2026 Film Room: South Suburbs Defensive Lineman

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first position of prospects we are evaluating in the 2026 class is the defensive lineman.&nbsp; Prep Redzone dives into the defensive tackles, defensive ends, and edge rushers here in <strong>2026 Film Room: South Suburbs Defensive Lineman</strong>!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='801878' first='McHale' last='Blade'] (Hillcrest – 6'4” 230)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Extremely impressive tape from this 6'4" 230 pound defensive end.&nbsp; He has a big frame with strength and long arms.&nbsp; Very physical at the point of attack being able to blow up tackles with his bull rush.&nbsp; Plays with a ton of pop.&nbsp; Quickness and burst off the ball are excellent.&nbsp; Gets in the backfield vs the run and makes impactful plays fighting through traffic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='801702' first='Jacob' last='Alexander'] (Lincoln Way East – 6'4” 210)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Long and lanky 6'4" defensive end that has some outside linebacker as edge rusher potential.&nbsp; Needs to add more strength.&nbsp; The explosiveness is super impressive as he showed on a spin move for strip sack.&nbsp; Consistently gets up field with explosiveness.&nbsp; Runs very well and is a plus athlete.&nbsp; Sheds against the run to make plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401608' first='Ian' last='Campbell'] (Joliet Catholic – 6'3” 225)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Campbell is a 6'3" 225 pound power edge rusher.&nbsp; Burst off the line of scrimmage and uses his hands well.&nbsp; Very good bull rush overpowering opposing offensive tackles at times.&nbsp; Makes plays in the backfield against the run.&nbsp; Can slide inside to play some defensive tackle when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='801698' first='Jaden' last='Weaver'] (Sandburg – 6'3” 240)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weaver is a 6'4" 240 pound defensive end that has a solid frame.&nbsp; Most impactful vs the run using his hands to get off blocks and get down the line for tackles.&nbsp; Also uses quickness off the snap to getting upfield for tackles for loss against the run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1224224' first='Gavin' last='Neil'] (Marian Catholic – 6'3” 220)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marian Catholic 6'3" 220 pound defensive end that presents good size and strength on the edge.&nbsp; Showed a nice burst to the football with his quickness off the line and closing speed.&nbsp; Stout against the run on the edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='801881' first='Damareea' last='Cole'] (Crete Monee – 6'0” 200)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cole flashes with his athleticism and mobility on the edge.&nbsp; Long arms helps him corral running backs.&nbsp; Chases well down the line crashing in the run.&nbsp; Offensively he plays some tight end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1244520' first='Joshua' last='Madison'] (Rich Township – 6'0” 215)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is some stuff to like with this 6'0" 215 pound defensive end.&nbsp; Smooth getting to the ball and does a nice job of using his hands to keep defenders out of his body along with controlling them then shedding against the run.&nbsp; Most impressive play of tape was a strip sack where he showed explosiveness.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='819669' first='Gavin' last='Delaney'] (Yorkville – 6'2” 190)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Delaney is coming off a sophomore season where he had 48 tackles, 15 TFL, 2 sacks, and 1 fumble recovery. At 6'2" only 190 pounds he is going to need to add significant strength onto his frame.&nbsp; Shows some grit and is technically sound.&nbsp; Makes plays in the backfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='537235' first='Emmanuel' last='Edionweme'] (Hillcrest – 5'10” 195)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Powerfully built undersized 5'10" defensive lineman that can be a DT or 3-4 defensive end.&nbsp; Good athleticism and quickness off the snap.&nbsp; Gets in the backfield. Power edge rusher that hits hard.&nbsp; Lays hammer and crashes down the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='801995' first='Noah' last='Telitz'] (Lemont – 5'10” 250)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Telitz is a smaller defensive tackle at 5'10" with a stocky frame at 250 pounds.&nbsp; Plays with good leverage, gets in the backfield, and sheds blocks pretty well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->