Tennessee 2029 Rankings: 40+ D-Linemen To Know in the State

After a year of finding prospects, evaluating them in person and on film, speaking with different coaches and sources throughout the state, the Prep Redzone Next Tennessee Class of 2029 Rankings and Watchlist is complete. This list contains nearly 400 prospects that are set to make their high school football debut this upcoming fall---and the talent is immense.   A few things to remember:   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Other than the Top-10 overall rankings, EVERY OTHER SECTION IS LISTED ALPHABETICALLY BY FIRST NAME</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>This list is NOT final and will be updated by Prep Redzone Tennessee as HS careers progress</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Things change quickly on this level and there may be incorrect information that I simply missed/wasn't aware of </li> </ul>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Defensive Linemen Ranked in Top-10 Overall</h2>   <h3 class="wp-block-heading">None.</h3>     <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/07/Braxton-Logan.png?w=875" alt="" class="wp-image-1732613" style="width:523px;height:auto" /></figure>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">Top-10 Defensive Line Prospect Watchlist </h2>   **Listed Alphabetically By First Name**    A thick, strong interior Defensive Lineman who moves very well for a prospect of his size. Logan is part of a vary talented freshman group that Briarcrest Christian is bringing in. Logan has been part of the program the last few years on the middle school level, and I'm told he will now have an immediate role on the varsity level. The two-time Tennessee Future Stars selection was also an MVP at our PRZ Next Middle School Combine.     A very gifted two-sport athlete who very well could transition out of the Defensive Line group and into the Athlete (ATH) group very quickly. Booker was part of a historically good Rose Park Middle School football team and basketball teams over the last few years. This summer he picked up his first verbal offer from Nicholls State University after a good camp showing. Look for him to continue to dominate the gridiron and the hardwood at Franklin Road Academy.     Despite a somewhat quiet performance with the Tennessee Future Stars this past June, Jack Elliot is absolutely one of the best Edge players in Tennessee for the class of 2029. The Christian Academy Of Knoxville prospect played his middle school ball there and will continue at the school for high school. Extremely fast off the snap and plays the game violently. Elliot also plays some Tight End, but he looks best with his ears pinned back and hunting the Quarterback.     A three-sport athlete, formerly of Rockvale Middle School, that I (unfortunately) learned about way too late. As is the case with many of the Edge players on this list, he very well could transition out of this position. During his middle school years he did line up in the backfield as a Running Back a bit, in addition to playing some H-Back/Tight End. Thus far on the Varsity level at Riverdale High School, he is getting his feet wet at some Wide Receiver in addition to his continued stellar play as an Edge.     Blessed with ideal size for an incoming Defensive Lineman, [player_tooltip player_id='1305177' first='Jimmy' last='Payne'] has a ton of ability. Last season he was one of the standouts on a loaded Bearden team that won the MAC championship. Payne is unquestionably one of the best run-stopping Edge players in the 2029 class out of the Volunteer State. Has the quickness to play Edge and penetrate the backfield, but also the size and strength to stop the run game between the tackles. I can easily see a time in the future where Payne bumps down to play Defensive Tackle if scheme dictates it.     When it comes to pure, tried and true Defensive Tackles in the Tennessee 2029 class, [player_tooltip player_id='1704846' first='Lennox' last='Kiner'] has to come to mind almost immediately. He's a two-gap interior guy who plays with the better quickness than a lot of Running Backs at this point. After a dominating season at Montgomery Bell Academy last year as an eighth-grader, Kiner will be suiting up for Ensworth as a freshman this year. Kiner heading to Ensworth could pay off big time, as he'll learning the ins and outs of the D-Line position under former NFL'er Leroy Harris.     Standing 6-foot-5, weighing 235-pounds and while just beginning your high school career is simply something that can't be taught. Alcoa's [player_tooltip player_id='1537170' first='Noah' last='Carnegie'] is prospect on this list that has an incredible upside on both sides of the ball. I've gone back and forth on where he projects more for months. In recent film he looks like like a natural as an Offensive Tackle; On the other hand, he could turn into a massive interior DT and/or possibly an Edge. Also finished his first year of wrestling, winning a Blount County title. How he fills out and how much he improves his overall coordination, will go a long way to dictating what position(s) he ends up being recruited at.     One of the most productive and impactful middle school prospects I've seen over the last two/three years. [player_tooltip player_id='1305173' first='Trenton' last='Gibbs'] is yet another member off a deeply-talented Oakland Middle School team that will continue on to high school with numerous championships under his belt. This past June, Gibbs was named co-Defensive MVP of the Tennessee Future Stars in a performance that showcased just how dangers he can be. Tough, athletic and mean. Gibbs is/can/will be an excellent player on both sides of the ball and may see varsity time earlier as a Guard.     [player_tooltip player_id='1613206' first='Tyson' last='Bond'] is a prospect I took a very immediate liking towards, after seeing his film in early October. One of four Jackson Christian School athletes selected to the West Tennessee Middle School All-Star Game at the conclusion of last season, Bond is clearly one of the better two-way linemen in the state. Offensively, as a Guard, he has the ability to pull and get down the line quickly. Defensively, where I like him best, he brings versatility. He's big enough to play on the inside and can use his quickness to slip by blockers. He's already seeing varsity action and appears to be more than holding his own.     Just like his teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1665616' first='Dhillon' last='Booker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1648720' first='Willis' last='Beard Jr.'] will be going from Rose Park Middle School to Franklin Road Academy for high school. The duo was part of a Rose Park team that won back-to-back championships over the last two seasons. Beard Jr. is a long, muscled up, athletic big man with a powerful get-off. In limited film I've seen of him, there isn't much technical pass rush development, as he won with pure athleticism. He tells me he'll continue to play D-Line and will also play on the opposite side of the ball. Once he adds some moves to his arsenal, he has the potential to be elite.      <figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/08/Maurice-Broyles-body-1.png?w=875" alt="" class="wp-image-1752360" style="width:524px;height:auto" /></figure>     <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">The Best of the Rest Defensive Line Prospect Watchlist</h2>   **Listed Alphabetically By First Name**   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752298' first='Alex' last='Duhart'] | Brentwood Academy</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752299' first='Ben' last='Hartman'] | Oak Ridge High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752305' first='Braylon' last='Payne'] | Oak Ridge High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1648774' first='Clayton' last='Jackson'] | Rockvale High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1673560' first='Collin' last='Simpson'] | St. George's School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752310' first='Cooper' last='Campbell'] | Hardin Valley Academy</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1549640' first='Desius' last='McLucas'] | Henry County High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1539921' first='Diezel' last='Whittle'] | Dyersburg High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1622398' first='Elijah' last='Crawley-Webb'] | Goodpasture Christian School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752322' first='Gavin' last='Rasnic'] | Trinity Christian Academy</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752323' first='Grayson' last='Harden'] | Tullahoma High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752327' first='Isaiah' last='Tharpe'] | Henry County High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752329' first='Jack' last='Chapman'] | Brentwood Academy</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752330' first='Jacob' last='Alley'] | Farragut High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752333' first='Jamarion' last='Lee'] | Haywood High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752335' first='Jeremiah' last='Patton'] | Clinton High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752340' first='John' last='Freeman'] | Liberty Creek High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1732091' first='Johnathan' last='Tate'] | Knoxville Central High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1652025' first='Joseph' last='Branconi'] | Hardin Valley Academy</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1563814' first='Joshua' last='Plourde'] | Beech High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752347' first='Marcos' last='Wilson'] | Maryville High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1704433' first='Mari' last='Gordon'] | Red Bank High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1531563' first='Maurice' last='Broyles'] | Knoxville Catholic</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752361' first='Owen' last='Lampitt'] | Middle Tennessee Christian School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1698793' first='Renterrio' last='Hardaway'] | Germantown High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752365' first='Riley' last='Blackstone'] | N/A High School (formerly: Bledsoe County High School)</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752368' first='Skyler' last='Dykes'] | Science Hill High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752370' first='Timothy' last='Harvell'] | Jackson Central-Merry High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1324189' first='Trevon' last='Baldwin'] | LaVergne High School</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1556876' first='Tristan' last='McGugan'] | Briarcrest Christian</li> </ul>   <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1752374' first='Wyatt' last='Uyl'] | Pope John Paul II High School</li> </ul>

After a year of finding prospects, evaluating them in person and on film, speaking with different coaches and sources throughout the state, the Prep Redzone Next Tennessee Class of 2029 Rankings and Watchlist is complete. This list contains nearly 400 prospects that are set to make their high school football debut this upcoming fall---and the talent is immense.