D-Linemen that Put on a Show at NYNJ Combine

Jonathan Davalos May 13, 2024 @ 07:24 PM

After reflecting on the offensive prospects from the PRZ NYNJ Combine, it is time to turn our attention to the defensive side of the ball. Being two days removed from Saturday's Combine, we have the ability to reflect, digest notes written throughout the day, and analyze the athletes we thought stood out the most. Out of all the positional groups on defense, I thought the D-linemen were the most impressive unit and really showed their worth when they faced off against the O-linemen. There were multiple players I could see thriving at the next level, but here are the ones I thought really stood out from the rest.   Luca Smith: '26 Chaminade   The MVP for D-linemen at the NYNJ Combine, Luca showed superb talent across the board as he flourished in every drill and test he went through. Explosive off of the edge, Luca really thrived and showed his abilities when he went up against some of the best offensive linemen at the combine. With speed off of the edge, Luca punched and rip his way into the backfield before the tackle knew what hit him. This is a player everyone should keep their eyes on as we get near the season.   [player_tooltip player_id='910198' first='Andrew' last='Bowers']: '26 Rahway   One of my favorite defenders of the Combine, [player_tooltip player_id='910198' first='Andrew' last='Bowers'] is another top tier prospect coming out of Rahway. If there are two attributes that really stuck out during the combine drills, it's Andrew's speed off of the line and hand usage. He is very creative with how he uses his hands to punch and swim by the blocker, but can also use his raw speed to beat the tackle off of the line and bring pressure to the pocket immediately. Keep an eye out for this stud.   Lewis Bradley: '25 Curtis   A big time force from the DT/NT position, Lewis Bradley is going to be a tough defender to contend with in 2024. An immovable centerpiece to his defensive line, Lewis showed that he can stay low out of his stance and gain leverage on O-linemen, bull rushing them into the backfield.   [player_tooltip player_id='402201' first='CJ' last='Edwards']: '26 Bergen Catholic   Coming from the most recognized school in the state, CJ performed up to his schools standard Saturday afternoon. Straight up, CJ overpowered every lineman he went up against at the Combine. With his long reach and powerful upper body, CJ was able to extend the blockers away and jam them up, making sure the linemen lost any advantage they had going up against him.   Exavier Hughes: '26 Erasmus Hall Campus   A defensive end with an athletic build, Exavier can do it all when he's bringing the heat off of the edge. Equipped with a variety of finesse moves that he can deploy on linemen, Exavier is a defender determined to get into the backfield and bring the QB to the ground. And with strong hands to go with his elusiveness, Exavier can be damaging in multiple ways.

After reflecting on the offensive prospects from the PRZ NYNJ Combine, it is time to turn our attention to the defensive side of the ball. Being two days removed from Saturday's Combine, we have the ability to reflect, digest notes written throughout the day, and analyze the athletes we thought stood out the most. Out of all the positional groups on defense, I thought the D-linemen were the most impressive unit and really showed their worth when they faced off against the O-linemen. There were multiple players I could see thriving at the next level, but here are the ones I thought really stood out from the rest.