From Shadow To Light: 10 Underrated Defensive Linemen For 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who are some of the most underrated defensive linemen in the state heading into the 2025 season? This is Part V of our ‘Underrated' Series:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599561' first='Chris' last='Aguilar'], Artesia</strong>: One of the standouts on a solid Artesia defensive line in 2024. Earned First-Team All-State honors after collecting 36 tackles and 3.0 TFL in 2024. He'll by one of the Bulldogs' DL anchors in 2025.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1594497' first='Landon' last='Casalino'], Manzano</strong>: Going into his senior season, Casalino already looks the part of a major college prospect. He's 6-foot-6 and weighs 280 pounds. Try to block that coming off the edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='851894' first='Gary' last='Chavez'], Grants</strong>: Chavez proved at the Prep Redzone Stock Up Showcase in January that he's a ‘dude.' He's incredibly strong, agile and quick. Last season he made 87 tackles, an incredible 27.0 TFL, 6.0 sacks and 13.0 QB hurries. He lived in the backfields of opposing offenses. Weight Room Warrior.      </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600122' first='David' last='Gaytan'], Jal</strong>: Finished 3^rd in the state in tackles last season with 153, an incredible number for a defensive linemen. Added 9.0 QB hurries and 3 forced fumbles. Clearly, he's a playmaker on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599958' first='Cole' last='Gosnell'], Bloomfield</strong>: The younger brother of former Bloomfield LB [player_tooltip player_id='1118395' first='Logan' last='Gosnell'] had quite a junior campaign with 84 tackles and 22 TFL from his DL spot. Earned 2^nd Team All-State honors in 2024. Huge year ahead for him as Bloomfield looks to go back-to-back as Class 4A champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1599835' first='Riley' last='Haussler'], Cleveland</strong>: Haussler doesn't receive the attention of some of his&nbsp; Cleveland defensive teammates, but his performance on the field speaks volumes. He had 42 tackles, 8.0 TFL and 4.0 sacks in 2024. Those numbers should increase in 2025. First Team All-State selection. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155019' first='Ryan' last='Hunt'], St. Michael's</strong>: Arguably the top DE in Class 3A. After a sensational freshman campaign in 2023, Hunt didn't suffer the proverbial sophomore slump as he amassed 55 tackles and 18 TFL in the Horseman's first 11 games. He has two more seasons left to terrorize opposing offenses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1595699' first='Zachary' last='Perea'], Legacy Academy</strong>: Perea has been on our radar screen since last summer as somebody with next level talent. He showed that during the season, Legacy's first playing 11-man football, with 51 tackles, 13 sacks and 14 QB hurries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155310' first='Fernando' last='Prieto'], Dexter</strong>: If there's any Class 3A defensive player equal to or better than St. Michael's [player_tooltip player_id='1155019' first='Ryan' last='Hunt'] (see above), it could be Prieto. His numbers as a DL in 2024 were off the charts: 91 tackles, 15.0 TFL and 11.0 sacks. Like Hunt, he's only aa rising junior.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604734' first='Jacari' last='Smith'], Rio Rancho</strong>: As a sophomore in 2024, Smith emerged as one of the top young defensive ends in the Albuquerque Metro region. He finished with 61 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 8.0 sacks and 13 QB hurries. He's a talented young player already making a significant impact on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shoutouts <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepRedzoneNM</a> for the write up and opportunity to compete!! Looking forward to this next season!! <a href="https://t.co/8bcWzCaYbg">pic.twitter.com/8bcWzCaYbg</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='851894' first='Gary' last='Chavez'] (@Gary_Chavezz) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gary_Chavezz/status/1886160604605608084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's my junior year highlights! <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachRuss_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachRuss_</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ManzanoFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ManzanoFB</a> <a href="https://t.co/XuHupxTuX6">https://t.co/XuHupxTuX6</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1594497' first='Landon' last='Casalino'] (@L57578Landon) <a href="https://twitter.com/L57578Landon/status/1856023872845521114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What a season! End of season HL's are up!<a href="https://t.co/j0YItlpQCN">https://t.co/j0YItlpQCN</a><a href="https://twitter.com/legacyacademyFB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@legacyacademyFB</a><a href="https://twitter.com/CSAPrepStar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CSAPrepStar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/prepsrecruit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@prepsrecruit</a> <a href="https://t.co/Yco0Q4KbLV">pic.twitter.com/Yco0Q4KbLV</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='1595699' first='Zachary' last='Perea'] (@perea_zach) <a href="https://twitter.com/perea_zach/status/1866617499770659147?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->