Louisiana’s 2025 class continues state’s strong DL tradition
Louisiana has a long track record of producing top defensive line talent, and the 2025 class appears to be loaded with another set of promising Division-I prospects in the position group. Here’s a look at several notable members of the…
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Continue ReadingLouisiana has a long track record of producing top defensive line talent, and the 2025 class appears to be loaded with another set of promising Division-I prospects in the position group.
Here’s a look at several notable members of the cohort — including five particularly familiar faces near the top of the rankings, the biggest stock-riser in the latest update, a pair of our under-the-radar finds from last spring gaining some momentum and three particularly notable debuts.
FAMILIAR FACES ATOP THE LIST
Corey Adams Jr. Corey Adams Jr. 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL Edna Karr | 2025 State LA — 6-4, 240 DL — Edna Karr
The Cougars’ all-state standout climbed a few spots into the top 10 in this round of rankings. Adams has a combination of size, strength and explosiveness to be versatile up front — showing the quickness and speed to consistently get by tackles on the edge, but excelling in his snaps inside. His long list of offers include LSU, USC, Texas A&M, Oregon, Ole Miss, TCU, Tulane, Houston and many more.
Brody Whatley Brody Whatley 6'5" | 250 lbs | DL Neville | 2025 State LA — 6-5, 250 DL — Neville
Whatley’s power, from his explosive get-off to his all-around strength, pop off his film. The Neville star appears to have played most of his fall heads up as a four-tech or shaded to one of the opposing tackle’s shoulders and to have consistently bull-rushed and bowled over his blockers, but also showed the quickness and speed to get around the edge and even to play some snaps standing up and running freely to chase down plays on either side of the formation.
Tyron Winslow Tyron Winslow 6'4" | 275 lbs | DL H.L. Bourgeois | 2025 State LA — 6-4, 275 DL — H.L. Bourgeois
The trend of versatility continues with the Braves’ big, agile star with two-way experience and a junior season of film on which he looks equally effective working inside or out on the defensive front, slipping past blockers and showing good mobility and motor in his pursuit of passers of ball-carriers. Missouri, Houston, Louisiana (Lafayette), UTSA and Troy have been among his offers thus far.
Reshad Sterling Reshad Sterling 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL Lutcher | 2025 State LA — 6-3, 235 DL — Lutcher
The first player on this list to catch our attention nearly two years ago as a two-way standout in the trenches for a state championship team, Sterling has continued to develop into one of the quickest, most explosive athletes among Louisiana’s top rising senior defensive linemen. Houston, Tulane, Louisiana (Lafayette), ULM, Arkansas State, UCF and Texas State have been among his offers.
D.K. Mays D.K. Mays 6'4" | 250 lbs | DL Central (Baton Rouge) | 2025 State LA — 6-4, 250 DL — Central (Baton Rouge)
One of the strongest defensive linemen in Louisiana’s rising senior class, Mays was a major playmaker this fall for a recent Wildcats with his ability to consistently set the edge and shove blockers backward or aside with relative ease to shed and make disruptive plays at or behind the line. Texas A&M, Missouri and Mississippi State are among highlights on his impressive offer list thus far.
MAJOR STOCK-RISER INTO TOP TIER
Devon Oliver Devon Oliver 6'3" | 275 lbs | DL Parkway | 2025 State LA — 6-3, 275 DL — Parkway
The biggest D-Line story in this round of updates is the Panthers’ standout making a huge leap into the top 15 overall. Oliver would be our highest-ranked defensive tackle prospect on the latest list as a stout, strong lineman inside capable of plugging running lanes and eating drawing double teams, but also showing the quickness and athleticism to provide pressure anywhere from inside to out in a four-tech when called upon.
THE FULL ‘DL’ LIST FROM NEW UPDATE
Rank
|
Player
|
Height
|
High School
|
Commitment
|
Weight
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
6’4″
|
Edna Karr
|
||||
2 |
6’3″
|
Parkway
|
||||
3 |
6’5″
|
Neville
|
||||
4 |
6’4″
|
H.L. Bourgeois
|
||||
5 |
6’3″
|
Lutcher
|
||||
6 |
6’5″
|
Dutchtown
|
||||
7 |
6’4″
|
Central (Baton Rouge)
|
||||
8 |
6’4″
|
Loreauville
|
||||
9 |
6’4″
|
Salmen
|
||||
10 |
6’3″
|
St. Augustine
|
||||
11 |
6’3″
|
Wossman
|
||||
12 |
6’3″
|
Zachary
|
||||
13 |
6’1″
|
Opelousas
|
||||
14 |
6’3″
|
Ponchatoula
|
||||
15 |
6’3″
|
Ruston
|
||||
16 |
6’2″
|
Edna Karr
|
||||
17 |
6’4″
|
West Monroe
|
||||
18 |
6’5″
|
Brother Martin
|
||||
19 |
6’2″
|
Calvary Baptist
|
||||
20 |
6’2″
|
Riverside Academy
|
||||
21 |
6’3″
|
Westgate
|
||||
22 |
6’2″
|
McDonogh 35
|
||||
23 |
5’11”
|
Southern Lab
|
||||
24 |
6’3″
|
Barbe
|
||||
25 |
Opelousas
|
|||||
26 |
5’11”
|
Archbishop Rummel
|
||||
WL |
6’0″
|
Live Oak
|
||||
WL |
6’0″
|
West Feliciana
|
||||
WL |
5’11”
|
St. Thomas More
|
||||
WL |
6’0″
|
Mangham
|
||||
WL |
5’11”
|
Slidell
|
||||
WL |
5’10”
|
Slaughter Community Charter
|
||||
WL |
6’0″
|
Episcopal (Baton Rouge)
|
||||
WL |
5’11”
|
Ponchatoula
|
||||
WL |
6’0″
|
Kentwood
|
||||
WL |
6’0″
|
John Curtis
|
||||
WL |
5’9″
|
Brother Martin
|
||||
WL |
5’11”
|
Ruston
|
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Continue ReadingPREVIOUSLY UNDER-THE-RADAR FINDS GAIN STEAM
Dylan Singleton Dylan Singleton 6'4" | 280 lbs | DL Loreauville | 2025 State LA — 6-4, 280 DL — Loreauville
The big two-way lineman from about 30 minutes southeast of Lafayette was an under-the-radar prospect who caught our attention last spring even with limited underclassman film. More of his junior highlights came on the offensive side, but his explosiveness and mobility in space on both sides of the ball at his listed 280 pounds are impressive. And Louisiana Tech, Texas Tech and Nicholls State have all extended recent offers as he appears to be gaining recruiting steam.
Sean Hamilton Sean Hamilton 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Zachary | 2025 State LA — 6-3, 240 DL — Zachary
Hamilton is another under-the-radar prospect who caught our attention on the heels of some sophomore playing time, then stepped into a more prominent role this fall as a junior. The “Rougaroux” — a nickname referencing a Cajun swamp beast — is a big nose tackle who keeps his legs moving and driving blockers back and shows some good quickness and strong hands in his rush.
HIGHLY INTRIGUING NEW ADDITIONS
Joshua Lewis Joshua Lewis 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL Dutchtown | 2025 State LA — 6-5, 240 DL — Dutchtown
As far as superlatives among the group, Lewis may have the tallest and longest frame and moves extremely well with it, from his explosive get-off, quickness past blockers and closing speed once he gets free. The Griffins’ standout also appears on film to use his hands well to rip free from blockers, disrupt throwing lanes and deflect passes and punch loose fumbles in traffic. Colleges upping their recruiting efforts include Tulane, Louisiana (Lafayette), Louisiana Tech, Houston, Missouri, Oregon State, Georgia Tech and Cal.
DeReyon Jenkins Jr. DeReyon Jenkins Jr. 6'4" | 205 lbs | DL Salmen | 2025 State LA — 6-4, 205 DL — Salmen
Another long, lean athlete who seems to live in opposing backfields, Jenkins racked up 113 tackles, including 12 for loss and eight sacks, this past fall to earn all-district honors. He is listed 15 pounds stronger this spring than last. But his speed and quick feet pop off the film as he appears to consistently set up blockers and swiftly cut or swim past with minimal resistance as they struggle to keep up with or in front of the agile rusher. Grambling State and UCF have extended recent offers.
Fred Clark Fred Clark 6'3" | 210 lbs | DL Wossman | 2025 State LA — 6-3, 210 DL — Wossman
The Wildcats saw a long list of defensive standouts in one of Louisiana’s stingiest units this fall, including five shutouts in 10 regular-season games. And Clark was among them as a speedy edge-rusher — with a listed 4.6-second 40-yard dash — blowing by offensive tackles or looping around stunts into the backfield for disruptive plays. Though the lightest player on this list, his film also showed strength and balance to set the edge in the run game and shed blocks to make the tackle. ULM extended a recent offer.