12 Defensive Linemen Who Will Shape The Coast in 2024

Ball-hawking edge rushers. Run-stuffing big men in the middle.   Guys who do float between the two with ease.   When it comes to the Grand Strand & Pee Dee and Lowcountry zones of South Carolina, top-tier defensive linemen are everywhere. They anchor defenses and allow those behind them to do even more.   They collectively put up huge numbers and/or allow others on their respective teams to do just that. And regardless of their starting spots at the snap, they make waves with their play, even if they're not getting credit in the stat packs.   [player_tooltip player_id='922400' first='Jackson' last='Chavis'] Hartsville    Despite a bit of a hiccup while recovering from offseason surgery, Chavis still managed to pile up 18 tackles for loss as a junior. We're not exaggerating when we say he might flirt with 30 as a senior. Chavis has more than enough strength to make up for a lack of pure burst off the line. At the same time, he's not slow by any means. Chavis also has a mean streak that seems to turn on when he puts his hand on the ground.   [player_tooltip player_id='1158005' first='Mycheal' last='Wallace'] Kingstree   Wallace is one of those guys few people have heard of. We just happened to be tipped off to his skill set in real time. What we saw had us move him into our Class of 2025 rankings at the very next opportunity. While slightly shorter than his listed 6-foot-1, he's still 320 pounds and a force against just about anyone Kingstree will play. He had 11 tackles for loss in just six games last fall.    [player_tooltip player_id='473026' first='Michael' last='Garnett'] Philip Simmons   Garnett's numbers aren't going to knock your socks off. But watch him play and you see exactly why some of his teammates have put up astronomical stats. The 5-foot-11, 270-pound tackle is pure power and just as effective swatting away would-be blockers. He will shift to the outside occasionally against run-based schemes, but his true value is clogging up the middle. In that regard, his value is high.   [player_tooltip player_id='1359220' first='Antwain' last='Mitchell'] Hanahan   We have a hard time not seeing Mitchell's numbers jump through the roof now that he's a senior and a bunch of the Hawks' top defenders graduating in May. He's got a huge first and second step that allows him to turn the corner. Against some of the opposing offensive linemen Hanahan will face early, Mitchell will have every chance to turn the recruiting corner, too.   [player_tooltip player_id='1254133' first='Gabe' last='Roper'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1254101' first='Will' last='Watts'] Northwood Academy   If the Chargers make some headway and improve beyond last year's six-win campaign, there's a good chance it's competitive defensive ends will be a big reason. Last year, the duo combined for (and we're not making this up) 192 tackles, 46 tackles for loss, 18 sacks and 24 quarterback hurries.    [player_tooltip player_id='464883' first='Javon' last='Johnson'] Loris   After starting out as more of an interior lineman, Johnson has shifted more and more to the end position. It's made some ridiculous numbers from his freshman and sophomore season not look like flukes. Johnson, a soon-to-be fourth-year starter, enters his senior year with 44 career tackles for loss, 241 total tackles and five forced fumbles. He's a menace.    [player_tooltip player_id='1249843' first='Davion' last='Kinard-Taylor'] West Ashley   We love Kinard-Taylor's love of the game. His coaches obviously do, too, because he's taking advantage of his opportunities. He averaged two tackles for loss per game (24 in 12 contests) and added another seven sacks. Kinard-Taylor has had a great offseason and is bigger than ever. It's only solidified his game-changing abilities.    [player_tooltip player_id='1025774' first='Sawyer' last='Arnold'] Oceanside Collegiate   One of our favorite clips of Arnold is No. 2 in line below. He's clearly held, and, yet, it doesn't stop him from getting to the quarterback and recording the sack. That was the end result frequently last year for the 6-foot-3 edge, who finished with 17 sacks in 11 games. He missed almost all of the team's state championship game, but he was absolutely one of the guys who helped the Landsharks get there.     [player_tooltip player_id='816738' first='Jayden' last='Simmons'] Beaufort   When we were asked during the offseason if the “big kid at Beaufort” had graduated yet, we had to inform the opposing coach that, no, [player_tooltip player_id='816738' first='Jayden' last='Simmons'] didn't run out of eligibility. In fact, he's got two more seasons left with the Eagles. The then-sophomore had a monster season, putting up 19 tackles for loss, five sacks and nine quarterback hurries to go along with 78 tackles. He's one part defensive end, one part tackle.     [player_tooltip player_id='272709' first='Malachi' last='Jefferson'] James Island   Jefferson's first year in Charleston after starting at Indian Land was a good one. The hybrid tackle/end 50 total stops, 17 tackles for loss and a team-best six sacks. The fact that he did much of that while starting over center did two things. First, it created one-on-one mismatches against interior offensive linemen. Second, it opened up opportunities for nose [player_tooltip player_id='486418' first='Dalton' last='Woodall'] and end [player_tooltip player_id='1012698' first='Hendrix' last='Beran'] - the latter of whom had 18 tackles for loss.     [player_tooltip player_id='809742' first='Amare' last='Adams'] South Florence   Like Jefferson, Adams (pictured) was an instant sensation in his inaugural season in a new home. In 15 games with the Bruins as a junior, Adams had 61 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, and three forced fumbles. Those numbers could have been higher, but Adams spent considerable time on the bench in blowouts. Let's also not forget that he had plenty of help carrying the water. The Clemson commitment spent the spring proving to folks he wasn't resting on that verbal. That's not a good sign for South Florence opponents.

Ball-hawking edge rushers. Run-stuffing big men in the middle.