CFI Winter Showcase – Top Defensive Linemen
In this article:
The Charlotte Football Insiders (CFI) Winter Showcase featured over 250 players competing for offers from over 30 colleges in attendance and recruiting exposure. Several defensive linemen stood out with their performance and were named top performers in the event. Ryan…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Charlotte Football Insiders (CFI) Winter Showcase featured over 250 players competing for offers from over 30 colleges in attendance and recruiting exposure. Several defensive linemen stood out with their performance and were named top performers in the event.
Ryan Connotillo Ryan Connotillo 6'2" | 215 lbs | DL Pine Lake Prep | 2025 NC – Pine Lake – MVP
The 6’2 215 pound 2025 prospect had a very strong performance at this showcase. I loved seeing Ryan’s explosive first step combined with excellent hand usage at the point of attack to keep offensive linemen from getting their hands on him before he did. With a 4.0 GPA per his Twitter profile, Ryan will be able to cast a wide net when choosing college camps to attend in the spring and summer, and I’m excited to see how he performs. He may be evaluated as a linebacker with his current size profile, but he should not have any issues competing there or at defensive end as he competed here.
Jadon Best – CB Aycock
Standing at 6’1 and 305 pounds, the Class of 2025 prospect looked to be one of the best interior defensive line prospects at the showcase. When you take a look at Jadon’s film, he exhibits a good first step to penetrating his assigned gap as a defensive tackle. His definite strength is as a run stopper, as he does a good job of getting his hands on guards, shedding blocks, and then making tackles on running backs on inside runs.
Travis Burton – CB Aycock
Kind of built in the same frame as Ryan mentioned earlier, Burton is a 6’2 210 pound Class of 2024 prospect. With 68 tackles, 7 sacks, and 19 tackles for loss last season, I believe Travis can find a home to play some football on the next level. When you turn on the tape, Travis does two things well – excellent speed rush from a two-point stance, and he keeps outside leverage and sheds blocks in the outside run game. I think he’s a very good player that can be an asset to a school.
Avery Hall – North Wake Saints
Coming from a program that I did not know much about before this showcase, seeing Avery do well and earn top recognition was a pleasant surprise. The 2024 prospect stands at 6’1 and 270 pounds and can play either the defensive end or defensive tackle positions. When you turn on his film, he is really a man amongst boys in shedding blocks and rushing the passer, running plays down from behind with great speed, and even contributing on special teams with punt blocks. He has picked up offers from Bluefield State and Livingstone since the showcase – he may be a real steal for a school here.
Cole Webster
Cole
Webster
6'3" | 280 lbs | DL
Cuthbertson | 2025
NC
– Cuthbertson
This 2025 prospect stands at 6’3 and 250 pounds and should turn some heads in the spring and summer camp season in 2024. Cole was selected as an All-Conference player, and had 11 tackles for loss and 6 sacks on the season. Looking at his film, the first thing I love about Cole is just a relentless motor – there are several plays where his effort made a big play by itself – most notably running down a wide receiver who was breaking into the open field and making a solo tackle. Impressive. Cole also does a good job pushing the interior of the pocket with strength, shedding the OL, and then using good short burst closing speed to sack the quarterback. A definite player to watch coming into the spring/summer camp season.