Breaking Down All the Ranked 2027 Interior Defensive Linemen

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we continue our series in breaking down all of the ranked players in the 2027 class, we've come to the defensive line. While we at Prep Redzone do not differentiate between interior linemen and edge rushers when it comes to our rankings, we obviously pay attention to the differences on film. The interior of the defense isn't where you'll find most freshman, so this list will grow over the next few years. Here are all of the ranked interior defensive linemen in the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Which 2027 Interior Defensive Linemen Are Ranked?</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Patrick Williams, 6'3 260, Scotland</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams lined up all over the field as a freshman, taking snaps at offensive guard, 3-4 defensive end, nose tackle and even as a standup edge rusher. His play strength is impressive and as he continues to add weight, he could develop into one of the premiere interior linemen in the 2027 class. His ranking is more based on potential than stats at the moment, but a strong sophomore season can only help his ranking.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='415653' first='Jaiden' last='Gilbert'], 6'3 260, Statesville</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gilbert is a big 2-gap defensive tackle who got better as the season progressed. He's been on Prep Redzone's radar for a while, but continues to grow as a player each time we see him. The next step is becoming more consistent as a pass rusher as he's solid as a run defender but hasn't quite flashed the high-level ability to get after the quarterback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mehki Chavis, 6' 250, Warren County</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chavis finished in the top-tier of sack leaders among freshman defensive linemen, notching 5.5 on the year in 2023. A big reason for that is is elite first step. His top-end speed isn't quite there yet, but he gets off the line in a hurry and can shoot gaps or hold up the interior of offensive lines to allow his linebackers to make plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='772855' first='Samarion' last='Dawkins'], 6' 290, Kings Mountain</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dawkins played well on Junior Varsity last year and was able to move up to varsity near the season's conclusion. He's a big body who carries his weight well. He has more experience at offensive guard, but I think his biggest future impact will be as a run stuffing defensive tackle, so that's where he's currently ranked. I'm interested to see what sort of sophomore jump Dawkins will have.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='496368' first='Charles' last='Ibe'], 6'1 280, Providence Day</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ibe had a strong freshman season with Ardrey Kell which garnered the attention of a few Power Four schools. Now he's moved over to Providence Day where with some more development I think he could turn into a bigger 3-technique with high-college potential. He's a guy poised for a big jump in the August rankings update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='651061' first='Patrick' last='Williams Jr.'], 6'3 260, Scotland</h3> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams plays offensive guard, nose tackle and defensive end in Scotland's 3-4 defense. His future is either as a 3-technique or 3-4 edge rusher in the future, depending on how his body develops. He already has good pad level and strength that should only get better as he continues to grow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other 2027 Interior Defensive Linemen On Our Radar</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":3} --> <h3 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='863025' first='Bobby' last='Conyers'], 6'3 310, South Garner</h3> <!-- /wp:heading -->