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Defensive Linemen that are making a splash this offseason

Defensive Linemen that are making a splash this offseason
Photo: Haloti Ngata
Andy Pham
Andy Pham April 1, 2025 @ 03:00 PM
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In this article:

Tipi Kofe
Tipi Kofe 5'11" | 290 lbs | DL | 2030
UT
Moses Paiva
Moses Paiva 5'11" | 220 lbs | LB/ATH | 2026
UT
Haloti Ngata
Haloti Ngata 5'10" | 225 lbs | DL | 2027
UT
<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this edition, we talk about some defensive linemen who are making headlines in the offseason and will be impactful this season under the Friday night lights. Who are they? Let's find out and get to know these five exceptional young men. <br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["877014"],"_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-67e86f71915f9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ngata has a good frame and should get to over 250- 260 lbs with ease. He is a physical interior defensive tackle and shows good technique as an inside rusher. Ngata blends speed and power and showcases great natural instincts. He has a quick first step and quick, active hands that allow him to gain leverage on his blocker. Ngata is a strong player with good lateral quickness and burst to his game. He has good footwork and can be an interior rusher and a run-stuffing defensive tackle. His calling card at this stage is his bull-rushing technique, this is where he excels and will do damage. Once he grows into his frame and continues to get stronger, he'll be a player who will get numerous offers and projects as a Power-Four recruit.<br></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='1693943' first='Tipi' last='Kofe']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"280","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"","_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-67e86f71916bd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kofe is an absolute unit and will get stronger as he grows into his frame. He is a brute force and he inserts his dominance at will on opposing guards. Kofe shows good footwork for a player of sheer strength and size. He occupies good space and will be a run-stuffing tackle and adds to a defense with his pass-rush skills and violent hands. Kofe throws linemen to the side without a thought. He uses exceptional leverage and has a strong base. He's an exciting prospect for the 2029 class and should see immediate playing time. He projects as a player who will earn D1 offers and should be on power-four radars. His floor will be a player that gets recruited regionally. </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":"Tautai Meredith","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"245","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Lehi","_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-67e86f719174d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Meredith comes to Utah and lands with Lehi. He has a good frame and size to be a combo lineman. He has good rushing traits and quickness to be an edge rusher with a good closing speed to get to the ball carrier, shows good power, and takes on and beats double teams with good lateral bursts to work the interior. Meredith will hold up in run support and can be used as a run-stuffing tackle and a player to occupy space and has the quickness to beat interior guards that will force the opposing team to double up and create single coverage with the edge rushers. His versatility will be key as he can line up anywhere along the front line and infuse good speed and power wherever he is asked to be. Meridith is a high-upside player who will get Power-Four offers. </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":"Jaybian Naa","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"285","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"American Fork","_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-67e86f71917d5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Naa has great size and his frame will allow him to get over 300 lbs without hindering his athletic traits. He is a powerful defensive tackle and an exceptional run-stuffing tackle who occupies good space. Naa shows a good quick burst to go along with physicality. He is often double-teamed and still finds ways to impact the game, his strength comes into play when he breaks the double team and still gets to the ball carrier. The chaos he brings helps his teammates with single coverage and he is a player who should get recruited at the D1 level, garner interest regionally, and will see playing time on Saturdays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1563894"],"_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-67e86f719181c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Paiva is a versatile athlete who can be a linebacker, edge rusher, and lineup at defensive tackle. He showcases good instincts and physicality. Paiva has good speed and lateral quickness and is an instinctive rusher. His quick burst allows him to be an excellent rusher and I like him as an edge rusher who can bring in some quickness on key passing downs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those were five exceptional defensive linemen that you need to know about now, because they will be heard from when the season starts and will be impact players on the defensive line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->

In this edition, we talk about some defensive linemen who are making headlines in the offseason and will be impactful this season under the Friday night lights. Who are they? Let's find out and get to know these five exceptional young men.

Haloti Ngata

Haloti Ngata

UT
DL
HEIGHT 5'10"
WEIGHT 225
POS DL
CLASS 2027
View Player
​
Haloti
Ngata DL
Class
2027
Height
5'10"
Weight
225
HS
Olympus
|
UT
Defensive Linemen that are making a splash this offseason
Ngata has a good frame and should get to over 250- 260 lbs with ease. He is a...
Written by Andy Pham
Read more at PrepRedzone.com
Prep Redzone

Haloti Ngata

State: Utah
School: Olympus
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

Highlights

<span class="pn-tooltip pn-player-link">
        <span class="name-pointer">Defensive Linemen that are making a splash this offseason</span>
        <span class="info-box not-prose" style="background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(193,25,32, 0.95) 0%,rgba(193,25,32, 1) 100%)">
            <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/04/defensive-linemen-that-are-making-a-splash-this-offseason/" class="link-wrap">
                                    <span class="player-img"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/20250331_184902-crop-1592x1046-1743468808.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Defensive Linemen that are making a splash this offseason"></span>
                
                <span class="player-details">
                    <span class="first-name">Defensive</span>
                    <span class="last-name">Linemen that are making a splash this offseason</span>
                    <span class="measurables">
                                            </span>
                                    </span>
                <span class="player-rank">
                                                        </span>
                                    <span class="state-abbr"></span>
                            </a>

            
        </span>
    </span>

Tipi Kofe Tipi Kofe 5'11" | 290 lbs | DL Skyridge | 2030 State UT

HEIGHT 5'10"
WEIGHT 280
POS DL
CLASS 2029

Tipi Kofe Tipi Kofe 5'11" | 290 lbs | DL Skyridge | 2030 State UT

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Tautai Meredith

Tautai Meredith

HEIGHT 6'3"
WEIGHT 245
POS DL
CLASS 2027

Tautai Meredith

School: Lehi
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Jaybian Naa

Jaybian Naa

HEIGHT 6'2"
WEIGHT 285
POS DL
CLASS 2026

Jaybian Naa

School: American Fork
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Moses Paiva

Moses Paiva

UT
LB/ATH
HEIGHT 5'11"
WEIGHT 220
POS LB/ATH
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Moses
Paiva LB/ATH
Class
2026
Height
5'11"
Weight
220
HS
Corner Canyon
|
UT
Defensive Linemen that are making a splash this offseason
Paiva is a versatile athlete who can be a linebacker, edge rusher, and lineup at defensive tackle. He...
Written by Andy Pham
Read more at PrepRedzone.com
Prep Redzone

Moses Paiva

Instagram
State: Utah
School: Corner Canyon
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation

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