Class of 2026 Under the Radar: DL

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are several quality Defensive Linemen in the class of 2026. Here are some of those great DL who are currently under the radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1171378"],"_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":"Heath had a great Sophomore season in 2023. He made 38 Tkl and had 2 Sacks, 1 INT and 5 PBU and helped the Toronto Red Knights to a 9-win season where they held opposing offenses to 15.1 points per game. He plays as a DT. Against the run, he is quick off the ball and uses his very good play strength and physical toughness to walk the OG back into the backfield before disengaging. He quickly locates the RB and delivers a big hit for the tackle behind the LOS for a TFL. Against the pass, he uses his great athleticism to quickly penetrate the LOS. He displays good closing speed and gets his hands in the way of the pass causing a pass deflection.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1171398"],"_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":"Nick played well as a Sophomore in 2023. His good play was a bright spot in the 5-6 season of the Thomas Worthington Cardinals. He plays as a DE. Against the pass, he shows good burst off the ball and effectively executes a swat and swim move to beat the OT. He plays with a very good motor in pursuit before finishing up with a sack. Against the run, he quickly penetrates the LOS and shows great instincts taking the correct angle in pursuit of the ball carrier. He times his hands well as he punches the ball loose creating a fumble.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1179274"],"_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":"Malachi had a great Sophomore season in 2023. His great play helped the Pickerington North Panthers to an 11-win season where they advanced to the 3rd round of the playoffs and held opposing teams to 17.6 points per game. He plays as a DE. Against the pass, he shows a quick inside move before entering the backfield. He shows great play speed in pursuit and forces the QB to pass the ball earlier than anticipated causing an incompletion. Against the run, he is quick off the ball and quickly penetrates the LOS into the backfield. He plays with good leverage and uses his good play strength to make the tackle behind the LOS for a TFL.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1179206"],"_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":"Deon played well during his Sophomore season in 2023. His good play was a bright spot in the 1-9 season of the St. Francis de Sales Knights. He plays as a NT. Against the run, he uses his very good play strength to overpower the C before penetrating the LOS. He quickly locates the RB and makes the tackle behind the LOS for a TFL. Against the pass, he shows very good hands, play strength and physical toughness as he easily bullrushes the C into the lap of the QB before disengaging. He is quick in pursuit before finishing up with a sack.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1182181"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1182181' first='Parker' last='Crim'] had a good Sophomore season in 2023. His solid play was a bright spot in the 5-6 season of the Elida Bulldogs. He plays as a DE. Against the pass, he shows a great combination of speed and strength as he effectively uses his hands and quickness to beat the OT to the inside before disengaging. He displays excellent closing speed in pursuit before finishing up with a sack. Against the run, he is very strong at the point of attack as he easily defeats the attempted block of the OT. He effectively reads the play and makes the tackle near the LOS preventing a gain of significant yardage.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6627a9bf16e72"} /-->