NJ's Most Disrupting 2030 D-Linemen

<p>Another position group that has players developing quicker than your average 8th grader, the 2030 defensive linemen are star studded across the board. From interior to the edge, you will be surprised with how talented and developed these four players are. These are the names that you will see pop off on the stat charts week in and week out.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">A big presence on the field, [player_tooltip player_id='1475448' first='Peterson' last='Etienne'] caught a lot of attention last spring when he performed at a high level at the Middle School combine. It's really hard not to pay attention when you see Peterson line up on the field. Already standing well over 6 feet and continuously growing, Peterson is a figure that is hard to miss. </p>   <p>Peterson is a future star at the defensive tackle position. He is surprisingly quick off of the line and can make impact with the blocker from a low position to bull rush them into the backfield. Peterson mostly uses brute force and his size advantage to overcome blockers, so I am excited to see him continue to develop and see his foot work and hand technique become even crisper.</p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DLQjO9cp3MR/ </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1475467' first='Santino' last='Lombardo'] is a name we will become more familiar with by season's end. While he doesn't have any posts on Instagram quite yet, you can get a good sense of his skill level and work ethic on X. </p>   <p>From what I have seen, I am very impressed with Santino's ability to stay low coming out of his stance. He has that explosive step that gives himself that slight edge to beat the lineman off of the line. Santino is also a versatile lineman that will get plenty of opportunities on both sides of the ball. He has the potential to be an elite offensive tackle with his wide base and frame. </p>   <p>Grinding on the field and in the weight room in the offseason, Santino's hard work is sure to payoff in 2025. </p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TinoLombardo98/status/1931764544260432294 </div></figure>    <p class="text-gray-700">While there is no film out of this Deptford defender, there is still a lot to get excited about with [player_tooltip player_id='1401046' first='Elijah' last='Santiago']. Elijah was added to the NJ Next Watchlist last fall, and for good reason. Elijah is equipped with a strong, sturdy frame, and already weighing in at over 250lb, he outsizes his opponents. Elijah has a very high ceiling, and can be a destructive force in the middle of the defensive front. He can be a punishing tackler to RBs running it up the gut, and makes it extremely challenging for offenses to find success carrying the ball between the tackles. Watch as Elijah builds a buzz over these next few months. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Philip is bigger and stronger than your average 2030 D-lineman, which is really saying something. Hitting his growth spurt early on, Philip plays on the defensive line with aggressive hand use and powerful strikes to drive blockers backwards. He does a great job using his longer reach to extend his arms and gain leverage on the lineman, making it easy for him to get underneath their shoulder pads. </p>   <p>Philip is very athletic for his position group as well. He has the ability to make his way into backfield with speed, and can make an instant impact on the pocket. This is a defender that can find success anywhere across the defensive front. </p>    <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DA1YNNwy3x-/ </div></figure>

Another position group that has players developing quicker than your average 8th grader, the 2030 defensive linemen are star studded across the board. From interior to the edge, you will be surprised with how talented and developed these four players are. These are the names that you will see pop off on the stat charts week in and week out.