First 4 Weeks Defensive Line Stock Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Use Code PRZWV30 at checkout for 30% off your subscription!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're through the first four weeks of the high school football season in West Virginia and prospects are beginning to post their early season highlight videos that colleges will be searching for and evaluating for who moves up, down, and added to their recruiting board. Here are the defensive linemen who have been performing strongly through the first four weeks of the season and should be seeing an uptick in their college interest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>TRENDING UP</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["908605"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ef612da650c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've been high on 2025 Washington DL [player_tooltip player_id='908605' first='Isaiah' last='Osafo-Mensah'] since first seeing him at a camp the summer before his junior year and he's continued to progress into one of the top big men in this class. Osafo-Mensah has carried the momentum he built over the summer into his senior season, including a PRZ WV Combine DL MVP performance in May. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He has the rare combination of power and athleticism for a lineman prospect and is downright dominant at times on the field. There aren't many offensive linemen in the state who can bloc Osafo-Mensah 1-on-1 and he's consistently shown that at camps and on film. Every D2 program in the state should be after his post high school services with offers sure to come with a strong start to his senior year for the Patriots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16373193/66f02080794ab2e3881219f8' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f1b2e2d57a4"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["908620"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f0d01591925"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2025 Hurricane DL [player_tooltip player_id='908620' first='Darion' last='Davis'] has been a solid interior lineman for the Redskins through the first four weeks of the season and looks to be improved from his junior year with more reps available. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis can affect the game in ways that the stat sheet won't show as someone who can set teammates up with plays with the way he can take on multiple blockers at once. He'll make plays at the line of scrimmage for short or no gains and will free up his linebackers to shoot the gaps. Davis appears leaner this season and is moving more freely as a result. He's stout at the point of attack and is tough to move off the ball who holds his ground well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16198869/66e534ed6765e0bceace9b8a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f1bb8b53ae1"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1126444"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f0d015916ad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Big [player_tooltip player_id='1126444' first='Nathan' last='Hill'] out of Shady Spring is another 2025 DL that we've liked for a while who we got to see live at the PRZ WV Combine earlier this year and is continuing to play well through the first 4 weeks of his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The interior big man is a true space eater for the Tigers and is a strong athlete who can take on multiple blockers. Hill can swallow up the middle of the opposing offensive line and shut down A-gap runs consistently. He's a very good run-stopping defensive tackle who can play zero-tech and gets good push on 1-on-1 blocks. Hill also has quality athleticism for his size and is more than just a space filler. He should get some D2 looks this season as an under-the-radar defensive lineman. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16422874/66e58d5d684f26c87006f190' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f1b836638e4"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["866256"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f0d01591738"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've been focusing on highlighting lower-ranked players during this early season stock riser series, but 2026 Nitro TE/DL [player_tooltip player_id='866256' first='Xavier' last='Patterson'] has been playing at too high of a level to ignore through the first four weeks of the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Patterson is currently ranked as our #1 TE in the 2026 class but is making a great case for our #1 DL spot in the winter rankings update after the season. The 6'2 260 big man has totaled 36 tackles, 13 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks in four games for the Wildcats and has been one of the best defensive linemen this season thus far. His body is developing into a DL prospect but is maintaining the athleticism he's shown as a TE too. Patterson's speed and quickness matched with his power is a rare combination in this state and gives him a very high ceiling for this position. He's been a terror at defensive end for Nitro this season and should have D1 programs following his junior and senior seasons..</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17786904/66e857259a1a9ec1f3c56863' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f1b8366395d"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1138542"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f0d0159179f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2026 Logan DL [player_tooltip player_id='1138542' first='Rob' last='Ball'] is a prospect we've loved on film since his sophomore year and is a defensive lineman colleges need to know who may be under-the-radar to most. He's a big physical interior lineman who moves well for his size and has shown quality quickness and explosiveness off the ball to date. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's what we recently said about Ball in our <em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/09/week-two-big-men-of-the-week/">Week 2 Big Men of the Week article</a>: </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1138542' first='Rob' last='Ball']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/rob-ball/"></a>&nbsp;had a good week two performance for the Logan Wildcats in their win over Sissonville on both sides of the line. The 2026 big man is ranked as the #7 DL in the class but can do some good things on the offensive as well which you can see on his week two film. Ball is a big and powerful athlete who can also move well for his size and is a handful for opposing offensive linemen along the interior. He got great push on both sides of the line all game and caused several TFLs on defense to be placed among this week's top big men."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17994454/66d1fc8dae125f73cafd62cc' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f1b836639c8"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1138543"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f0d01591801"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another 2026 DL to know this season has been Spring Mills' [player_tooltip player_id='1138543' first='Abelardo' last='Meza'] who was a fellow Week 2 Big Man of the Week. His move inside to nose guard this season has proven to be very beneficial for him and the Cardinals and has shown to be a wrecking ball in the middle of the line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's what we recently said about Meza in our <em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/09/week-two-big-men-of-the-week/">Week 2 Big Men of the Week article</a>: </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"2026 Spring Mills DL&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1138543' first='Abelardo' last='Meza']</strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/abelardo-meza/"></a>&nbsp;is our Class AAAA Big Man of the Week after a shortened but strong performance against Wheeling Park that was called early due to inclement weather. Meza is playing nose guard this season for the Cardinals and was very impressive at his new spot in week two with a strong start to his junior season. He's explosive off the ball with violent hands and a tough 1-on-1 block for a high school center. Meza pursues the ball quickly and intently and is very athletic for his size which paired with his power makes him a dangerous matchup for opposing offensive linemen."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18429528/66e76c07fd1167c6ec5bc389' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f1b83663a2f"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["894730"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f0d01591862"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2026 Parkersburg DL [player_tooltip player_id='894730' first='Adam' last='Elder'] has been a force for the Big Reds along the defensive line since he was a sophomore and has continued that through the first four weeks of the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Elder plays in the interior and may be undersized for that spot but is a bulldog as a 2-tech. He can shoot the A-gap at a high level and fires off the ball with explosiveness often beating guards and centers inside. His first step is one of the best in his class, and Elder plays with great leverage and can dip his shoulders under offensive linemen consistently to win inside. If he can keep getting bigger he'll raise his ceiling as a prospect immensely with the film he's putting together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18348346/66d2ab69c75e51314d28055e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f1b995eaea2"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1138227"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f0d015918c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1138227' first='Jordan' last='Kovacs'] is ranked as an offensive lineman right now but is making a great case to be flipped to DL after the season is over with what he's putting on film through the first four weeks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His size is a better fit for that side of the ball at this stage of his career and he's done some good things on both sides of the line for Martinsburg this season. It was great to see him earn a starting job with his new program of their caliber and you can see why his coaches like him so much. Kovacs may not have elite size but he's a battler and is an explosive player. He fires off the ball and uses his hands well to get consistent push along the interior. Kovacs is strong for his size and whose athleticism sneaks up on bigger offensive linemen. He gets good penetration and reaches the backfield consistently. Kovacs will continue to raise his ceiling the more size he's able to put on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17849295/66ee2bcc307407b571c5e10a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f1bb8b53aab"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>UNRANKED MAKING NOISE</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1005276"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ef612da6576"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2025 Wheeling Park DL/OLB Coldin Burkahart has been playing very well for the Patriots through the first four weeks of his senior season and is an early stock riser to this point. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Burkhart has totaled 27 tackles, 6 TFLs, and 2 sacks in four games as the second-leading tackler on the team. He's playing mostly as a 3-4 stand-up edge rusher this season who could fall under the linebacker description too. We'll highlight Burkhart among our defensive line stock risers who will likely be an edge rusher at the next level. He's quick off the edge and can rush the passer at a high level and beat offensive tackles to their spot. Burkhart has shown he can do it on the left or right side of the line getting downhill quickly and playing well in space. He also has quality size and has shown willing physicality that's made him a very tough block through four games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16523830/66e8dc043072fd0066d77252' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f1c67361940"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1371718"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f0d015919e6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">2025 Morgantown defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1371718' first='Brady' last='Savage'] flew under our radar until the summer and had some impressive junior film that he's continued into his senior year for the Mohigans making him an early-season stock riser. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's a long and athletic defender who creates matchup issues for offensive tackles. Savage can put his hand in the dirt or can stand up and rush the passer or set the edge. He's nimble in space and can change direction mid-rush fluidly. If there's a tight end attached to the tackle, Savage can beat his man inside to defend interior runs as well. He's an intriguing prospect who D2 programs should be following closely this season and will be properly ranked after the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17135865/66d3174ffd21aa0a5c764543' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f1c6736199a"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1138548"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f0d01591aad"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There are a lot of new faces suiting up and stepping in for the Musselman Applemen this season and 2026 DL [player_tooltip player_id='1138548' first='Josh' last='Armentrout'] has been a notable player at defensive end and tight end through four weeks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's a long and athletic prospect which has proven to be a tough combination for opposing offensive linemen so far. Armentrout can be a stand-up edge rusher which likely best fits him right now as he adds weight to his 6'4 frame and can play contain or rush the passer from that alignment. He'll still put his hand on the ground as a traditional DE too at times whose length and athleticism allow him to cover a lot of country on the outside. Musselman may be having a down season with a lot of new and young players, but Armentrout is standing out through four weeks and shouldn't go unnoticed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18345764/66e6e731bc4a0a59d228a1f8' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f1c67361a11"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->