Fab 50 Breakdown: Defensive Line

South Carolina has had a major resurgence along its offensive lines. Players charged with driving their respective tailbacks and protecting quarterbacks are popping off left and right.   The competition is having an effect on the other half of the trenches equation, too.   Because while the eight offensive linemen we picked for the Fab 50 could each be described as elite, the same can be said of their defensive counterparts.   These eight standouts - split even between those who primary play tackle and end (with a couple hybrids thrown in) - were responsible for some of the biggest highlights for their teams all season. More importantly, they were as consistently productive as any of their coaches could have asked for in 2024.   INTERIOR LINEMEN   [player_tooltip player_id='1267206' first='Dontrell' last='Wilson'] | Camden, 2026   Key numbers: 64 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, eight sacks, eight QB hurries   About: While such decisions won't be made for 10 months, go ahead and put Wilson on the short list of possible Shrine Bowl consideration for the tackle position. The Bulldogs junior put his athleticism on display throughout the 2024 season. He's great at getting upfield, but quietly showed how good he could be laterally, as well.    [player_tooltip player_id='1360156' first='Andre' last='Pickett'] | Northwestern, 2025   Key numbers: 79 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, eight QB Hurries   About: After a monster junior campaign, Pickett drew even more attention as a senior. Still, the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas selection did some damage for a defensive unit that was oft-overlooked given how good the Trojans' offense was. Pickett will graduate with just shy of 50 tackles for loss in three seasons.     [player_tooltip player_id='1012579' first='Sterling' last='Sanders'] | Blythewood, 2025   Key numbers: 40 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 19 QB hurries   About: There weren't many times over the last two seasons where Sanders was taking on a single blocker. In fact, there were moments when he was charged with taking on two offensive linemen and a tailback. In addition to his own numbers, the Boston College doubling and tripling up allowed the rest of the front seven more room to do its thing.    [player_tooltip player_id='272709' first='Malachi' last='Jefferson'] | James Island, 2025   Key numbers: 62 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 11 QB hurries, three forced fumbles   About: Jefferson, a three-time all-state selection between his sophomore year at Indian Land and his junior and senior seasons at James Island, was a hybrid lineman who spent about 30 percent of his snaps this fall at end and the bulk at tackle. Jefferson (pictured) also blocked a field goal against St. James back in September.    DEFENSIVE ENDS    [player_tooltip player_id='1359137' first='Yasir' last='Smith'] | Summerville, 2025   Key numbers: 59 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 19 QB hurries   About: A one-time tight end, Smith made the jump to the defensive side of the ball during the offseason, started the year hot and then got even better in the biggest games. Consider this, between region play and the playoffs (nine games), the Green Wave allowed just 18 points per game en route to the Class 5A, Division I championship game.    [player_tooltip player_id='595702' first='Anthony' last='Addison'] | Sumter, 2025   Key numbers: 99 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, 14 QB hurries   About: At times unblockable, Addison left no doubt that he was a future SEC player. He was the most dangerous player on a Gamecocks' defense that allowed 19 points per game and forced more than 30 turnovers. In addition to his edge potential, Addison registered double-digit tackle figures in five games as a senior.     [player_tooltip player_id='464883' first='Javon' last='Johnson'] | Loris, 2025    Key numbers: 96 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, nine sacks, 10 QB hurries   About: Johnson is at the very least in the discussion for Mount Rushmore status in terms of the best defensive players to ever come through Loris. In 40 games for the Lions, he put up 332 tackles, 66 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks while having a direct role in nine turnovers. As a senior, he showed off an explosiveness rarely seen at the Class 3A level.    [player_tooltip player_id='816734' first='Terry' last='Radford'] | Chester, 2026    Key numbers: 116 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 18 QB hurries   About: Radford spent his junior season as one of the most effective hybrid defenders in the entire state. From one play to the next, he could line up at end, tackle, middle linebacker or outside linebacker. He was at his best on the edge, where he could use his quick snap release to get into the backfield and alter the offense's plans, often catastrophically.

South Carolina has had a major resurgence along its offensive lines. Players charged with driving their respective tailbacks and protecting quarterbacks are popping off left and right.