Inside the Chaos: 2027 Illinois DTs Making Noise

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Easton Emmett – Coal City – Defensive Tackle</strong><br>Emmett is a tough, compact interior lineman who wins with leverage and effort. He plays lower than most offensive linemen he faces and uses that advantage to hold the point of attack. His hand usage continues to improve, and he shows a natural feel for finding the football in traffic. Coal City has leaned on him as a tone-setter up front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598839' first='Daijon' last='Overton'] – Morgan Park – Defensive Tackle</strong><br>Overton brings imposing size to the middle of the line and is difficult to move once he locks in. He flashes the ability to collapse pockets simply by pushing the interior backward. As his conditioning and technique continue to develop, he has the tools to become a true space-eating anchor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cornell Bass – Lockport – Defensive Tackle</strong><br>Bass plays with an aggressive mindset and shows surprising quickness off the ball for his build. He's at his best when he's allowed to attack gaps and create disruption rather than just read and react. Coaches value his physical style and willingness to embrace the dirty work inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tom Burkevic – Ridgewood – Defensive Tackle</strong><br>Burkevic is a long, developing interior prospect who continues to add functional strength. He shows flashes of being able to control blockers with extension and locate the ball late in the rep. His upside lies in his frame and the steady progress he's made from season to season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1598836' first='Gannon' last='Dunker'] – Lena-Winslow – Defensive Tackle</strong><br>Dunker fits the mold of a blue-collar small-school standout. He plays with relentless effort and doesn't stay blocked for long. His motor shows up on tape, and he consistently fights to finish plays even when double-teamed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This group represents the heart of Illinois' developmental interior talent. None are finished products, but each brings traits that translate as they continue to mature and gain experience in the trenches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->