NY 2026 Rankings: Defensive Lineman

Check out the updated <a href="https://prepredzone.com/new-york/rankings/2026-rankings/">2026 Rankings</a>   A few of New York's top defensive linemen featured in what is a rundown of primarily defensive tackle prospects. A separate article will feature more of the EDGE/OLB archetypes that really are pass-rush first prospects. A strong group of defensive tackles, including one just on the outside of the top 5 overall players in New York.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Top Three</h2>    Lozin is the top defensive line prospect in the '26 class and the Iona Prep DT had another strong year for the Catholic Champions.   Lozin has a great build, a long wingspan, and the ideal body type to play DT at the next level. He plays with good leverage and shows some strength and punch at the point of attack. I think his tape shows consistent hand usage to shed blocks, and there is no doubt he is one of the best block shedders in the state.   He is a prospect who not only has strong tape but with his frame, he should continue to get bigger and develop as an athlete. Athletically he has one of the highest ceilings in this class of any prospect.     Mercer has the size to grow into an interior defensive lineman or a big defensive end. He has great length and shows impressive athleticism for his size.   He has a lot of tape on both sides of the ball, playing OT and DE, but I feel confident that his future at the next level will be on the defensive side of the ball. Mercer flashes so many great traits like some impressive pass rush moves with a good spin and some good speed-to-power rushes, but his offensive tape is much more violent at the point of attack. He shows that he can shoot gaps with his quick get-off consistently and he is the best DL in NY at batting down passes at the LOS, partly due to his length but his IQ to get his hands up in the right situation helps too.   There is a lot to like with the size, athleticism, and some of the positional skills he shows as a defensive end.     You could argue that Serate was the most valuable player on a Curtis team that won the PSAL Championship - Serate shows good burst off the ball and can win reps by shooting gaps with that burst and get off.   Serate does a fantastic job with his hands getting off blocks. He also does a great job of keeping his eyes on the backfield and finding the ball. His ability to locate, shed, and tackle consistently throughout an entire game stood out when I saw him live.   Serate was a player who consistently impacted the game from the defensive tackle position. His tape shows some splash plays, but seeing multiple full Curtis games (1 Live, others via <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g08I5teTcmg" target="_blank">Sage Media Solutions</a>) full game tape shows that Serate's impact goes beyond just some of the big plays you see on highlights—consistently eating blocks and getting to the ball from the interior.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Two Names To Know</h2>    Caldwell was a key defensive piece for a talented Canisius defense. I like his frame at the DT position; he holds a lot of his weight in a barrel-chested upper body. On tape, he lines up all over the defensive line. His body type fits 3-tech at the next level, but there is some potential versatility to move him to 5-tech or play as a bigger defensive end.   He consistently shows quickness in his get-off, effectively breaking down and making tackles in the backfield vs. zone read plays. On tape, you see him utilize a surf technique a few times when he is lined up more at the DE position.   I like his overall motor, he shows he can fight through double teams and knock guys back on tape, there is still another level of hand usage and violence he can develop, and you see occasional flashes of it on tape.     Williamee may be slightly undersized, but the Canandaigua defensive tackle prospect shows great quickness and get-off on a lot of dominant reps on his tape. There is some violence in tackling, and overall, he displays a strong punch and good hand usage.   Williams plays with good leverage and pad level, partly due to his height, but he has the strength to drive guys back. Also, getting reps as an offensive lineman, you see that strength and violence all over his offensive tape.   Williamee is a player who will get overlooked just because of his height. Still, I think he can overcome that with how powerful and violent he is on tape. His game has strong positional skills and raw power that can have an impact at the next level.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Expect Big Senior Seasons From</h2>    Ronk is a player I had no idea about until he came to PrepRedzone NY/NJ Camp. He had strong performances in testing and 1v1s at Camp, but as always, the film matters most, and Ronk showcases several positive traits on tape.   Ronk plays both ways. A big, barrel-chested lineman prospect, Ronk shows good strength and the ability to sustain blocks—defensively, you see that strength, and he flashes the ability to get off blocks. His tape could lean towards an OL projection, but I thought he excelled in a camp setting, showing off some solid bend and get-off for a DL.     Lewis is a thick defensive tackle prospect but slightly shorter than the position average. On tape, you see that this helps him play with better pad level/leverage. Lewis has excellent lateral movement, and overall, he is an above-average athlete. He flashes good power and violence on multiple reps on both sides off the ball. He is still a raw prospect using his hands on both sides of the ball. I like what his athleticism and violence can bring to a defense side and it's why I consider him primarily a DT prospect.

Check out the updated 2026 Rankings