2025 NY Rankings: Defensive Line

This defensive line group features three prospects in the top 9 prospects - more than any other position group in the top group. It is led by a couple of prospects who are highly sought-after P4 offensive linemen and followed by a really deep group of Division 1 prospects. This year there are even several really high-level D2/D3 prospects and a class that could easily see 30+ players play college football. There are guys all around the state and it is led by the NYCHSFL which features 4 of the top 5 defensive linemen which comes as no surprise as year over year they continue to produce the best big man talent in the state.   Not much intro needed for this group but here is some analysis on the top ' 25DL in the state.   Check out updated NY 2025 Rankings <a href="https://prepredzone.com/new-york/rankings/2025-rankings/">Here</a>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#1 Overall</h2>    Belin who has one of the busiest summers of any prospect in New York is one of the most sought-after players in New York. Despite some very intriguing Defensive Line prospects entering the mix Belin holds onto his #1 spot at the position after a very strong Junior season.   Belin has the measurables, athleticism, tape, and production I look for when doing these rankings and is one of the few players in the state to put it all together.   Belin is built like the ideal 3-tech for the next level and elite burst and twitch making him stand out on tape and compared to other similar defensive linemen. Belin plays with violent hands and has good play strength.   While I think it depends a little on his decision and the depth of the team he joins - Belin has the body and skillset to contribute on a rotational basis as a freshman at the P5 level, especially considering he probably will enter college a little stronger and bigger than he is now.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Next 9</h2>   [player_tooltip player_id='820142' first='Kadear' last='Dembele'] - Dembele burst onto the scene in his first season with Stepinac and a couple of CHSFL coaches mentioned to me that he was one of the toughest players to gameplan for. A wrecking ball at 6'3 295lbs Dembele showcases the athleticism to line up anywhere from 0-tech right over the center to standing up as a wide-9 or OLB-like alignment coming off the edge. Not many players can play inside out like that and he had the natural power to make plays from anywhere.   [player_tooltip player_id='403035' first='Quante' last='Gillians'] - Gillians is probably the most natural defensive end on the list so far and he has really good bend and length coming off the edge. He is really sought after by a couple of major P4 programs and can play a couple of different positions in different defenses at the next level. He moves well enough to be an outside linebacker but has the frame to continue growing into his body and playing at 250+ at defensive end. He has some offensive tape at tight end which really showcases his burst and ability to change direction.   [player_tooltip player_id='734365' first='Gabriel' last='George'] - George who had one of the most impressive show days for Iona Prep picked up multiple offers and all it takes is his measurables and body type to understand why. There are not many players built like George playing in New York and at the next level as he continues to add strength and mass to his frame he has the potential to become a very strong/long big defensive end or slide into a 3-tech role. George a PrepRedzone camp alum had a very impressive first season in the CHSFL.   [player_tooltip player_id='434414' first='Kahmari' last='Valentine'] - Valentine has some of the quickest hands in this class and his upfield burst with a strong violent initial punch on offensive lineman standout on tape. At 320lbs Valentine moves better than a lot of guys in this class and playing with the type of motor he does he naturally finds himself around the ball. Valentine is a player who gets overlooked because of his height but he is proven against the best offensive lineman in New York. There may not be a player who has a stronger impact on a game-to-game basis then Valentine and his ability to get around blocks on the interior.   [player_tooltip player_id='505525' first='Mason' last='Alnutt'] - Alnutt, the best DL out of WNY this season has a good frame at 6'3 250 and has some quality numbers in the weight room. The transformation of his body over the past two seasons has been huge getting much stronger and bigger and there is still a lot of room for him to grow. Alnutt has quick feet and coming off the edge has the natural power in his upper body to be an effective bull rusher.   [player_tooltip player_id='659028' first='Marques' last='Garrett'] - Garrett who shows a lot of quality movement skills on the offensive side of the ball at tight end could potentially be a bigger outside LB prospect but has the length and strength to play off the edge. Garrett's length coming off the edge helps him close on quarterbacks outside the pocket and he shows good overall finishing ability around the LOS. He is physical with his hands at the point of attack does a really good job of making plays on power runs where he takes on a lead blocker who is usually pulling.   [player_tooltip player_id='727383' first='Tyler' last='Davis'] - Davis will have big shoes to fill this upcoming season with Erasmus Hall losing some quality DL to college but he has the length, motor, and violent hands that make him an intriguing DE prospect. Davis is the lightest prospect on this list at 225 but he can play at 240 plus and showcases good burst and explosive movements for a player his size.   [player_tooltip player_id='1201635' first='Cole' last='Sisson'] - Sisson is very big and strong and the interior DL out of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake is one of the best block shedders in the state. His hands are physical and violent and he does a good job of staying active trying to get off blocks. Sisson plays with a high motor and is consistent in his ability to finish plays both around the LOS and in the open field.   [player_tooltip player_id='735900' first='Marquan' last='Saddler Jr'] - Saddler Jr is another big interior DL prospect whose best position could be at 1-tech, when you watch some of his clips playing Lacrosse you see really impressive athleticism and movement skills. Saddler is long for being 6'1 and quick off the ball. While he does show some positional versatility moving around the D-line for CBA-Syracuse his best play comes from the inside where his quickness is a lot for bigger interior OL to handle.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Five Players To Watch This Upcoming Season</h2>    Bradley is not only one of the bigger overall DL in the state but could be one of the best true nose tackle prospects in the state. Bradley has the length, size, and strength to eat up blocks and a lot of what he does won't show up on the state sheet.   He shows flashes of using violent hands and shedding blocks but is a prospect that OL really struggle to move off the LOS.       Ababio has a super high ceiling and the Mt. Vernon DE show natural strength + movement skills that will translate to the Division 1 level.   Not many DL with his size can run an 11.8 100m at nearly 260lbs and Ababio also has a near 500lb squat and some really intruiging flashes on tape.       Matthews is a strong physical interior DL prospect who is super quick off the ball and on tape has a strong initial punch. His speed is really what sets him a part and makes him hard to block. Everything he does operates faster than the opposing OL. His get-off, hand usage, footwork, and overall movements are really quick.       Calabrese who can likely play DE or DT at the next level is long and does a good job of using that length as a pass rusher or holding the edge at DE. Calabrese is a consistent run defender who has some athleticism and length that he can develop as a consistent pass rusher at the next level.       Seketawa has a big-time ceiling coming off the edge. A true 6'4 230 lbs Seketawa is physically at a high level and can continue to add to his frame both weight and strength. He has impressive weight room numbers hitting a 500lb squat over 2 years ago.   Seketawa has a chance to really improve on film from last year which showed a solid EDGE/OLB prospect with flashes of a player who can really be dominant with his size and strength.

This defensive line group features three prospects in the top 9 prospects - more than any other position group in the top group. It is led by a couple of prospects who are highly sought-after P4 offensive linemen and followed by a really deep group of Division 1 prospects. This year there are even several really high-level D2/D3 prospects and a class that could easily see 30+ players play college football. There are guys all around the state and it is led by the NYCHSFL which features 4 of the top 5 defensive linemen which comes as no surprise as year over year they continue to produce the best big man talent in the state.