Scouting The Top Defensive Linemen in Division II-A

Spring practice is right around the corner. A lot of prospects across Tennessee have emerged and etched their names as stars in their respective classifications. With much of the transfer portal calmed down for now, I'm scouting the top players at each position in each class.   Next in this series, I'll discuss Division II-A defensive linemen. Here's a scouting report of my top five defensive trench kings in DII-A.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1855561' first='Gideon' last='Knox'] – Friendship Christian School   [player_tooltip player_id='1855561' first='Gideon' last='Knox'] is coming off a fantastic season with Friendship Christian. The rising junior totaled 88 tackles, 28 for a loss, a team-high nine sacks and one interception while taking home DII-A Defensive Lineman of the Year honors from Prep Redzone.   He offers solid size for his age, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 230 pounds, with a long frame that allows him to add weight. Knox is strong, plays with a high motor and possesses sound technique.   The 2028 prospect is quick off the ball with strong hands, making him a force to stop for opposing players. Knox needs to grow in certain areas and put on more good weight, but he's already shown to be one of the most productive defensive linemen in the state.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='866728' first='Matthew' last='Newberry'] – Nashville Christian School   [player_tooltip player_id='866728' first='Matthew' last='Newberry'] is an underrated defensive prospect, coming off a solid 2025 season with Nashville Christian. The 6-foot-4, 280-pound interior defensive lineman racked up 39 total tackles, six for a loss, two sacks and one interception in 13 games.   He has a long frame, strong hands and the physical tools to dominate offensive linemen. Newberry is a solid pass rusher, but he really impresses with his ability to stop the run.   He's a big body who takes up multiple blocks at a time, while being able to fight off blockers and meet running backs in the hole for minimal gains. You'd like to see him develop a bit more as a pass rusher, but the rising senior is a good all-around player.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1198812' first='Cason' last='White'] – Trinity Christian Academy   [player_tooltip player_id='1198812' first='Cason' last='White'] is an intriguing defensive prospect with a smaller build but a great-looking frame for his position, and he has been productive over the past two seasons. The 2028 prospect totaled 71 tackles, nine for a loss, 7.5 sacks, including 5.5 in 2025 and a forced fumble.   He stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 205 pounds, with a big frame and long arms that give him a clear advantage over most offensive linemen.   White is a solid run-stopper but shows impressive pass-rush ability with his quickness off the ball and sound technique. He needs to develop in certain areas, but the rising junior has high upside.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   2029 [player_tooltip player_id='1613206' first='Tyson' last='Bond'] – Jackson Christian School   [player_tooltip player_id='1613206' first='Tyson' last='Bond'] is an exciting 2029 defensive end who showed a lot of good things in his freshman season. The 6-foot-1, 235-pound lineman is well-built, with a strong frame and long arms, giving him significant upside. He was relatively productive in 2025, totaling 30 tackles, seven for a loss, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble.   The rising sophomore shows the ability to stop the run at an efficient rate, but the best part of Bond's game is his pass-rush. He's quick off the ball, is highly physical, plays with a high motor and has solid technique.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1570558' first='Brixton' last='Dorris'] – Friendship Christian School   [player_tooltip player_id='1570558' first='Brixton' last='Dorris'] was one of the most productive players in the state of Tennessee this past season, totaling 52 tackles, 23 for a loss, six sacks and two forced fumbles.   He's a smaller player for his position, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 230 pounds, but the production is undeniable. The 2027 prospect is an excellent all-around player, despite his lack of size.   Dorris is strong with powerful hands, a nice arsenal of pass-rush moves and a high motor. He's one of the best players in his classification.

Spring practice is right around the corner. A lot of prospects across Tennessee have emerged and etched their names as stars in their respective classifications. With much of the transfer portal calmed down for now, I'm scouting the top players at each position in each class.