Best of the State Finals: Defensive Line

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Use code Johnson30 for 30% off a new subscription!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was very clear what the best teams in the state did to make it to state, and even bring home the gold ball. They were able to control the line of scrimmage, and set the tone with their play in the trenches. The DL gave us several names to know in the Class of 2024 and 2025. Athletes who could dominate off the edge, eat up blocks on the interior, or get penetration and wreck havoc between the tackles. We have to focus on this group, because there are a lot of under the radar kids to know. Let's dive in head first!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["219916"],"_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":"u003cemu003eStats: 7 Tackles, .5 Sacksu003c/emu003ernrnJace was the premier talent in the defensive trenches. The DT has an excellent frame to continue to build on at the next level. He has a quick first step off the snap, and flashes fast hands. Miller is a high motor player who fights to the whistle, and pursues beyond the tackle to tackle box. Miller showed off the strength to take on double teams and split them to make tackles. Jace also did a great job of using his length to keep separation so he could quickly disengage. The senior looks the part, plays hard, is quick off the snap, and uses his hands consistently and effectively. Definitely a recruit to get after.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656697f258f7b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14542697/655b6bdd32dc430abcf0ae90' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656697f258fd2"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["616943"],"_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":"u003cemu003eStats: 3 Tackles, 1 TFL, 1.5 Sacksu003c/emu003ernrnOne of my favorite under the radar seniors is [player_tooltip player_id='616943' first='Tate' last='Kowalik']. The senior dominated the final game of his career. He showed that he has a good first step, and he can turn and get skinny to slip through gaps. Tate has quick feet and loose hips to be able to change his rush path and has the athleticism to run stunts effectively. He was another kid that made a lot of plays because of his high motor also. Tate was a disruptive force all night long wrecking havoc in the backfield. He is a senior that needs far more attention.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656697f25902a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15021262/655a887e2ab0e70a00db64b9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656697f25904b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["933295"],"_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":"u003cemu003eStats: 2 Tackles, 1 PBUu003c/emu003ernrnThe Milwaukee Marquette DL was a loaded group of seniors that the next level needs to know about. Another member of the group is [player_tooltip player_id='933295' first='Peli' last='Orugbani']. The senior was a stout DT with the strength to hold the line of scrimmage and eat up blocks so the LBs behind him could run free. Peli didn't finish with a crazy stat line, but he effected the game in other ways. The senior plays with leverage and has a strong anchor.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656697f2590a9"} /--> <!-- 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":"William Johnson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_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":"Rice Lake","_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":"u003cemu003eStats: 8 Tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 Sacku003c/emu003ernrnA junior from northern WI to have your eyes on going forward is the 6'3u0022 DE/OLB with long arms. William was disrupting a lot of plays throughout the game on the way to a Championship. He showed a quick get off to beat OTs around the edge. He uses his long arms to keep himself clean. The junior also showed that he has the flexibility and athleticism to be able to dip underneath OTs while rushing. Johnson made chase down plays from across the formation. He also made plays as a TE. William has a budding frame, and is proving to be a game changing impact. Keep an eye on him.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656697f25915b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["384575"],"_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":"u003cemu003eStats: 8 Tackles, .5 Sacksu003c/emu003ernrnJunior [player_tooltip player_id='384575' first='Ben' last='Hefter'] has take another step forward in his development this season, and it culminated with a strong final performance of the year. The DE is showing traits that should have the next level excited for his potential. Ben is looking like a three down DE. He plays from a three and two point stance. The junior can jump out of his stance, and has an effective pass rush repertoire to defeat OTs. The junior can also take on blocks against the run game without giving up ground. Hefter has heavy hands to quickly create separation at first contact. Ben is on the rise.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656697f2591c5"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16345591/655cedc1ab9d7809881470c5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656697f2591f7"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["549033"],"_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":"u003cemu003eStats: 7 Tacklesu003c/emu003ernrnWade has been one of the most productive pass rushers in WI over the past couple seasons. He led the state in sacks in 2022, and ran it back with another double digit sack season in 2023. The senior didn't get to show off the pass rush skills in the championship game because Badger essentially only ran the ball. Bryan still was able to make plays throughout. He used his quickness to make OL miss and then closed quickly on the ball carrier. The senior jumps out of his stance and should be considered in a pass rush specialist role at the next level. Check him out.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656697f259269"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":"","_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_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656697f2592af"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["942615"],"_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":"u003cemu003eStats: 5 Tacklesu003c/emu003ernrnThe final prospect that needs the spotlight is from the State finals is Waunakee's [player_tooltip player_id='942615' first='Jackson' last='Lenzendorf']. The junior was in the middle of the defense doing his best to eat up blocks and hold the line of scrimmage. Jackson did his part, and usually took on double teams. Lenzendorf is a stout NG that is building a strong base that could be very hard to get off it's spot. I'm excited to watch him continue to control the line next season.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656697f2592fb"} /-->