Best Non-Offered Prospects (Def. Linemen)

<!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">As we get closer to summer camp season, several prospects inside our senior class are still searching for college offers, including these defensive linemen that have the look and potential to compete on the college stage. Here we breakdown the top guys from our senior D-line class that are lacking next level opportunities but could gain them over the next several months. </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1402723' first='William' last='Umsted'] - Christian Brothers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- This Memphis area product has been on my radar for two years now as someone I have pinpointed for the FCS, possible D1 level but for one reason or another, Umstead has yet to gain offers. It is honestly surprising that this 6'3 245 pound power rusher has yet to gain much recruiting traction but I do feel in time, the opportunities will arrive. This guy competes, plays hard, giving max effort on a consistent basis while providing a nice combination of pass rushing and run stuffing. Umsted has the body frame that works on the college stage as well. I do think he needs to get faster, more explosive but the raw physical tools are certainly in place to carve out a starting role in college one day. If Umsted puts forth a breakout senior year, I could see some bigger schools showing interest with potential offers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1607186' first='Jake' last='Sentell'] - Nolensville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- If this Mid-Tennessee product had a few more inches in height, Sentell would be holding multiple college offers at this point but so far, those opportunities have yet to arrive. This guy has one of the best motors from our senior D-line class that competes exceptionally hard while having a nose for the backfield. Sentell gets off the snap well then stays low with good pad level along with strong hands that allows him to disrupt the quarterback. He is strong enough to set the edge as well versus the run. The Knights senior can increase his explosion and speed to become more disruptive and boost his stock further. If he can do that in these off-season months and translate it to his senior season, I would expect the offers to float his way. Sentell is definitely a name to watch moving forward as a potential breakout player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DT) [player_tooltip player_id='2170879' first='Maleque' last='Jackson'] - Henry Co.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Jackson is a late riser on my radar but someone I'm immediately falling in love with when it comes to his impact on the college stage. This 6 '3 270 pound interior defensive lineman is strong at the point of attack that does well at driving his man back then shedding towards the football. Jackson has some powerful hands too that shocks opponents and that's something that plays well on the next level. The Patriots senior is a good athlete too that displays a pass rush that can get better over time. His impact will be a run stuffer and gap plugger in college but Jackson can get after the quarterback as well. All those traits and upside screams out to me where I'm considering putting him into our “Top Ten” D-linemen within the upcoming senior rankings. Making that statement means I think Jackson is a D1 caliber prospect, so I think his lack of offers will change somewhere in the near future.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2178716,"width":"292px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/04/maljackson-crop-560x368-1776885336.jpg?w=560" alt="" class="wp-image-2178716" style="width:292px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DT) [player_tooltip player_id='1140547' first='Dylan' last='Taylor'] - Brentwood Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- The Eagles gained them an active yet strong interior disruptor in the off-season with Taylor but this 6 '0 defensive tackle has yet to see his recruitment take-off. I believe a big part of that is because Taylor is undersized and not presenting the ideal look that many college staffs may like. I do think however that the Eagles senior will gain plenty of opportunities over time and that starts this summer during camp season. What this guy brings to the table is a strong option as a 3-tech that can get up the field to chase down the running back or get after the passer. Taylor also has room to pack on more weight and become stronger at the point of attack. It will be interesting to see how he performs this Fall under a new defensive scheme. If Taylor does well, I can see his stock rising and becoming a hot recruit down the stretch.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1847724' first='Luke' last='Kleiner'] - MBA</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Even though you can't find junior highlights on this guy, I saw enough action and clips from Kleiner last year that I think he is worthy of college opportunities. What you get in this Nashville native is a physical competitor that sets the edge well versus the run while also showing flashes at rushing the passer. The Big Red senior has good overall size too (6'4 230) with a broad frame and solid arm length that plays well on the college level. Enhancing his explosion off the snap and speed to ball would do wonders for Kleiner and his recruiting stock. Showing those abilities this summer in camps would go a long way as well. I do think this is an offer worthy guy and someone that can earn FCS offers and potentially become an impact player somewhere down the road.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DT) [player_tooltip player_id='2132227' first='Christian' last='Lillard'] - Pearl Cohn</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- There is a technicality here with Lillard as he does hold an offer from Campbellsville but for this exercise, he has yet to gain much traction from bigger programs, however that is starting to change. Over the last two months, this Nashville area big man has started to see D1 and FCS programs show interest and I understand why because Lillard is an active, strong interior D-lineman&nbsp; that shows upside at stuffing the run while providing the occasional pass rush. Lillard is well put together physically with room to get bigger and stronger within a college weight system. He can develop into a “rock” on the interior that opposing offensive linemen have a hard time moving off his spot. I like the potential for Lillard on the college stage and the kind of impact he can make one day as a possible starting defensive tackle.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1629881' first='Travis' last='Brasfield'] - Knox. Halls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Over the past two years, Brasfield has steadily gotten better to become an impactful player on his Red Devils defense but the production and game play has yet to generate offers. I think teams are overlooking this East Tennessee product as Brasfield doesn't have the ideal look they may want but this guy is a competitor that has a knack for getting into the backfield. If college coaches look deeper into this guy, what they will see is a smart, savvy pass rusher that knows how to use angles and active hand work to work past his blocker and towards the ball. Brasfield does need to form his body better and make himself more appealing but I love the football knowledge and how it translates to the next level. It may take more time for offers to arrive but I feel Brasfield will eventually hold several options and find a path towards competing on the college stage.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1687318,"width":"210px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"0.6669960474308301","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/06/72-Travis-Brasfield-rotated.jpg?w=684" alt="" class="wp-image-1687318" style="aspect-ratio:0.6669960474308301;width:210px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DT) [player_tooltip player_id='866728' first='Matthew' last='Newberry'] - Nash. Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- One of the better two-way linemen in this class that has yet to breakthrough with offers is this Nashville native that brings upside to the field on either side of the ball. For me personally, I like Newberry best on defense where he could become a gap plugging run stuffer that shows the ability to provide the occasional pass rush. The Eagles senior is a good athlete that moves well for his size and Newberry has the frame to pack on more weight as he gets into the college ranks. Playing on the D2-Class A level might be holding college coaches back from offering as Newberry doesn't go against top level O-linemen. I think his camp work will go a long way towards gaining those elusive offers as will his action in the Fall. I could see Newberry forming into an FCS level guy but more development must take place for that to happen.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DT) [player_tooltip player_id='1699523' first='Roosevelt' last='Bates'] - Southwind</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- Undersized but athletic and active, Bates is a hidden gem that is having to play the long game when it comes to gaining offers. Standing at 6 '0 and roughly 260 pounds, Bates doesn't have the ideal size college coaches look for in the trenches but Bates is a max effort guy that brings several good qualities to the football field that translates to the next level. I foresee the Jags senior being a solid 3-tech option that gets into the backfield to disrupt plays while also having the ability to get after the quarterback as well. If Bates does want to hold up against bigger O-linemen in college, he must continue getting stronger while putting on more weight, which he could easily do. His camp work this summer and performance in the Fall will dictate a lot when it comes to offers and which level of college ball he will land at.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>(DE) [player_tooltip player_id='892300' first='Zachael' last='Fortin'] - McCallie</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- This coming Fall season could become a breakout year for this native Canadian if Fortin is able to increase his athleticism, explosion and speed coming off the ball. I think those traits are what college coaches are waiting to see before they extend offers but I do feel Fortin will gain opportunities in the end to continue his career on the next level. What this rising senior brings to the field is physicality at the point of attack that allows him to set the edge versus the run while providing the occasional pass rush. Fortin is a power rusher on the end of the line that can increase his stock with more speed along with increasing his lower half agility. I see pass rush potential here with the Blue Tornado senior. His performance this summer in camps and into the Fall will go a long way towards obtaining those wanted offers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>- - - - -&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Five Other D-linemen Lacking Offers: </strong>(DT) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1896649' first='Djay' last='Denton']</strong> - Antioch, (DE) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2089358' first='Tony' last='Suong']</strong> - James Lawson, (DT) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1617402' first='Lex' last='Winfree']</strong> - White Co., (DL) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1584112' first='Ramon' last='Brooks-James']</strong> - James Lawson, (DT) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1651726' first='Donavon' last='Hunt']</strong> - Briarcrest Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2129402,"width":"240px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/02/rbates.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2129402" style="width:240px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->