_12_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_12_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_12_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='487112' first='Zavier' last='Pollard'] has been an animal for the Musselman Applemen so far this season and the 6'1 250 junior is one of the best defensive linemen in the 2025 class. He's playing more inside this season which I feel is the best spot for him especially as he's gotten bigger and putting on more weight. At 6'1, Pollard can play with good leverage inside and really get under offensive linemen. He's a very strong athlete and a talented wrestler as well which aids him well playing inside on the defensive line. Pollard isn't just strong but he's also athletic and quick for his size too. He reminds me a lot of former Fairmont Senior and WVU standout Darius Still who saw a lot of success in high school and college. The biggest thing with him is continuing to add weight to play inside at the next level and if he can do so he'll be a very good player in college too.","_player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_13_player":["866664"],"_player_evaluations_13_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_13_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_13_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_13_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_13_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_13_evaluation":"Another 2025 defensive lineman name to know out of the Eastern Panhandle is Spring Mills junior [player_tooltip player_id='866664' first='Prophet' last='Guillaume']. The 6'4 215 defensive end is really quick and athletic and easily has the frame to add at least another 35+ pounds which would really benefit his game. The added strength would really take his game to another level but Guillaume still has a lot of upside as a prospect. You can't teach his length and athleticism and although he's still a bit raw he has noticeably improved since his sophomore year. His pass-rush moves are actually pretty impressive at times and I think Guillaume has gotten even better just this season from his first games until the recent ones. When he's one-on-one with an offensive tackle going full-speed he's tough to block and Guillaume has put some good things on film the past few games.","_player_evaluations_13_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_14_player":["891260"],"_player_evaluations_14_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_14_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_14_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_14_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_14_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_14_evaluation":"The Eastern Panhandle is absolutely loaded with defensive line talent and another Musselman athlete that looks good on film is senior defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='891260' first='Troy' last='Woolaston']. Woolaston is a very intriguing prospect with a very high ceiling that's still growing into his body and developing his game. He's already received offers ranging from D3 to D1 including a WVU PWO offer. Woolaston has a basketball background and is still on the slimmer side but he has plenty of room to put on a lot of weight on his big frame. At 6'4 200, Woolaston has great length for the position but still could add at least 40-50 more pounds. If he can do that I fully believe he's a D1 defensive lineman because the athleticism and film show a lot of potential and upside. I thought his best game this season was against Morgantown who runs a very tough and physical Wing/Gun-T system and Woolaston held up well and performed at a high level against them.","_player_evaluations_14_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":15,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-651e2d924b53e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->