NY 2027 Rankings: DL Prospects

Just like the RB group I posted about recently, this group of defensive linemen has a ton of potential and is easily the best position grouping on the defensive side of the ball in this 2027 class. While the RB class has more sure-thing prospects, there is a ton of potential on this list, and unlike the RB group, only 1 player here sports offers to play at the next level. It does not come as a surprise because several of these prospects below still have a lot of work to do refining their bodies to become better college prospects. While some already have good measurables, they all have room to add more weight and strength to their games.   Check out the piece on 2027 RBs <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/ny-2027-rankings-rb-prospects/">HERE</a>   Check out 2027 Rankings <a href="https://prepredzone.com/new-york/rankings/2027-rankings/">HERE</a>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Prospect</h2>    Tookes has the best body type so far of this developing group of about-to-be sophomores, and he brings elite length to a really talented Brighton defense. There is also a lot of room for him to grow and add weight/mass in the weight room. Will be easily 250+ leaving high school.   There is not a lot of film on Tookes, but what you see is a player whose physical traits are far ahead of most of the competition he faces, which is especially impressive considering his youth. He plays with a good motor and shows some solid use of his hands and his length in multiple instances.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Names to Know</h2>    Ba had a solid varsity debut last season in a league that is very difficult for Freshman to make an impact on the defensive line. There are some clear physical traits you see on film, like his length and overall body type. Ba plays as a defensive tackle for Farrell, partly because of his skillset and the talent that Farrell had last season at the EDGE position but he is a player who could develop into a 5-tech or is he gets big enough a 3-tech at the next level.   Ba plays with really good leverage and shows some explosiveness out of his stance. He flashes some solid knockback at the point of attack with strong hands, plays with a solid motor, and is always moving his feet.     Otis is a really big prospect at 6'5 225; he has some of the best measurables so far in this class and has the body type to fill out closer to or more than 250 as an upperclassman easily. Otis is a raw defensive end prospect, but there are flashes on tape of solid techniques that show good promise.   Otis wins a lot of reps because he is just overwhelming physically, but he shows good use of his length when he sheds blocks. There are not a lot of pure pass rush reps but his ability to rush the passer is a place where he can grow a ton in terms of his pass rush plan and execution of that plan. On tape, he looks more reactive than proactive, which isn't necessarily bad, but with his size and athleticism, a more proactive style of play can lead to more consistency and overall dominance.     King, who spent last season on Holy Cross' varsity squad as a freshman, is an OLB/EDGE prospect who is listed as a DL because he likely will grow a little bit into that Hybrid OLB/DE role.   On tape, he played defensive end in a four-man front, and he showed the ability to contain the edge and consistently make plays around the LOS. He shows good upfield burst and shoots gaps well. I saw him live at the Classic Camp series, and there was some quality pass-rush stuff from him you don't see on film because there are not many pass-rush opportunities for him. King does need to continue to develop in the weight room and add some strength/power to his game, but he shows good athleticism and the ability to make plays in a couple of different ways on tape.     Hester who also spent time on the Holy Cross varsity squad last season and also moves to Canarsie for this upcoming year, played on the interior at defensive tackle and at 6'2 240, has the size to play there in HS but will continue to get bigger from what you see on film he will add some good weight throughout high school.   Hester is still a raw prospect; on film, you see the ability to shed blocks well and is always hand-fighting for better positioning to get off blocks. Hester could probably develop into an interior defensive lineman at the next level if he gets big enough, he looks to have the frame that can hit at least 260 but I think with how quick his hands are and what he shows on tape there is also some defensive end 5-tech potential in his future.     Edwards has significant varsity experience. The Mount St. Michael defensive tackle played both 8th grade and freshman seasons with the varsity squad, and I actually saw him play in the 2022 championship game as an 8th grader. There are various listings about his size, but he shows the frame to add some mass and strength in the weight room over time and can continue to develop his body.   An interior prospect, Edwards shows on tape the ability to anchor and eat double teams while also flashing a solid punch that can knock back offensive linemen. He shows good strength in his lower body and occasionally wins reps with a quick get of the LOS.     Johnson is a bigger interior defensive lineman with a similar build to the previously mentioned Edwards. At nearly 300 lbs, Johnson shows impressive movement skills and is still a developing athlete. He needs to improve his bend and overall flexibility as he grows stronger and faster because doing so can unlock another level of explosiveness.   In the film, he shows solid length; he is long-legged with a slim torso and runs with long strides. He shows that he can be effective in chasing or closing on quarterbacks in open space. He shows intriguing hand placement and block-shedding techniques but will need to refine techniques as he develops. There is not a ton of film, but there are some solid positives throughout what he has.     Ahern, who plays defensive end for Bayport-Blue Point, has solid measurables and is one of the few players on this list who plays on both sides of the ball. Ahern also plays TE for BBP, but at 6'1, if he plays on the offensive side of the ball at the next level, he likely is more of an H-Back with some versatility than a true TE.   Defensively, Ahern gets off blocks well. He uses his hands well at the point of attack and can effectively rip through or shed blocks. He does an excellent job of finishing tackles as he gets off blocks and shows consistency in defending the run. There are not a ton of pass rush reps, so that side of his game is a little unclear, but he shows the ability to consistently get off blocks.

Just like the RB group I posted about recently, this group of defensive linemen has a ton of potential and is easily the best position grouping on the defensive side of the ball in this 2027 class. While the RB class has more sure-thing prospects, there is a ton of potential on this list, and unlike the RB group, only 1 player here sports offers to play at the next level. It does not come as a surprise because several of these prospects below still have a lot of work to do refining their bodies to become better college prospects. While some already have good measurables, they all have room to add more weight and strength to their games.