Whitewater Mega Camp: Best of the DL

The Mega Camp at UW-Whitewater was the stage for a strong collection of defensive linemen to show off how dominant they could be in the trenches. We saw athletes with massive frames that could overpower OL, athletes that had explosive first steps that put stress on OL to get out of their stances quickly, and there were also DL with violent hands and explosive agility that allowed them to fight their way through to the backfield. This group of athletes have something for everybody, so let's dive in!    I was unaware of Bryce's talents coming into the day, but the 2026 used the event to launch himself onto our radar here at PRZ WI. The 6'2" 220 lbs incoming senior was an outstanding tester during the combine. He had the top L-drill among OL/DL at 7.56 seconds and the 2nd best shuttle at 4.56 seconds. That athleticism was just the beginning of the strong day. Bryce left no doubt that the athleticism he flashed in the combine also is game-changing on the field. He was able to pile up 1v1 wins with his ability to change pad level with his bend/dip. His agility to change his pass rush route also shined over and over and he could get OTs to set up one way and then quickly cut against the grain for the win. Bryce also could spring off the line of scrimmage at the snap. I'm quickly becoming a fan of him as a pass rusher.     A kid that instantly put himself at the top of the list of DL top performers was [player_tooltip player_id='1136674' first='Deacon' last='Ward']. The long DE ran a 5.06 40, 4.65 shuttle, and jumped 8'4". That was just the tip of the iceberg. Deacon shined in drills, showing quick feet and the balance needed to be able to change direction quickly. His acceleration also shined in the drills as well as in the 1v1s where he could show off his explosive first step. Deacon gave OTs trouble all day with his length, quickness, and wide array of pass rush moves. I was pleasantly surprised by the power he could also play with. Especially in run battles where he had to show he could get underneath the OL and hold his ground despite being outweighed in most battles. Deacon is putting together a strong summer of camps.     The most explosive and violent athlete of the day was Monona Grove DL [player_tooltip player_id='1620332' first='Deangelo' last='Clay']. The 5'11" 235 lbs incoming junior ran a pari of 4.85 40s, and broad umped 9'1". That was nothing compared to how impressive his 1v1 portion of the day went. Clay launches off the line of scrimmage and instantly brings power as soon as he makes contact. Power that could bull rush OL into the backfield or rip him through block attempts. The '27 showed off heavy hands that never stopped working until the whistle blew. His violence set the tone and overwhelmed a lot of the OL in attendance. His use of leverage was outstanding as well and earned him a ton of wins in the board drill where OL couldn't seem to move him backwards. The only thing that slowed him down was a late injury to his leg, but hopefully that won't slow him down for long.     Teammate of Clay and another standout DL performer was '26 [player_tooltip player_id='1688581' first='Nick' last='Gallagher'] of Monona Grove. These Monona Grove DL are no joke as Nick was able to run a 4.88 40, 4.68 shuttle, and jump 8'4" in the broad. Nick looks the part of a collegiate DE/edge defender at 6'3" 240 lbs and the more we got into the live battles the more he continued to look like one. The long DE was giving OTs trouble because of how quickly he came off the line and once he got to the point he wanted to start his loop to the QB we saw the '26 demonstrate his ability to bend and get underneath the hands of the OT. That initial burst and ability to bend and make OLs miss gave him a major advantage throughout the day.     An Illinois native who caught my eyes was Aiden Ramirez of McHenry HS. He first was able to grab my attention with his display of power in the board drills. The incoming senior gave no ground. Right from his first initial step we saw him bring force. Force that was able to get OL off balance and driven backwards. Aiden also impressed me with how well and consistently he was able to win with leverage. Low man wins and that was always Aiden in his reps. It was a solid showing for Aiden.     One of the most popular athletes of the day was [player_tooltip player_id='948106' first='Sincere' last='Williams'], and things have only continued to pick up for him since that day. The 6'2" 260 lbs athlete won reps playing on the inside and outside. He was a nightmare for OL with how quick and violent he was off the line. His speed put OL in bad position/leverage early in the play and then his heavy hands kept him clean as the OL tried to recover. Sincere does so well playing with a low pad level too. He is able to coil up that big frame and release a ton of power when he looks to beat an OL with it. Every time I have crossed paths with Sincere this summer he impresses and the offers are really starting to flow in for the incoming senior.     Another new athlete on my radar following the event was Haden DeVorse. The incoming senior was one of the biggest athletes in attendance at 6'6" 305 lbs. At that size I was expecting to see him on offense, but the reps I saw had Haden at IDL. It was a good choice as the big man was able to hold his ground in run battles and the board drill battles. In 1v1s the 2026 won reps with his ability to power his way through gaps. His leg drive and size were a nightmare to slow down once he got rolling. Teams looking for a kid that can hold the line and eat up blocks need to keep an eye on this kid.     Another really impressive tester from the day was Parker's [player_tooltip player_id='948143' first='Cody' last='Slater']. The long, lean DE checked in at 6'3" 210 lbs, ran a really strong 4.72 40, had a 4.38 shuttle, and board jumped 9'1". So you can check off the size/length and the athleticism boxes. The keys to his wins throughout the day were with that same speed, explosive burst, and ability to change his rush path. Cody can thrive in a pass rushing role while continuing to build his frame into more of a three down type of edge. Slater is a tough matchup that coaches need to get their eyes on.

The Mega Camp at UW-Whitewater was the stage for a strong collection of defensive linemen to show off how dominant they could be in the trenches. We saw athletes with massive frames that could overpower OL, athletes that had explosive first steps that put stress on OL to get out of their stances quickly, and there were also DL with violent hands and explosive agility that allowed them to fight their way through to the backfield. This group of athletes have something for everybody, so let's dive in!