2026 Rankings Update: Defensive Linemen Breakdown

We have officially released another rankings update in the state of Arkansas for the class of 2026. In this article, we will showcase the 2026 defensive linemen with analysis. Over the next month, I will break down these rankings by position in each class, including other segments. For the defensive linemen, I will provide you with evaluations of some of the top prospects and the players flying under the radar:     [player_tooltip player_id='1216596' first='Danny' last='Beale'] lands at number two on our board and could see a 5-star label by his senior season. Beale is a trench mauler with very good full-body power and strength in the interior to disrupt both the run and passing game. He displays explosion off the line of scrimmage with good acceleration and upfield burst. He can disengage off blocks quickly due to good use of hands, allowing him to make a play in the backfield or at the LOS. Showcases good foot quickness, upper and lower body power, and pad level to drive the OL back with a bull rush, creating pressure in the pocket. A 2-gap run stopper with a blend of quickness, power, strength and athleticism that you want inside. Can play the 0-3 tech.   Offer List: Arkansas, Arkansas State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Jackson State, Missouri, Mississippi State, Oregon, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, SMU, Southeast Missouri State, Temple, Texas A&M & USC.   Note – 3.6 GPA   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DannyBeale57/status/1817008243744604405 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1134117' first='Noah' last='Wendel'] lands at number three on our board and is a rising prospect throughout the state. He had an impressive summer, translating early into the 2024 season. Wendel displays good upfield burst, foot quickness, and reaction off the line of scrimmage, putting himself in a position to make a play in the backfield or at the LOS. Off the snap, he creates leverage by engaging with good hand placement, timing, and lower body strength to either drive back the OL or shed blocks. His athleticism and strength are intriguing outside on the edge, showcasing good bend, lateral agility, awareness, and power. Wendel showcases a sideline-to-sideline motor to pursue backside and chase down ball carriers. Overall, good athletic ability.   Note – 4.0 GPA   <a href="https://twitter.com/wendel_noah/status/1834643758123463017">https://twitter.com/wendel_noah/status/1834643758123463017</a>     Malachi McDonald is another force in the trenches who lands at number five on our board for the position. Mcdonald is a versatile prospect who can position from the 0-4 tech, dominating the run and pass. He possesses good lower body strength and power, establishing himself as a formidable presence in the interior with good quickness off the LOS. He displays good acceleration off the LOS, creating leverage with good hand placement to overpower his opponents or shed blocks quickly, generating pressure in the pocket and backfield. His foot quickness and timing with his hands are consistently effective, causing disruption in the backfield against both running and passing downs by shedding quickly or bull rushing. He has a good pad level as he can win bull rushes consistently, putting pressure into the pocket and delivering strong punches to disrupt the rhythm of blockers.   Note – 3.0 GPA   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/MalachiMCDO07/status/1827866884248666344 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1035451' first='Emmanuel' last='Hudson'] is number ten and rising on my list. Hudson showcases good full-body strength, power on every rep, and a good upfield burst off the line of scrimmage. He uses his hands well, as he can quickly transition to his rip move and generate pressure in the backfield. Good pad level and power enable him to execute an effective bull rush. He's quick along with his good UOH, allowing him to shed quickly to make a play at the LOS or backfield. Hudson has the ability to engage, quickly read, and react to the ball as well.   Note – All-State   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/emmanuel_C2026/status/1831153976810566024 </div></figure>     [player_tooltip player_id='1248544' first='Gavin' last='Cubit'] has been rising on boards and lands at number 18. Cubit has a good mixture of power, strength, and a high motor. He displays good full-body power off the snap, with good foot quickness and hand placement to create leverage, complemented by a rip move and good pad level that enables him to penetrate the backfield quickly. He demonstrates a strong lower body and the reach to overpower the offensive line, pushing them back into the pocket to generate pressure. His ability to outmaneuver the offensive line almost immediately after the snap, against both the run and pass, is impressive. He can play from the 3-7 Tech showcasing his versatility to play in the interior or off the EDGE.   Offer List: Hendrix   Note – 4.0 GPA   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Gavin_Cubit/status/1829026908471697866 </div></figure>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">OTHER TOP 100 DEFENSIVE LINEMEN:</h2>   1 - [player_tooltip player_id='413517' first='Anthony' last='Kennedy'] (Maumelle)   4 - [player_tooltip player_id='928532' first='Kellen' last='Wrona'] (Bentonville)   6 - [player_tooltip player_id='212207' first='Carson' last='Riggins'] (Dewitt)   7 - [player_tooltip player_id='893510' first='Keagan' last='Sanderson'] (Salem)   8 - [player_tooltip player_id='1305652' first='Cody' last='Johnson'] (Greenwood)   9 - [player_tooltip player_id='288456' first='Ray' last='J Hunter'] (North Little Rock)   11 - [player_tooltip player_id='401209' first='Terrance' last='Ellis'] (Bryant)   12 - [player_tooltip player_id='565779' first='Zaccheus' last='Harris'] (Nashville)   13 - [player_tooltip player_id='401200' first='Kevin' last='Gonzales'] (Fort Smith Northside)

We have officially released another rankings update in the state of Arkansas for the class of 2026. In this article, we will showcase the 2026 defensive linemen with analysis. Over the next month, I will break down these rankings by position in each class, including other segments. For the defensive linemen, I will provide you with evaluations of some of the top prospects and the players flying under the radar: