2023 Fab 50: The Defensive Line

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It all starts up front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's true at every level of football. It's especially true of our Fab 50. And on the defensive side of the ball, these guys are GOOD. Here's a look at the players who make up our Fab 50 defensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139299' first='Jordan' last='Boyd'] </strong>SR, Silver Bluff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boyd, a Georgia Tech signee, is an absolutely devastating difference maker up front. He finished his senior year with 108 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks, and he returned an interception for a score and forced a fumble. He plays all over the place on the line, standing up and with a hand in the dirt, and he's relentless. He's also a repeat performer on this team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14872151/655cfb7cb022950480ae39ea' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658e08526e7e8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ka'von Chisholm</strong> SR, Hampton County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chisholm is a force up front. He had 85 tackles for a senior, with 21 tackles for loss. He had 13.5 sacks, averaging a sack per game, and had 17 QB hurries. He knocked down eight passes, recovered two fumbles, caused one, and blocked a field goal. He's a big, physical rusher who just swallows up ballcarriers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19642742/653be3870c53e803d486c308' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658e08526e810"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139304' first='Chris' last='Dixon']</strong> SR, South Pointe</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dixon is, at first glance, a little bit under-sized for a 4A defensive tackle. Then you see him move. His incredible quick burst and first step led to a stellar senior season in which Dixon racked up 32.5 tackles for loss and 21.5 sacks. He's quick enough to beat most blockers off the snap, and strong enough to blow through double-teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15099970/6549a5225eec0a0b902c55a2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658e08526e82c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jarriel Jeffries</strong> SR, Gaffney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jeffries isn't the biggest guy you'll find on a defensive line, but he might be the strongest. And he's definitely one who might be voted "Most Likely To Appear On Opposing Offenses' Game Tape". He just always seems to be in the backfield, with 28.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks for the Indians, both team-leading numbers. He's quick, he's powerful, and he's got an incredible motor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16497561/6563b53dbd6a5f11fcad030d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658e08526e846"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='242787' first='Bruce' last='Knauber']</strong> SR, Greenville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Knauber (alongside fellow Fab 50 player [player_tooltip player_id='209617' first='Jayden' last='Wilson-Abrams'], below) put together an amazing senior season as the Red Raiders advanced to the 4A Upper State final. He had 94 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and 21 QB hurries. He knocked down three passes and recovered four fumbles. Knauber (pictured) used his size and speed to overpower opposing linemen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15095820/656604a40c53950d789631cb' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658e08526e85f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Josh Mattison </strong>SR, Spartanburg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mattison was one of the most active players on a very good Spartanburg defense. He finished with 50 tackles and 24 tackles for loss. About the only one of Mattison's stats that's not eye-popping is zero hurries - and that's because every time he had a chance at the QB, he got there, a total of 15.5 times. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14906387/65537e7f688ea90a741bfd16' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658e08526e878"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448980' first='Shaikh' last='Thompson']</strong> SR, Hilton Head</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson is another guy who's a specialist in creating havoc. The heartbeat of Hilton Head's defense, Thompson had 71 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, and five sacks on the year. He batted down five passes, forced three fumbles, pounced on two, and blocked a punt and two field goals. He sometimes looks impossible to block, and he's got a fantastic nose for the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16019785/654e3957e98558098478c221' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658e08526e890"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='209617' first='Jayden' last='Wilson-Abrams']</strong> SR, Greenville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson-Abrams was the other half (along with Knauber) of Greenville's two-man wrecking crew on the defensive line. He finished with 95 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and 19 hurries. His combination of speed and power make him a matchup nightmare.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16828105/656578c83dec2b103c98b837' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-658e08526e8a9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->