PRZIA 2026 Rankings Update: A Closer Look at the Defensive Line

Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code: OscarGalindo30 in the coupon code area.   The Class of 2026 rankings received its preseason update last week, with some big changes across the board.   To kick off coverage for this update, Rob and I will be pumping out positional breakdowns, highlighting the players whose stocks rose and all the new names to watch out for!   Check out all the LBs who made it to our rankings and watchlist below, along with a closer look at the stock risers and new additions.    Stock Risers   [player_tooltip player_id='1238174' first='Colin' last='Whitters'], 6'4" 315 lbs - Iowa City West (<a href="https://x.com/ColinWhitters40" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>)   Iowa City West big man [player_tooltip player_id='1238174' first='Colin' last='Whitters'] was one of the biggest risers of the summer as he landed his first two P4 offers from Iowa and Iowa State. Whitters jumped into the top 10 as the #7 overall prospect and #1 DL in the class. Although he's listed as a DL for us, Colin has received a ton of attention at offensive guard and has been recruited as such. Whitters proved to be an absolute handful to handle in the trenches as he has a great mix of size (6'4", 315 lbs) and power. He's a versatile defensive lineman who saw time at defensive end and can also move to the interior. What stands out the most about Colin is that he plays with an aggressive, physical mindset and intense motor that starts from the snap and goes through the whistle. He's explosive when firing out of his stance and can pack a ton of power in his initial punch with the leg drive to maul over opposing blockers. Excellent nose for the ball— he seemed to make his way to the ball effortlessly and was a sure tackler once he got there. I wouldn't be surprised to see Whitters loaded with offers by the time his junior campaign is over.    [player_tooltip player_id='1227598' first='Houston' last='Luce'], 6'0" 220 lbs - Ankeny Centennial (<a href="https://x.com/Houston_Luce" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>)   Despite being on the smaller end for a defensive tackle, few can match the intensity and drive Ankeny Centennial's [player_tooltip player_id='1227598' first='Houston' last='Luce'] plays with. Houston moved up to #40 overall and is listed as the #4 defensive lineman in his class going into the 2024 season. At 6'0" and 220 pounds, Luce does an excellent job using his low center of gravity and consistent pad level to win the leverage battle against his opponents. He possesses great power in his upper and lower body, which shows when he uses it to jab and drive his opponents backward. One overlooked aspect of Houston's game is how slippery he can be at the line of scrimmage. He seemed to have a great sense for exploiting cracks in the protection and could fit himself through those gaps to work his way into the backfield. Very light on his feet. I look forward to seeing what Luce can do this season as a bigger part of the Jaguar's rotation.    New Additions   [player_tooltip player_id='1358176' first='Adam' last='Stafford'], 6'7" 320 lbs - Waco (<a href="https://x.com/Adam636989" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>)   Waco's [player_tooltip player_id='1358176' first='Adam' last='Stafford'] was an interesting prospect to rank, mainly because we don't have a ton of tape on him. However, if there's one thing I've learned not to overlook, it's size, and Adam has it! Standing 6'7" and 320 pounds, it's hard not to see that size and think about Stafford's massive potential once he works out some of the rawness to his game. He has one clip of him blowing up the opposing blocker and making his way into the backfield for a safety. Debuting as the #9 DL and #96 overall, Adam is a player I have high on my watchlist this season!    [player_tooltip player_id='1361747' first='David' last='Fason'], 6'2" 240 lbs - Cedar Rapids Washington (<a href="https://x.com/DavidFason17607">T</a><a href="https://x.com/DavidFason17607" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">w</a><a href="https://x.com/DavidFason17607">itter</a>)   [player_tooltip player_id='1361747' first='David' last='Fason'] is an under-the-radar defensive prospect who has the tools to explode onto the scene this season. David debuts as the #10 DL prospect and is listed at #100 in the rankings. When watching David's tape, I was impressed with the intensity he plays with and how it shows in his violent use of hands. Fason has a strong jab that he uses to stun opponents on initial contact before ripping through to shed away from the block. He maintains a good pad level when firing out of his stance and plays with a low center of gravity that helps him win the leverage battle. Lots of potential as an OLB/DE hybrid at the next level.    [player_tooltip player_id='1361130' first='Beau' last='Nohrenberg'], 6'2" 250 lbs - Webster City (<a href="https://x.com/Nohrenberg51" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a>)   Webster City's [player_tooltip player_id='1361130' first='Beau' last='Nohrenberg'] debuts on the list at #177 and DL17 on our board but holds the potential to be a big-time riser. Beau is a tough interior defensive lineman who can play nose or DT in a four-man front. He's very explosive through his hips and can generate a good push with his initial contact. Once he's made contact and worked his hands inside, Beau does a great job using his strong base to drive blockers off their spot. Fills his gaps very well and is a secure tackler. Get this guy on your radar ASAP!    <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Make sure to follow @PRZ_OscarG for more news on Nebraska and Iowa HS recruiting.

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