The Big Maulers: Sensational Defensive Lineman for 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this edition, we head to the other side of the ball and check in on some heavy hitters along the front four that will create havoc in 2025.<br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1558579"],"_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-6796f022c1df3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kinikini is a versatile defensive lineman who can line up anywhere along the front four. He has enough power and brute strength to play as an interior defensive tackle and has the speed and burst to line up as an edge rusher. He showcases a good combination of speed and strength and will hold up as a three-down lineman. Kinikini also has the versatility to play without having his hands on the turf and has the lateral quickness to drop back and cover his area in zone coverages. He is simply a playmaker and dissects a play quickly. Kinikini has an active motor and is always finding himself closing in on the ball carrier. He is a physical player who cannot be moved off his path and because of that, is excellent against the run as he can shed his blocker and pursue the ball carrier. As a pure pass rusher, Kinikini blends brute strength with speed and active hands to get past his blocker. He is at his best as a pure bull rusher who cannot be stopped in single coverage. With an active motor, he is constantly a jackhammer against the Offensive Lineman and wears his man down by the second half and that is when he takes over a game. Kinikini is a tremendous athlete and also participates on the offensive side of the ball, he shows his physicality on that side of the ball as well but has soft hands as a receiver and would argue that he could be recruited as a high-end Tight End if he focused strictly on that side of the ball. He projects as a high-end prospect who should have plenty of Power Four offers and be impactful at the next level on the defensive side.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1207649"],"_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-6796f022c1e4d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Moala has tremendous size, is an exceptional athlete, and is a premier EDGE rusher. He gets doubled team consistently and has the strength to press forward and blow past with the speed to finish and get to the ball carrier. Moala has excellent pursuit and a motor that doesn't quit. He has an excellent first step and closing speed to go along with being a textbook tackler. Moala isn't just a pure pass rusher, he shows excellent discipline and on rushing plays will hold the edge and not come crashing down, therefore leaving gap integrity and he can shed his blocker and make a play on the ball carrier. Moala possesses the strength and length to play on the interior and will hold up well against a bigger offensive lineman. He does an excellent job deciphering plays and will intelligently slow his rush on screens and when he knows he won't get to the Quarterback, will show active hands and disrupt passing lanes. Moala is a premier EDGE rusher and will be a multi-year starter and impact player for a Power Four program and will be recruited on a national level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1149966"],"_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-6796f022c1e95"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">King is a tremendous EDGE rusher with an exceptional motor and finishes his pursuit more often than not. He shows excellent strength with good speed and a finishing burst. He mixes bull rushes with good swim moves and other packages to get by his blocker. King oftentimes gets chipped and has additional players on him to prevent his disruption into the secondary but finds ways to impact a down. King is a pure pass rusher who reads the play from the start, when he can't get to the Quarterback, he showcases active hands to breakup passes, gets into passing lanes, and finds multiple ways to help out on defense. He isn't a player who will just crash the edge to make a play, he'll stay in his gap and play team defense and is helpful in the pursuit of the run because of this, he keeps his gap assignment intact and will keep his head up and find the ball carrier and make a play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1683679' first='Jag' last='Ioane']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"180","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"5926","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Maple Mountain","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6796f022c1f40"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ioane has a nice frame to add on an additional 30-40 pounds by the time his High School career is over, an exceptional technical EDGE rusher with excellent speed. He gives up a lot of weight to the Offensive Lineman but has the strength to hold up and uses great technique to win and make a play on the ball. Ioane has an excellent wingspan and when he grows into his frame will be a complete rusher. He has an exceptional first step and his get-off is great and because of that, he can get an advantage over the bigger Offensive Lineman. Ioane is a good tackler, showcasing great fundamentals and anticipation with active hands to disrupt passing windows. He is best as a LEO due to his frame right now and playing freely without having his hands on the turf makes him a deadly speed rusher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1562465"],"_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-6796f022c1f8a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Love is an excellent interior Defensive Tackle. He showcases good strength and is an excellent run-stuffing defensive lineman. Love has a good bull rush and is difficult to move off his line. He is a disruptor from the interior and a player that frees up the edge rushers as opposing teams will have to double him to slow down his rush as he is too strong for most Guards to hold up against him. Love is a force in the middle and just a black hole, he has good lateral quickness for the position and can use that agility to get to the Quarterback when a play breaks down. He does an excellent job of diagnosing a play and tossing his blocker aside to crash down on the ball carrier or get to the Quarterback. Love is a complete interior Defensive Lineman and is set to have a huge final season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those were five maulers to get to know for the upcoming season who will be playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->