Class of 2026: Top Defensive Linemen in WNY

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In High School, most linemen play both sides of the ball. While that is true for some of the players on this list, these are student-athletes whose contributions shined the brightest as defenders. With that being said, the next two seasons will decide if O Line or D Line is where their future lies.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["505866"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1250134,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"As a two-year Varsity player, [player_tooltip player_id='505866' first='Jaizen' last='Warren'] has made an impact at Defensive Tackle, accumulating 43 career tackles (8 for loss) and 6 sacks. Jaizen has a big body frame that clogs the running lanes. He has quick hands to shed blocks and is a sound tackler. Warren is a top-tier D Line prospect that will garner a lot of collegiate recognition as a junior.","_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":1250155,"_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1258819' first='Richard' last='Donohue']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"207","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Iroquois","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1258819' first='Richard' last='Donohue'] is one of the best unknown prospects in the area. Donohue only played in 3 varsity games last year after racking up 13.5 sacks in 6 JV contests. Richard is a pure edge rusher. He is fast and quick off the ball. He showed he can make a play when needed, recovering 2 fumbles in his 3 varsity appearances. [player_tooltip player_id='1258819' first='Richard' last='Donohue'] is a very hard worker and will make a name for himself this upcoming season.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["807867"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='807867' first='Tavio' last='Hoose'] might be the best DT in Section VI but his small school status may get him over-looked. He had a monster sophomore campaign with 73 tackles (29 for loss), 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 4 fumble recoveries earning himself a 3u003csupu003erdu003c/supu003e team All-State selection. He is incredibly quick off the ball and deceptively fast. Hoose is very strong and tackles with force. Tavio is poised for another big year in 2024.","_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='1275964' first='Brody' last='Kaufman']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"275","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Clarence","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1275964' first='Brody' last='Kaufman'] has the size and speed to compete in Class A. He finished his first year on varsity with 41 tackles (5 for loss) and 2 sacks. His read and react timing is excellent and he diagnosis the read options very well. He is an exceptional DE but has the stature to play DT if needed. Kaufman is a raw talent that with two more years of experience could land him some collegiate attention.","_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":1250157,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1345232' first='James' last='Crooks']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"260","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Akron","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1345232' first='James' last='Crooks'] is another small school product that should not go undetected. 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I expect those numbers to skyrocket in 2024.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["806889"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":1250161,"_player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='806889' first='Patrick' last='Allen'] is a big, solid Nose Tackle that has several different block shedding techniques in his arsenal. For being nearly 300 lbs, Allen has good movement. He plays with ruthless aggression and has fantastic awareness. 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Shiel plays with tenacity, he uses his hands well and brings a lot of heart. He does not stop until the play is finished. Mitchell is small for his position but has shown his versatility as a two-way starter; Left Guard and Defensive Tackle as well as being Sweet Home's Long Snapper.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66212435b3fb0"} /-->